Papertrey Ink Star Search Video Contest: Card-in-a-Bag Treat & Gift Bags

I'm so honored to have been chosen as one of the 5 finalists for the Papertrey Ink Star Search video contest! I'm even more excited to finally be able to share all of my fun treat holder and gift bag ideas will all of my Crafty Friends! If you like my video and project idea, please head over to the Star Search voting page and submit a vote for me. While you're there, check out the other 4 great winter project ideas from talented Papertrey crafters. I've added a photo gallery of the assembly steps and project design ideas below and will be posting more detailed instructions and another video soon. If you decide to create one of these fun projects yourself, please don't forget to enter it in my November Blog Challenge!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE & VIEW THE OTHER FINALISTS

The back of the "Card-in-a-Bag" is a perfect place for a family photo or stamped sentiment!

There are many alternate closure styles you can come up with! 

Using the Front & Center dies from PTI is relatively easy & straightforward as far as creating the front and back panels. Just simply cut the panels and then add a bottom by cutting a piece of paper the same width as the base of the die but leave it at least 1 inch longer than you'd like the bottom to be. That leaves room for scoring at least 1/2 inch on each side to adhere to the bag panels.

I found it easiest when using the edger dies to cut my patterned paper and then cut two "backer" panels to make the bag more sturdy. Patterned paper tends to be thinner than plain card stock. You don't have to use white, you can use a solid color that coordinates with your patterned paper or stamp some paper yourself to create a fun coordinating liner! I like to cut the backer panels longer than my bag panels so I can simply fold them in and glue them together:

The next step is to cut your handle being careful about placement! It's hard to cut through 4 pieces of paper at once, so I tended to cut one, then put the next layer under the first one and align the die in the open hole. Be careful to make sure you cut the back panels facing the direction they will be assembled so that the hole matches up when the panels are glued back-to-back! I learned this the hard way when I cut these two panels and then flipped the back around to discover my hole wasn't perfectly centered. Oops! 

The smallest half-circle in the Hoopla Stitching Die Collection and the smallest oval from the Noted die collection seemed to be the best sizes for handles. I frequently use use a Crop-a-Dile to punch holes for ribbon or string instead as handles take up a lot of space I can use to decorate or add windows. I also had a lot of fun cutting out 4 panels and attaching them to each other to create a fun treat box with plenty of room for a family-sized bag of caramel corn! 

The plain circle from the 2 1/2" Limitless Layers Circle die set fits beautifully on Tag Sale #6. One again that little half circle from Hoopla came in handy and nested onto my tag like it was made to fit! The caramel corn I made for the photo shoot sure didn't last long around my house! Neither did the cookies I made for this cute little number:

These are so easy and fun to make, you can be sure you haven't seen the last of them on my blog. You can literally make these for any occasion using any stamp & die set you have on hand. I love to cut windows into my bags, but that's certainly not a requirement. My plans for future bags include a wrap for a wine bottle, a treat bag with a gift card envelope on the bag and a gift holder for a dangling ornament you can see through the window. I'll be coming up with some measurements to cut gusseted sides so that you can create a traditional gift bag if you choose. I cannot wait to see all of your designs and I truly hope you love this idea as much as I do so please share them with all of us on the November Challenge page!

Much love & happy crafting!

~Sunny

Comments

[Sue McRae]

Congrats on making the top 5 list! I really enjoyed your video and fun projects. Good luck!

[Teresa Currie]

Congratulations on making the cut for the Papertrey Ink Star Search!! Great projects, Sunny!!

[DanaKirby]

Love your project!! Thanks for sharing all the pictures and directions!,

[Kathy Mc]

Awesome video for Papertrey's Star Search Contest, Sunny, and best of luck to you! Your treat bags are adorable and appreciate your detailed post and pictures. TFS!

[Marilyn in Michigan]

Yay, Sunny! Top 5! Wishing you the best in the voting. Love your projects.

[Denise Bryant]

Congrats on being one of the finalists! Your projects are fabulous! Can't wait to see the videos and vote! Good luck! We will all be rooting for you!

[Noelle]

You have me drooling over your Holiday Lane scene! Congrats and best of luck.

[Sue McIsaac]

Enjoyed your video & look forward to giving your idea a try! Thank you.

[PatQ]

Congrats on your video! Loved your idea of the treat video.

[StephClapper]

Hi Sunny! A very big Congrats to you for being one of the 5 finalists! I fell in love with your treat bags, especially because they can hold family sized gifts. They are gorgeously decorated, plus a photo card and treat bag, all in one. How creative! Thanks for sharing the details. I wish you the best of luck and since you live in cold country, I'm sending you some Florida sunshine! Stay warm and good luck! Stephanie.

[Chris]

Thanks for the stills Sunny! I love them all, especially the Holiday lane - hope you can do a tutorial on that one! Your video was so well done - I've watched it several times and now I feel I know you! Good luck on the finals!

[Karen]

Lol, whoops, I just posted that I wish you'd show still photos and here they are! I should have read all of your posts first, I guess, before commenting! These are gorgeous, and I'm glad for the details in order to give them a try myself. Just lovely!

[Leanne S]

I loved your project. It was my #1 favorite & voted for you. All the best!

[Nancy G]

Hey Sunny these are wonderful and so was your video!! You were my first pick!!

[Joanne Lowe]

I thought yours was THE BEST of them all!!! WONDERFUL project and great presentation. All 5 were very good, but to me yours stood out as the best in my humble opinion, and if I was in your shoes, I'd want to know that. I look forward to checking out more on your blog and looking to see if you have done more videos--if you haven't, you should!!! :)

I hope to start my own little blog in the coming year, I love the name of your blog too, fantastic!!!

You have a lot of artistic talent, and you present very clearly, and you have great ideas.

Thanks again for the pleasure of watching your video, and of checking out your blog.

Best wishes,

Joanne Lowe

[Chandi Walsh]

Congrats! I loved your video and Idea! May have to give this a try, thanks for sharing everything.
Chandi
[email protected]

[Mary]

Love the Card in a Bag!! Your projects are so creative. Congratulations on becoming a finalist. It is a well deserved honor!

[Suzanne Russell]

Loved your products and your video production! Congrats on being selected as a PTI Superstar finalist! So glad to find your blog, I'll be a regular visitor now. : )

[Sunny]

Thank you all for the encouragement and wonderful feedback! Reading all of your comments is truly the highlight of my day. ❤️ Joanne, we're practically neighbors with you over there in Canada!

[Michelle S. (Abzzymom)]

I'm always looking for new packaging ideas and for different ways to use the Petite Places dies. Your window treat bag with the snow scene is perfect! I'm going to give it a try. Thank you for sharing this great idea.

[Iris Shubert]

Hi there Sunny, I am so impressed with your video ! I love your projects, you really did a fantastic job. I love your blog too!! I voted for you :) I love PTI products. I hope you win the big prize!! I'm definitely going to try your projects. I look forward to seeing more projects from you, you really have a great personality for videos, very thorough in you explanations, great eye for colors and prints too & .great video editing skills too. Everyone did a great job, but yours is the one I wanted to watch again right away !!!
You really represented PTI very well. they were wise to choose you. Good luck Sunny !!
Iris,SavedbyGrace

[Jill]

Congratulations, Sunny! You definitely rose to the challenge! You certainly have a lot of good idea;, thank you for sharing them. Looking forward to seeing future creations.

[Jai]

Awesome project as well as your video...which is what drove me to your blog. The still shots are great and making me look forward to more. Thank you....and count me in as a new subscriber to your blog.

[Joanne]

I love your video and wish you success. Found your blog because of the video. Love your creations.

[Karen B.]

Congratulations, your video and projects were amazing!