Not your ordinary "Paper Bag"
Designed by Lori McClellan for The Hen's Den
(Find most of the supplies here).
Featuring Simple Stories - Generations, May Arts Sheer frayed flowers
1. I used an oatmeal box, but you could use any kind of box. Take your box apart and lay it out flat, (well as flat as you can get it). Cut it to the size you want. For the oatmeal box I used I just cut off the top flaps.
2. Adhere your paper to the inside of the box, you will need more than one cut of paper to fit the entire box, you can trim off the extra after it is all adhered to the inside of the box. I wanted a bit of the inside print to fold over the top edge in the front so I made sure the inside paper was about 1 1/2 inches taller than the box. I did not add paper to the inside flap parts, I covered them at the end. When the entire inside is covered, score and fold your paper at the fold parts.
 |
| Showing the first sheet of patterned paper to the inside of the box. |
|
 |
| This shows the paper that will fold over the front. |
|
|
3. Cover the front of the box with a coordinating paper. This time make sure you cover the flaps on the bottom of the box, and you don't have to go all the way to the top (because the other paper will fold over. Cut around the flaps as closely as you can.
4. Fold over the paper from the back and adhere to the front. Fold where the box is scored
 |
| This shows the paper folded over and the flaps cut out. |
5. Cut two equal pieces of ribbon for the handles. I used 1 1/2 inch ivory ribbon cut at 18 inches. Measure in an inch from both side of the panel, and about 1 1/2 inchs down. Use a small amount of adhesive to hold the ribbon in place. Do this for both of the bigger panels of the box.
 |
| This shows you an inch from the side fold and down about an inch and a half. When you sew the front, it will catch the ribbon and hold it secure. |
|
|
6. Sew along the top of the box and the line where the back pattern and front patten papers meet. You should place your ribbon handles slightly below this so as you sew, it will catch the ribbon and secure the handles. Sewing is optional, if you choose not to sew, make sure you adhere with a strong adhesive.
 |
| Just remember to go slow. I had to start over a couple of times because the thread broke. When I went slow it was fine. Do not pay close attention to the sewing on my bag, it looks bad but we are just going to call this look "Shabby". |
7. Cut another piece of chip board/cereal box to the size of 2 1/2 wide by 7 inches long. This will be the top flap. Cover this with coordinating paper. To cover this with the paper, I cut the paper double wide, stick the chipboard in the middle and wrapped the two edges in to meet in the middle. That way you have a finished edge on the outside. Score it at 1 1/2 inches and 3 inches. I sewed this to the back in between the handles. I attempted to sew around this after it was already sew onto the bag. If I were to do it over, I would sew around the edge first, then attach to the back. Fold on the score marks.
 |
| This is the inside of the flap. See how the paper meets in the middle and it is scored. |
|
 |
| Sew it to the back of the bag. |
8. Sew the May Arts Frayed flower ribbon to the bag. This ribbon is BEAUTIFUL and really makes this project.
9. I used a sticker from the Simple Stories collection and a charm to make a mock snap. I used a magnetic closures on the bag and flap to hold the flap down.
 |
| Sticker and Journey charm for the mock snap closure. |
|
|
10. Using hot glue, glue your box back together. Also cut a paper the same size as the bottom of the bag and adhere it to the bottom.
So there you have it. This is no ordinary paper bag. What would you use it for. An Easter purse, a lunch box, a scripture bag? Let me know how you would use it, and post pictures on The Hen's Den gallery if you make one.
