We make it our practice (when we remember) to request paper bags for our groceries, especially in November and December. We use them to make some of our Christmas wrapping paper.
Cut open the brown paper bags (we do this because most of them have store logos on them). Use paint or glue with food coloring in it and stamps, sponges, or potato prints to decorate the bags.
I like to cut a few giant potatoes in half lengthwise and use some Christmas cookie cutters to make large Christmas stamps. I also like to use two sponges in an alternating red and green color. This is fast, but it's surprisingly attractive. Have shallow pans of paint (tempera or glue and food coloring) on the table and stamp away. A simple two stamp pattern looks best, I think.
We spread these out to dry as best we can. To wrap packages it's nice if you have string or twine, because scotch tape doesn't work very well on its own to hold the bags closed.
You can also take puffy fabric paints and other paints and decorate the bags without cutting them apart. These are nice and sturdy gift bags, and they can be a part of your own family traditions. We used the same decorated bag for every birthday for at least five years.
This is actually a crafty-frugal thing I already do=) I didn't know about the glue and food coloring thing though. Have to try that one.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried polystyrene (speelling?) tiles for printing. You draw on them with a brio pen with something christmasy, for example a christmas tree. And then apply paint to the tile (it's quite good to use a printing roller to avoid getting too much paint on. Then you print with the tile. The indentation you drew remain plain and the rest of the block is painted. (think that makes sense!)
ReplyDeleteYou just have to remember that what ever you draw will come out in a mirror image :-)
I'm going to do this in a week or so, and I'll post some pictures on my blog (I might even remember to come over and tell you when I've done it!)