"Sometimes adventure calls and we ignore it. We miss the opportunity for a lifetime of memories. Go ahead, be adventurous" ~Maria Villanueva

August 13, 2010

Brown Bag Album

First a little Thank You
I first started blogging to share my crafts with my friends and family and was not really thinking beyond that. Little did I know that there was a whole world waiting for me called Blogland and that there'd be so many people interested in what I made and the stories I tell.

Fellow crafters who take the time to write me comments to encourage me.   Little did I know that I would develop friendships with incredible people whom I may not have ever gotten to know otherwise.  I have been told that I'm like part of the family, I have been told that they see me as a neighbor, and many refer to me as a blog friend.  I feel like I came to Blogland with little to offer but in return have received so much from all of you.  

There are many blogs in Blogland that have captured my interest and from time to time I mention them on my posts. Some for their creativity and others for their inspiration. It is quite surprising to me when my own blog gets mentioned by a fellow blogger.  It's the most amazing feeling when someone takes time off their day to mention me. I am truly thankful to all of you who have left me messages and to those of you who have posted about my blog. I want to share a more recent post that Sonia Barton of Modista Modesta shared on her blog.

You can read it here

Now on to my Brown Bag Album:
before I get into the pictures, I want to apologize.......once again.  My rinky dink camera broke in the middle of my project and had to use my seven year old's, Toys R Us camera!!! don't laugh, he thinks his camera is better than mommy's.
 You would never think this photo album was made using brown lunch bags!
And I am not that creative to have thought of this on my own.  I was actually surfing Ebay and came accross a vendor who sold paper lunch bags "ironed" by the dozen!!! I said, whaaat?!!! Yes, curiosity got the best of me.  Why would anyone on earth want to buy ironed pressed lunch paper bags? I guess it would be the same people who would iron their under clothes, pajamas, socks and towels right?






 Well, after a little research  I found that some crafters are making albums out of these lunch bags, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Here's what you'll need:
lunch paper bags

also, double sided tape, ribbon
and a crop a dile or any tool for an eyelette setter
 A few eyelettes
And lastly, some scrapbook paper
First, you'll need to fold your first bag which will act as your front page and also last page of your album. This bag will end up being a different size than the rest as I will explain later.
Fold like this:
 keep going

 To look like this:


I will write on it FRONT and LAST PAGE as a guide for viewing but you don't have to.  The area that says FRONT, is the area where my fingers are placed on the picture above.  The black line indicates where you will sew....yes, there's some sewing involved but not too much. 

At this point, you'll want to create the hidden pockets in your album.  This is where you'll need an eyelette setter.  Take your bag and lay it down bottom side up like this:
 next, use a whole punch to punch out the whole where the eyelette will go.  You'll need to go through the first two layers:

 Then set your eyelette
 When you're done, it will look like this picture below, see the hidden pocket?


Next, You'll want to gather all your bags layer them facing opposite direction for interest.  Notice that the one you place in the very back will be both your front page and your last page:

Fold them in half.  This is the area you will sew, where they all fold in half.  But, once again, remember, your last bag will not be equal length as the rest.  You'll need to glue it to the one before it when you're done and cover with scrapbook paper. 


Also, notice how the last bag will be a little shorter than the rest, it's okay, you can just glue it to the back of the previous bag.
Sew down the center, make sure you sew along the half way area of the bags (remember, your last bag is not the same size as the rest because of that fold we did earlier).
Sew the bags together and then iron them so they lay nice and flat.


Next, decorate your bags using scrapbook paper, here's how the front of the book looks.  Notice how the back page is concealed by the front page:
 
 
you can add your pictures to all these pages with double sided tape
 

some cute pockets for love notes.

And don't forget the bags for mementos








I'd like to spotlight a blog I stumbled upon sometime last week.  Susan is the creative author of My Place To Yours  .  Her pictures say a thousand words and they will captivate you from the moment you arrive.  Visit Susan so you can see for yourself what a fun, creative and inspiring blog she has.  



I'm sharing this in the following linky parties:

The Girl CreativeMaking

21 comments:

  1. This is soooo cute! I absolutely LOVE it!! Now that I have time on my hands I can head over to my mom and try this out on her sewing machine!! Thank you so much for your kind comment. I too found what a wonderful support system of friends we have here in Blogland!! Thank you so so much!! I needed those kind words today...
    -April

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  2. This project is fantastic! I wish I had more confidence in myself to try more projects. You have such a fun blog! Have a happy weekend and come by soon. Anne

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  3. Nifty project! I enjoyed your blog and will be back to visit again soon.

    Jane

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  4. I love this tutorial! I had bought these paper bag albums off of Etsy already made, but now I can make my own! Thanks! Suzie

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  5. What a great craft, this book is fabulous! I remember a friend sent me a book similar to it many moons ago, and I've always loved it.

    You have two things here that I need, patience and an eyelette setter :D

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  6. Can't believe you made this from a brown paper bag-I'm going to have to try that sometime this winter when I have more time!

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  7. That is amazing !!!! From a brown lunch bag - really ???? Wow - what a fantastic imagination you have to even be able to think of that !!!!!!

    Thank you for visiting Lavender Hill and your sweet comments !
    gena
    www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com

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  8. That's fantastic!!!
    I couldn't do that!!
    First imagine it and then do it! I think that even with your explanations (that are great, by the way) I couldn't do it!

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  9. HAPPY BELATED PINK SATURDAY MARIA,
    THIS TUTORIAL IS AWESOME...YOU ARE A WONDERFUL TEACHER...HOW COULD YOU DO THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SEWING MACHINE?
    IT IS AWESOME AND I CANNOT BELIEVE A PAPERBAG CAN MAKE SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL.
    HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT CINDY ADKINS CREATIVE SPIRIT....I HAVE HER BUTTON ON MY BLOG...YOU WOULD BE PERFECT FOR HER THING THAT SHE HAS ON THE 8TH OF THE MONTH. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.
    HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND.
    HUGS
    SIMPLY DEBBIE

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  10. This is an awesome lesson on recycling! You did an incredible job! Love it!

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  11. Oh my goodness - what a beautiful project, I don't understand how you did it at all - I'd have to see it up close. Sandie

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  12. Wow, Maria,
    This is amazing!!! And I think your pics are great--Hooray for Toys R Us...lol
    If you get a chance, zip over to my blog and take a look at "Surprise Day" and then, check your email...I've got a note waiting for you there...
    Hugs,
    Cindy

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  13. I've always wanted to do something like this or try the tp roll books or an altered book but for some reason, they intimidate me.

    This is lovely.

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  14. I have been seeing alot of these around lately. More and more I have been considering giving it a try..
    I love yours and the directions are so simple!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  15. All I can say is WOW! This is an amazing project! Beautiful - and as Terry said a good lesson on recycling!

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  16. Hi Maria,
    I don't know if you've been on your blog...I've been hoping you would see my message...If you do, just head over to Whimsical Musings...I have a surprise for you and I need your address!
    Hugs,
    Cindy
    xo

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  17. Now that seems tideous...but oh so cute. You did a great job! Hope all is well:) Debbie

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  18. great job. I've seen them and you did a fabulous job with it.

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  19. Hi Maria,
    I'm so happy you were excited! And I'm happy that you are in the Happily Ever After of your life!!!
    Hugs,
    Cindy
    xox

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  20. This is the coolest thing I have EVER seen done with a paper bag!
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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  21. Holy cow this is awesome! You're amazing! This looks so cool...

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