Thank you card and Green Gift Bag

For my first post of 2011 I am sharing a thank you card and how to reuse a paper bag about the size of a lunch bag but mine was a bit bigger. First the thank you card.
This was my first time using this technique. I cut white cardstock using a circle Spellbinder Die. Next I stamped an image using Versa Mark ink onto the white cardstock. Using Tim Holtz Distressing Inks, Wild Honey and Peeled Paint I inked the image using the ink blending tool and foam pad.(Tip: use light pressure with the blending tool and a circular motion works best) Next I mounted the stamped and inked circle onto a kraft piece of cardstock that was die cut with the Lacey Circle Spellbinders Die. Sorry the picture didn't pick up the white embossed paper very well.
Next up is the recycled brown paper bag I used as a gift bag.

I found this on someones blog. I wish I could remember where because they had a video you could watch. I just used scrap lace, rick rack and bias tape which I layered over a piece of zebra print cardstock that I cut to fit the front of the bag and rounded the top and bottom right corners. Next I decided how I was going to layer the lace, rick rack and bias tape then sewed them to the cardstock. Next I adhered the cardstock to the sack. Then I folded the sack in half and sewed each side of the sack with a zig zag stitch. Make sure you only sew the sides leaving the top open. I decided to make handles with ribbon. I punched holes about 1/2" in from each side of the sack and punched through both sides at once so the holes would be even. Then I threaded the ribbon through the holes and knotted each end of the ribbon on the inside of the sack to keep the ribbon in place. I wish I had made the ribbon an inch or so longer. It seemed a bit short but it worked. You don't need to add handles I just did since I had zebra print ribbon to match the paper. I gave this to my daughter who loves all things zebra print. She loved it so much that she didn't even mention the gifts that were inside the gift bag. I had to call her back to make sure she had gotten the gifts. She was so exited over the gift bag that she forgot to mention the gifts. I had no idea that the gift bag would be such a big hit.

Here is the matching card and envelope I made to go with the gift bag. I usually don't decorate envelopes but I had that little leftover scrap of paper and decided to use it on the envelope. For the glittered letters I used white letter stickers and while they were still on their original backing I used a glue pen on each letter, sprinkled some red glitter over them and pressed the glitter lightly with my finger to make sure it stuck, then let it dry before peeling them off and applying to the card. I find it fun to match the card to its recipient and even matching the wrapping paper or gift bag too.
I am hoping to post more things this year. We will see how that goes. Hope you enjoyed the cards and recycled gift bag.