Monogramed Bag Project

Each year we have had our family reunion at Three Falls Cove, I love creating some kind of goodie bag or basket for everyone going. Last year I put together baskets for each family. This year I decided I would do goodie bags and try a project I saw on another blog I like to read. The original instructions said to get your bags at the Dollar Store, but good luck with that. I did find some small solid colored ones that I ended up using for all the kids. I just wrote their names on them with permanent marker and put a cute button pin on the front and filled them with candy, puzzle books, stickers, markers and prizes. They were all so excited. But now back to the craft project. I got my bags at Hobby Lobby and I think they were four for $6.99, so even though it wasn't a dollar each it wasn't too much. I loved the way they turned out and think you could make them for gift bags for friends and families without breaking the bank.  Here are the step by step instructions.

Materials you will need:
newspaper
paper plate
sponge paint brush
paper doilies (Get these at the Dollar Tree. I used the large 10 1/2 size.)
fabric paint
stencil letters for monogram ( I cut mine from Cricut vinyl before I started the project)
plain, solid color bags


Here are the bags I got at Hobby Lobby. They were 8" X 11" ( I think) and there were four in a package for $6.99. (At least I think that is the right price.)

Next, I covered the table with newspaper just in case I got messy.  Pour the fabric paint on the paper plate.

I used matte paint and I liked the way it turned out.

Position the doilie on the bag. I placed mine on the right half. Kevin thought it should be centered, but I was just following the example. Carefully sponge the paint into the holes of the doilie. On my example I got sponge happy and didn't pay attention around the edges and went off the doilie onto the bag. Oops! Thankfully it was my own bag that I experimented with. I also was impatient and didn't let the doilie circle dry before I put on the monogram, so more smudges. On all the gift ones, I laid them out to dry before doing the monogram.

Carefully remove the doilie and it should look something like this. Place the bag somewhere to dry.

After it dries place your stencil in the center of the painted circle. I used my Cricut vinyl which worked great because it stuck to the bag for the stencil painting.

Carefully sponge on the fabric paint, again being careful to stay within the boundaries. It's easy to go paint crazy and get out of the lines.

Carefully remove the stencil and it should look similar to this. Place the bag aside to let the paint dry.

After the bag dried I filled the bag with puzzle books and pencil, candy, hand sanitizer, ear plugs, crackers and cookies. I thought they turned out really cute and we got there early enough to place them in everyone's rooms before they arrived.

A nice little personal touch if I say so myself. Try it. They are really easy to make.