Easy Handy Bag Tutorial

I made it  home from my trip to B.C. to move my brother and his family to Alberta, YIPPEE!!, and I have a project to share with you....


This was one of the make and takes for the  Pampered Crafter's Sorority Retreat. I had to giggle when I asked my friend Dodie aka Camera Girl what to call this bag, she replied that it is an "EASY HANDY BAG" since I use it for Easter baskets, Christmas gift Bags, Card holders, last minute birthday bags and just about anything.. You know she is right, it's dang handy!!!~  This is one of the favorite projects of the kids at school to make since it is so easy to make and we give them lots of candy to fill it with at Easter...hmmm could just be the candy.   Diane and I made one for each of the retreat attendees and filled them with all sorts of little things to pamper themselves with. Then they got to learn how to make it.


Here is the measurements and basic fold directions......

Score a 12 x 12 piece of card stock at 4 1/2" and 7 1/2" .  I went over the score lines with a pencil, only so you could see them better.......

Rotate 90 degrees and score at 3" and 9" ......

Fold all score lines very well.....

If you would like to stamp anything on your bag, now is the time to stamp. I didn't photograph this part, but I stamped Rubbernecker's Flourish #1 sku:611-01 with Memento Rich Cocoa...





Fold the outer center score lines to meet the score lines as shown below. 

I am supporting the inside corner with my finger so I can get a crisp clean score line.  It has to be exactly on the score line for it to fold together properly......

Burnish your fold with a bone folder. 

You will do this with all four corners.....

Use a strong adhesive to adhere the flap in,  I used Scor-Tape.....

Adhere the second flap ... do this on both ends of the bag...

This is what your bag sides should look like......

I made handles that measure 3/4" by 12 and strengthened them by adding a strip of ribbon over them with Scor-Tape.  I attached them with brads and because I am so anal about  brad backs showing I covered them with some circles that I punched out of scrap paper.


I added a punched border (EK Success Scrolls and Dots) and some brown grosgrain ribbon.  I die cut 2 Sizzix#2 Daisies and sponged them with Memento Summer Sky before layering them together. I added a dollar store rhinestone to the center and tucked some pins into it.  To finish it off I added some Frosted Lace Stickles to the tips of the flowers and the Flourish.

Thanks for stopping by and have a most fabulous day!!!
Ellen