Eco-Christmas

Hello and Happy Friday!

I'm wrapping presents but I'm trying to

avoid using traditional wrapping paper.

I'm trying to save money and the

environment at the same time.

Thank goodness for these paper bags with

a holiday theme printed on them.

Throwing them away would be blah.

So I've turned them into small gift packets.

TADA!

It's all about looking for a design on the bag

that you want to highlight, and then simply

cutting, folding & securing the

edges with glue.

Add a homemade ribbon to spruce it up.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Red Envelopes

In Chinese culture, there is a tradition of giving away red envelopes on special occasions like weddings and the New Year. Inside the envelope, you'll find money. The red color of the envelope represents luck & protection from evil spirits, while the money symbolizes prosperity.

With this tradition in mind and this project at hand:

Transforming a blah paper bag into

something TADA!

I came up with this idea:

More gift envelopes but in a

raging red & a cheerful wish.

I cut this part of the bag into a

rectangle, folded it to make an

envelope and glued the edges

together, leaving one edge as

the opening.

Here's what the back looks like.

So whether or not I put money inside,

I hope my friends receiving these

red envelopes will find 2012 filled

with luck, protection & prosperity!

Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String

All this week, you'll see how many things I

can do with a brown paper bag:

Okay, let's limit the the "things"

to holiday gift wrap. In the past

two days, I made a few envelopes.

Today, this blah...

...becomes this TADA!

I cut out the most festive word on the bag,

attached it to cardboard

{from an empty cereal box},

punched a hole &

threaded some string.

TADA! Easy, breezy gift tag!

And how else to mark this season

but through celebration!

Wishful Packages

I found a few paper bags from my stash of blahs:

This one's from Trader Joe's and in the attempt of

reusing, reducing and recycling, I'm transforming

the bag into small packages instead of buying

gift wrapper & gift bags for the holidays.

What was once blah...

...is now TADA!

All I did was cut the bag into smaller rectangles,

fold these into envelopes and glued

three edges together.

I left the top open to tuck in the gift.

Then, I'll seal it with tape, a note & a ribbon.

I'm quite sure that whoever receives

it will appreciate that I'm having

a truly green Christmas!

Paper Bags Turned Into Gift Wrap

Happy Monday! In 2009, I created this post where I challenged myself to recycle a paper bag from Whole Foods.

Well, I'm at it again! Why waste a paper bag when you know someone slaved away over the graphic design, the approval, the printing and the delivery to each and every store? {So much work all for a bag!}

This week, let me show you how we

can break down these bags from

Whole Foods & Trader Joe's.

blah: a paper bag

{got to love the pops of color}

Select a section of the bag that's

attention-grabbing.

Cut, fold, assemble & paste, and

this is what happens:

TADA!: An envelope with a handle!

I would use it to wrap a gift card to a restaurant

or a small present for a food-loving friend.

More tomorrow!

Crafting a Blanket

How are you my dears?

Do you recognize this Peanuts character popularized by Charles Schulz? He's Linus and he's known for carrying a security blanket. See how much comfort he's getting by snuggling his blanket and sucking his thumb? So cute.

Linus is the inspiration for Project Linus, an organization that provides "security through blankets", where handmade blankets are distributed to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages ranging from zero to 18.

Maybe you'd like to make a blanket for a child?

All blanket styles are welcome: quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans or receiving blankets in child-friendly colors. As long as they are new, handmade, washable and come from smoke-free environments.

For more information, you can check the Project Linus website, join or start a chapter in your area and spread a little love through blankets.

I hope you found my list of crafting for a cause helpful. If you know of other groups with the same mission, I'd love to hear about it. Meanwhile, I wish you a restful weekend!

Stitch and Craft

There are different reasons why we craft. Whether we do it as a hobby or as a business, we find joy while making something with our hands and a have a sense of fulfillment when we finish. Some of us craft to help others just like Craft Hope. It's a group of crafters headed by Jade Sims who make handmade gifts for those who need them.

The most recent project the group completed

was turning blah pairs of socks...

...into TADA! sock monkeys!

{photo c/o Craft Hope}

These sock monkeys will go to children who lost their homes in the Texas wildfires. Their past projects include dresses made out of pillowcases sent to an orphanage in Mexico, dolls made for orphans in Nicaragua and baby blankets for newborns in India.

I thought this concept was mind blowing... a humble craft that brings hope across the world! If you browse their pictures, you'll see how many kind crafters enthusiastically take part.

They've completed their projects for 2011 but I think we should be involved next year! If you're interested, keep checking the Craft Hope website or Facebook page, look under "Current Projects", leave a comment and start crafting...because I know that the dolls that we sewed, the hats we crocheted and the quilts that we assembled will change a child's life.