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Happy Holidays!

teacher gifts: ombre zip pouches

For Teacher Appreciation Day, our preschool parents decided it would be fun to pool our money and send the teachers for a well-deserved spa treatment, so I offered to make zip pouches to use as the gift card holders. 

I whipped up these little ombre zip pouches using Anna's lil' cutie pouch tutorial and one of Target's fun ombre tablecloths. While at target, I also picked up some leather boot laces for the zipper pulls.

I love giving handmade gifts, but I also know how much teachers love to get gift cards, and these pouches offer the perfect combination the two! They came together in no time at all, and I still have a ton of fabric left over that would make really cute matching tote bags! ... Mother's Day gifts?! Maybe!

 

Thank you to all of the wonderful teachers out there - we appreciate everything you do for our kiddos!

bread making kit

My best friend Kelly and her husband have been the guinea pigs for my bread making adventure over the past year.  They have always given kind feedback, and flattered me by returning their bread bag and asking for more. If they ever tasted a bad loaf, they never said so.

For her belated Christmas gift, I put together a bread making kit which includes this book, a baking stone, yeast, handmade bread bags, and container for storing the dough.

These bread bags are a little different from the ones I made in the past.  Using flour sack kitchen towels I was able to make 12 bags for under $4 ($0.33/each)!

I love how they turned out. The material is very lightweight, and the wrinkles give the bags such a nice texture. 

I embroidered "fresh" on the bottom of one of the bags, just for fun!

Happy Baking Kel, I can't wait to try a loaf!

baked, wrapped, and delivered!

  baked.

wrapped.

and delivered!

Thanks to all the wonderful teachers out there, we do appreciate ewe!

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Want to make your own?  Here is the Tutorial:

teacher gifts: we appreciate ewe

The teachers a my boys' preschool are just the best.  And to let them know just how much we appreciate them, I thought we would give them something handmade.  So, bread bags & bread it is!
With a name like Little Lambs Preschool, it's hard not to have fun with it! So, thank ewe to all the teachers a Little Lambs Preschool - we appreciate all ewe do!
My alarm is set for a quarter til' bight-n-early so I can get all the baking done before school - wish me luck! I have all the bags and tags ready to be assembled and the dough in the fridge.
What teacher gifts are you giving this year? (I need some good ideas because I don't think I can get away with bread again for end of the year gifts!)

bread bag update

This morning I decided to finish up the last of my 6 bread bags, but wouldn't  you know it, I ran out of ribbon. So...

in a pinch I decided to reuse the hem pieces...

and it worked out great!  Add some Fray Check along the cut edges, and then insert the two unfinished ends of the hem pieces into the side seam of the bag, and sew! it's that easy.

5 minute bread bag tutorial

 





While baking bread a few weeks ago, I decided to wrap up a loaf and bring it to a friend who had just returned home from an emergency room visit.  But wouldn't you know, I couldn't find a bag to put it in.  On my next visit to Target, I grabbed a 3-pack of dishtowels that caught my eye.  At first, I considered adding a casing and a drawstring, but when it came down to it, I needed something faster and easier (with two busy boys running around, fast and easy is all that I have time for these days).  Instead, I found a spool of grosgrain ribbon in my stash (from the dollar store) and after five minutes of cutting and sewing I was finished!

Many of you probably don't need a tutorial to figure this one out, but I remember when I was just starting out on my sewing adventure, I loved having a step-by-step guide so I could visualize the whole process.

Oh, and for the bread, I LOVE this book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  Baking bread theses days is a snap!  And it makes for great gifts too.  With this tutorial, you can make six bags in about 30 minutes (five minutes each - just like the bread).  I like to get my bread going and then hop on the sewing machine and whip out a few bags while I am waiting (and enjoying the wonderful aroma). 

finished bag measurements: 8"X13"





Materials: 
skill level: beginner

• Dish towel (27"X18.5") - each towel makes 2 bags
• 28" ribbon for each bag

step 1: fold the towel in half cross wise and cut...

creating two equal rectangles measuring 18.5" X 14" (two bags)

Step 2: to reduce some bulk, cut off the folded hem along the side...

it should look something like this.

step 3: cut your ribbon to 28" long and fold in half.  Measure 2" from the top of the bag and...

pin the folded side of the ribbon into place between the sides of the bag - I like to leave a little of the ribbon sticking out just to make sure it doesn't slip out while I am sewing

Step 4: sew down the side and across the bottom of the bag...

when you are done it should look like this.

Step 5: (this step is optional) I like to finish the edges so the bread doesn't get little strings all over it.  I used my serger along the unfinished edges, but if you don't have one, just use a zig-zag stitch instead...

then just clip the strings, and turn it right side out... 

Finished! 

place your cooled bread inside and secure with a bow!

Here is the book.  After borrowing it from the library, I immediately purchased a copy for myself.




If you decide to give the bags a try I would love to see them!
UPDATE: Here is an alternative to using ribbon:

click HERE for the instructions!

They make great thank you gifts for teachers!

paper bread bag tutorial

Bread making starter kit

paper bread bag TUTORIAL

 

Sharing baked goods with friends and loved ones has never been so easy! This paper bread bag is created entirely form items found around the house.

For this project you will need:

- paper bag

- piece of cardboard - large enough to fit your word(s)

- sticky foam letters (I found these at Target a few years ago)

- glue (I used a Scotch Wrinkle Free glue stick)

- stamp pad

- writing utensil*

- ruler*

- scissors

- sewing machine

* these items are optional.

Stamp Instructions:

The first step is to decide what you would like your stamp to say.  I went for FRESH BAKED BREAD, but there are so many possibilities.

Next, draw parallel lines to use as guides when laying out your letters.  This is the part is optional, if you are comfortable with winging-it, then go for it.

Remove any unnecessary foam pieces.

Lay out the letters backwards on the cardboard before gluing to make sure everything looks right. Trim any excess cardboard.

 Carefully slide the letters off to the side, keeping them in the correct order.

Cover the cardboard with glue.

 Attach the letters.

Carefully peel off the paper backing, leaving the sticky side exposed (after the ink is applied the stickiness should not be an issue).

 Set aside to dry.


Bag Instructions:

Cut the paper bag to a size that fits the item you are packaging, leaving 1/2" seam allowance. 

Sew around three edges of the bag using a sewing machine (if you don't have a sewing machine, tape would work too).

 Trim the edges as needed.  I used pinking sheers to create a decorative edge.

OK, now for the fun part! Lets get stamping.

The glue is probably not totally dry, and you may want to let it set a while longer.  I, however, was a little impatient so I went ahead and used the stamp right away (and didn't have any problems).

 Dab ink onto the letters until they are evenly coated.

Flip the stamp over and press firmly on the back. 

 It is worth taking your time on this part.

 Carefully lift up the stamp and admire your work!

Repeat as needed. 

If you are curious about the bread, it is called Wheat Stalk Bread from this book.

Thanks for stopping by!