Gift Bag and Pretty Flower Holder

It's getting late and it's almost time for us to go to bed when I realize that we have only purchased gifts for the teachers and not the teacher's assistants....oh my! and it's teacher appreciation day!!!but never fear, crafty mom is here!


For the first project, a flower stand, this is what you'll need: some decorative party napkins, styrofoam balls, scissors, bread knife and Mod Podge

Take the napkin and separate the layers, normally there is only two layers but this one had three.

Cut small squares, sorry, I switched napkins.  The size of the squares can be about 1" by 1" but they don't have to be exact measurements

Take your Mod Podge and place some in a small container, you don't want to end up with styrofoam in your Mod Podge container! Work one square at a time covering your styrofoam ball.  

Also remember to dab Mod Podge on top of the squares as well

When you are done, it will look like this:
Place it on top of wax paper and let it dry a couple of hours before you go to the next step.  This was the hardest part for me as I am very impatient!

Once they dry, they will look like the one below, sorry, I didn't have the black and white one ready for the picture, but you get the idea.

Once they are fully dried, cut through the middle with a bread knife.  It should be pretty easy to cut through.

Add some silk flowers for Spring and Wah-lah! Pretty flowers for a teacher assistant's desk.  Since there are four assistants in total, they each get one plus a gift card from Office Depot for school supplies.

This is a close up

My next dilemma is that you can't wrap these flowers and all I have is wrapping paper....oh my! but never fear, the crafty mom is here!.  Can you believe it, I got this gift wrapping paper at the dollar tree store and it's very thick paper and has a shine to it.  I'm going back tomorrow to get some more rolls.

These are the supplies you'll need, you can munch on the crackers as you work.  The zots are not really necessary so don't worry if you don't have any on hand but the double stick tape would be nice, otherwise, you can use regular scotch tape too.

You will also need some card board and a hole punch.  Any kind of cardboard will do, it's time to recycle those cookie, cereal and cracker boxes you have. 
 
Wrap your box as if it was a gift on all sides and bottom, leave the top opened.  But, don't tape the paper to the actual box because you will be sliding the box out later.

Once you finish wrapping it, it will look like this

See this corner, that's why I wanted to use the Zots, but you can use tape.

Once all sides are taped down, slide the box out.

Measure a small strip of carboard (from a cereal box or any other box you want to recycle) the size of the bottom of the bag.  This will go inside for support.

Cover your strip of cardboard with the paper

This is what it will look like once covered

And this is the back.  Add some more tape so it can be taped to the inside bottom of the bag for support.

And this is what it will look like:

Next, cut out two more strips for the side supports

Place them inside the bag and carefully fold the bag and cardboard over once

It will look like this:

Punch some holes for the string/ribbon

Do the same for the other side.  Pull some string, rope or ribbon through to make handles.  This is the finished gift bag......super easy, don't you think?

And here is the bag embellished. Very pretty either way.  I think the teacher's assistants will like it along with the Office Depot gift card for school supplies.

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