Recently I received this email, “Meg, I feel a bit more comfortable actually giving away my cards, and I made a birthday card to go along with a gift – but then I wasn't happy with the wrapping, do you ever make your own wrapping paper or gift bag?”

Have you ever felt like this?  Has your most awesome-est handmade card made your gift pale in comparison?

There are two things I really, really, honestly and truly never want to do in this world, ok the list is a bit longer, but we will only cover these two today.  First, I never want to have to buy a card.  Second, I never want to buy another gift bag – EVER!

If you have ever had a 40% off coupon burning a hole in your pocket at a craft store, blank gift bags are a perfect item to use them on.  You can buy these by the dozen for like three bucks.  Then, dash home and let your stamps get double duty – stamps are not just for the cards.  Everyone say that with me, “Stamps are not just for cards.”

Getting started in making your own gift bag:

All I did to create this gift bag was start with my fabric.  (Did you just read that twice?)  That is right, I got my color inspiration from fabric from Stampin' Up!  (Learn more about the great fabric sale that is going on this week here.)  I love the box of fabric right now, more so because it just looks pretty in the box – it is all about the packaging right?  I have put off using the fabric and tended to hoard it more than anything, but after using it in the VIP Program this month, I started using it non-stop.  When you get the box of fabric, the colors are:  Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Old Olive and Marina Mist.  I did not use the Marina Mist on this bag, it was a bit much.

So armed with my color combo, I went with the polka dot pattern to choose my stamp set.  What better set than Circle Circus?  Stamped on Whisper White card stock and layered with some of these colors, my gift bag was almost done.  A fabric bow tied using the 10 Second Bow Maker™ and a little trick that my VIP members learned with it, and my bag itself was done!

Just like I say you shouldn't have nekked envelopes, you shouldn't have nekked tissue paper.  I mean really, who wants plain, boring, nekked tissue paper?  Especially when you can use your stamps and make your own CUSTOM tissue paper.  (Remember, stamps are not just for cards.)

If you feel at all like Mary, I encourage you to get to making your own gift bags starting today.  I challenge you to think of the next gift you need to give, then create a most awesome gift bag.  Yes, you can even make a gift bag if you are giving a gift card.  Share your success story with making your own gift bag when you have done this below this post!