Hey Everyone,
Happy Friday!
I don’t want to alarm anyone, but as of today there are only 60 Days until Christmas. 
Can you believe it? Soon the malls will change over their decorations and we will have to endure listen to Mariah Carey tell us, daily, What She Wants For Christmas. (it’s you, by the way)
So – in honour, or in frantic preparation, of the oncoming holiday – today’s project is an Upcycled Gift bag!
My youngest turned 3 this month and at his birthday party he received a gift in this brown paper gift bag.
Nothing out of the ordinary here, just a plain ol’ brown paper bag. So, let’s give it some life, shall we?
I used my Dyelusion Ink Spray in White Linen over my AC Hemp Flower stencil.
Next i used the Crafters Workshop Mini Cosmic Swirl Stencil, and dabbed on some teal acrylic paint using a makeup sponge into the corners of the bag, giving it a kind of teal frame.
after that was dry, i took out my AC Constellation Stencil and dabbed on some Gold acrylic paint, randomly across the bag.
I don’t know what it is about Teal and Gold and Kraft (the colour of the bag) but this combination says Christmas to me. 
I wanted to add some contrast to the bag, so i pulled out my Ranger Archival Ink Pad in Sepia and the Starry Night Dyelusions Stencil and just used my makeup sponge in the ink pad to create a border along the right side of the bag on the front and the back.
Next I wanted to create a tag for the bag. So, i found a half used piece of brown cardstock and used the Starry Night stencil again. I used a bronze shimmer spray ink and was quite happy with the result.
I cut out the big star and put the rest of the bronze stars into my stash of bits and bobs to be used on another project later.
Using some Distress stain in Antique Linen and Picket Fence, and a very oooold bottle of Tattered Angles Glimmer mist (seriously, i think it’s almost 6 years old?) i added some colour and a little shine to a manilla shipping tag.
then inked around the edges with my Sepia ink pad.
I dipped into my stash of Washi tape and pulled out some gold patterned tape and a teal pattern, to bring the project together.
Finally, i added a bit of glue to my star and my tag and then used this amazing glass glitter that was gifted to me a few years ago by a very dear friend, but i hadn’t had a chance to use it yet. The glass glitter just catches light SO beautifully, i’m so sorry these photos do NOT do it justice. I used a Gold Metallic Sharpie to write Merry Christmas, then i attached it to the bag.
Throw in some recycled tissue paper…. and it’s ready to hold a gift for someone special!
I had a lot of fun upcycling and using all kinds bits and pieces from my stash of art supplies! i hope you have a great week, and find some time to make use of some of your art supplies you haven’t touched in a while!
Please come and join me Monday mornings for a Zentangle challenge at my blog!