Welcome Crafters to the Lake

Each summer a group of teacher friends come to the lake for relaxation, good eats, fine conversations and making crafts. We rotate taking turns coming up with a craft and making sure everyone has the right supplies. Thrift stores are one of our most valuable resources. Some of our previous creative endeavors from years past include:
left to right front of picture
cake stand (plate glued on a wine glass for a base) wine glass (decorative wire and beads glued on) spoon (decorative wire and beads glued on) writing original poems (typing on decorative paper and framing the work) and napkin note cards.
Last year additions were paper gift boxes which became highly addictive once we got the hang of making these boxes.  
This year's craft were hostess wine bags made from jeans or khaki pant legs. This is definitively an upcycle item which I am sure by now has caught your interest. 

We brainstormed other uses for these bags besides adding a wine bottle to it. Here were some we came up with... olive oil, balsamic vinegar, glass container with spaghetti noodles, pound of coffee beans, candy, packaged cookies. World Market is an excellent place for shopping for an item to fit in the bag. Michaels, JoAnn Fabric and Dollar Store are good resources to keep the cost down for supplies.
Our Master Craft Leader brought everything we needed and more. 

The following is a tutorial to help you complete the project. 
Supplies needed:

• completed bags made from pant legs
• different size doilies used for stenciling

• brushes

• glitter paints, gel paints, craft paints e.g. Craftsmart Multisurface Premium Glitter Acrylic Paint
• artificial flowers 
• ribbon
• scrapbooking tag ideas include: HAPPY BIRTHDAY -THANK YOU- CONGRATULATIONS
• glue
• imagination

Directions;
Cut off a pant leg and you will need one 16 inches in length by 6 inches wide. Sew bottom corners at an angle and sew across bottom. Turn fabric inside out. The finished edge of pant leg will be top part of the bag. 

Position doily on pant leg and use brush to dab on paint.  Reposition doily to other spots on the pant leg to dab on paint. 

Let one side dry 20-30 minutes before doing other side. 
Place object into bag. Use ribbon and flowers to decorate, adding a tag.

I really liked this one made from a sweater sleeve perfect for the holidays.  

A fun tine had by all!