Clara and I had a lot of fun with this little (frugal) project — we made up some gift bags to give to friends who come over for play dates! I think they would also be very nice to wrap hostess gifts for any sort of gathering this time of year.
She was having a bit of a rough time with some teething pain, but there didn’t seem to be any shortage of smiles once she was invited over to paint — Yay!! She used carrots dipped in orange paint to stamp pumpkins of all different sizes. Special thanks to Ashley who recommended carrots for stamping! They are SO much FUN!!
Once the paint was completely dry, I drew green stems and added some fun details with a black marker.
I cut out several pieces, attached them to paper lunch bags, and tied them up with some fabric scraps. Fun, festive, and very frugal!!
Anyone up for a play date??
November 5th, 2010 on 2:06 pm
Dear Valerie,
I’m .. uh.. gonna be really really sleepy tonight and surely will not wake up when Clara does when her gums hurt tonight.
Oh, what’s that? You’re right — it’s usually the other way around!
I don’t know who is a more sound sleeper, you or Emily!
Love,
Mark
November 9th, 2010 on 10:15 pm
I love that Emily is a great sleeper! If only Clara had inherited those awesome sleep genes…
November 5th, 2010 on 2:07 pm
Very cute!! Love the carrot idea.. thats perfect stamping tool! I am up for a playdate.. just let me know when
November 9th, 2010 on 10:16 pm
Yay!! I’m sure we’ll have a blast!
I wish we had stamped with them sooner! I’m sure we’ll be using them for more projects!!
November 5th, 2010 on 2:18 pm
That depends – are the gifts for the children, or the mothers who bring them?
November 5th, 2010 on 2:24 pm
Both — mommies have to get some special treats too!
November 5th, 2010 on 4:20 pm
In that case, the next time we’re in your neck of the woods, we’ll definitely make a play date! Of course it’s been about 25 years, since I’ve been east of North Dakota, so don’t start packing the gift bags, yet
November 9th, 2010 on 10:17 pm
Awww… we’ll have to do a virtual play date then!
November 5th, 2010 on 2:21 pm
I love these. What kind of things do you put in the bags…like party favors? And yes, we would love a playdate with you guys, but I bet it would be a long trip.
(I am not sure even what state you are in BTW.)
And I do love reading Mark’s comments.
November 5th, 2010 on 2:25 pm
I’m working on another post about what goes in them — be sure to check back! They’re lots of fun!
November 5th, 2010 on 2:22 pm
So pretty! I thought the paper was fabric before I started reading. Very cute.
November 9th, 2010 on 10:17 pm
Thanks! Clara was so proud of them!!
November 5th, 2010 on 2:42 pm
Very cute! Lucky play date friends =)
November 9th, 2010 on 10:19 pm
Thanks, Maryanne!!
November 5th, 2010 on 3:44 pm
This is great!
November 9th, 2010 on 10:19 pm
November 5th, 2010 on 4:20 pm
Looks like a fun project that my little ones would LOVE! Must get carrots at the store this weekend! Thanks for the great ideas!
November 9th, 2010 on 10:20 pm
You’re welcome! Have fun crafting with the kiddos! xoxo
November 5th, 2010 on 6:16 pm
Did any of the painted carrots accidentally get eaten? I could so see that happening……. orange paint, orange carrots………
Or, does that only happen in my house?
November 7th, 2010 on 4:05 pm
good idea! who knows hmmmm….
November 9th, 2010 on 10:21 pm
*crunch, crunch*
umm… is that why these carrot sticks taste so… ???blechh!!
November 5th, 2010 on 7:09 pm
I love the idea of giving a gift in a bag at the end of a play date. Sometimes little ones find it hard to leave the fun. Going away clutching a bag like that would make it easier. Can’t wait to see what you are planning for the contents.
November 9th, 2010 on 10:24 pm
It really does make saying goodbyes go a lot more smoothly. I love that the girls had an active role in making them. The contents are super-frugal! They are a lot of fun!!
November 5th, 2010 on 8:12 pm
Those are adorable little bags. Great idea.
November 9th, 2010 on 10:25 pm
Thanks, Debby!! xoxo
November 5th, 2010 on 9:12 pm
Those are just smashing! (Smashing Pumpkins- get it? OK, poor joke, but I sincerely mean to say that the bags are simple sweet!0
November 9th, 2010 on 10:26 pm
LOL I didn’t see that one coming!
Thanks!!
November 5th, 2010 on 9:47 pm
Love the idea of stamping with carrots – perfect for my little guy, who hates to get his hands messy.
November 9th, 2010 on 10:27 pm
Clara’s hands didn’t get very messy at all — have fun!! xoxo
November 6th, 2010 on 12:51 am
I bet this idea would work with different colored paint and making Christmas ornaments, too. Very clever! You have a steady hand to do all those pumpkin lines
November 9th, 2010 on 10:28 pm
I LOVE that idea!!! We’ll give it a try!
November 6th, 2010 on 1:33 am
I got to try stamping with a carrot!
November 9th, 2010 on 10:30 pm
I don’t know what took us so long! They are so much fun to stamp with!!
November 6th, 2010 on 10:44 am
Can we come for a play date? I do love to come to your blog for virtual play dates and always enjoy it as if I was really there
November 9th, 2010 on 10:32 pm
That makes me so happy, Natalie!! Yes, you’re welcome over anytime!
November 6th, 2010 on 11:05 am
Cute. I love how much your girls love to paint.
November 9th, 2010 on 10:33 pm
Thanks, Anna! It never fails to make them smile!
November 6th, 2010 on 12:06 pm
Very cute.
November 9th, 2010 on 10:34 pm
November 6th, 2010 on 8:05 pm
Hi Valerie! You have Me Encanta Tú Blog award on my blog! You can check it out here:
http://leptir-mojpribor.blogspot.com/2010/11/me-encanta-tu-blog-award.html
November 9th, 2010 on 10:34 pm
Thank you so much — it totally made my day!! Yay!!!!
November 8th, 2010 on 5:20 am
I love how all your ideas are sooo “do-able”!
By the way, I love the composition of the photo with the blue background
November 9th, 2010 on 10:38 pm
Thanks so much, Meeks! xoxo I think they are so do-able mostly out of laziness — LOL These are lots of fun to make! Have fun!!!
November 15th, 2010 on 6:23 pm
I think these would be great using a large potato cut to form an “0″ for a Christmas wreath. You would have to carve out the inside of it, but that would be easy. Dip in green paint and add bows and berries with red marker! They would also look great on greeting cards and name tags.