Today I'm participating in the Ruby Star Wrap-along, sharing a couple of project ideas from the new book Ruby Star Wrappingby Melody Miller and Allison Tannery.
The book is full of creative ideas for making attractive, resourceful and reusable wrapping and packing options using things you already have including fabric, trims, etc.
I received a copy of Ruby Star wrapping at the Sewing Summit this fall and have been antsy to try a few projects ever since. The pictures in the book are beautifully shot and full of lots of creative inspiration.
I have been making present-wrapping using the Pillowcase Pouch pattern. We tend to give and receive a lot of books at our house so this felt like a simple way to create packaging that we can reuse year after year.
And it looks pretty. I couldn't resist using Melody Miller's adorable typewriters to create a simple pocket for a card or note.
Pillowcase construction is so easy. I made mine with french seams (where the seam allowance is enclosed) to make the appearance a little tidier and to keep the inside seams from fraying and looking ratty. Basically I sewed the pieces together wrong sides together first, then turned inside out and sewed ⅜" seams with the fabrics right sides together, encasing the raw edges. Very slick.
The great thing about his idea is that you can customize your sizes according to the wrap size you need. There are good guidelines for customizing your size in the book. I made one bag in standard pillowcase size - an additional and usable gift in and of itself. Post Christmas is a great time to find great deals on Christmas fabric making simple, inexpensive, and useful holiday gifts for next season
To see other projects and ideas from Ruby Star Wrapping visit these other stops on the tour.
11.7.12 Anna of noodlehead
11.9.12 Amanda of A Crafty Fox
11.12.12 Elizabeth of Oh, Fransson!
11.14.12 Brooke of Pitter Putter Stitch
11.16.12 Erin of Two More Seconds
11.19.12 Jennifer of BettyCrockerAss
11.21.12 Rochelle of Lucky Lucille
11.23.12 Sukie of Sukie – don’t you know who I am?
11.26.12 Elizabeth of Don’t Call Me Betsy
11.28.12 Gina and crew of Bolt Neighborhood
11.30.12 Ellen of the Long Thread
12.3.12 Katie of Swim, Bike Quilt
12.5.12 Faith of Fresh Lemon Quilts
12.7.12 Lee of Freshly Pieced
12.10.12 Maureen of Maureen Cracknell Handmade
12.12.12 Sara of Sew Sweetness
12.14.12 Colleen of The Busy Bean
12.17.12 Amy of Diary of a Quilter
12.19.12 Monica of The Happy Zombie
11.9.12 Amanda of A Crafty Fox
11.12.12 Elizabeth of Oh, Fransson!
11.14.12 Brooke of Pitter Putter Stitch
11.16.12 Erin of Two More Seconds
11.19.12 Jennifer of BettyCrockerAss
11.21.12 Rochelle of Lucky Lucille
11.23.12 Sukie of Sukie – don’t you know who I am?
11.26.12 Elizabeth of Don’t Call Me Betsy
11.28.12 Gina and crew of Bolt Neighborhood
11.30.12 Ellen of the Long Thread
12.3.12 Katie of Swim, Bike Quilt
12.5.12 Faith of Fresh Lemon Quilts
12.7.12 Lee of Freshly Pieced
12.10.12 Maureen of Maureen Cracknell Handmade
12.12.12 Sara of Sew Sweetness
12.14.12 Colleen of The Busy Bean
12.17.12 Amy of Diary of a Quilter
12.19.12 Monica of The Happy Zombie
And did you know that Sew Mama Sew is hosting a link-up party with amazing prizes where you can enter your own creations from the Ruby-Star Wrapping book? You have until December 30 and can enter up to 3 projects. Ruby Star Wrapping is available from Sew Mama Sew and Amazon.
You can also visit Sukie to enter your projects for a chance at other cool prizes, like a Gelaskin $40 gift certificate an a $20 gift certificate to Pink Chalk Fabric!
Katy Cameron
These look great, I really need to dig my copy out to decide how I'm wrapping my family gifts for this year!
Debbie
Very cool! I need to try this!
Melissa Corry
Cute little pouches Amy!! Who gets the Shannon Hale book and which one is it?? I love Shannon Hale's books 🙂 Hope you are having a very Merry Christmas!!
Mary
I found a ton of Christmas fabric at a little thrift store last Christmas. It wasn't really my style but I bought every last piece of it and made little sacks ( like santa would carry with a ribbon through loops up top). When I pulled out those bags this year, I have to say I felt like a GENIUS. Wrapping was so so so easy and I just stuck a label on it. Ribbon was already on it, you
Logan Marriott
Such a great idea! I think i'll go try some now!
Lana
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING... What a great idea!!! I have a lot of Christmas fabric too...however, I am in the middle of making quilts from baby clothes for a set of twin girls for Christmas! I am literally buried under a sea of thread and baby clothes!!!<br />Maybe I can sneak a couple of these in before the Big Day!!!<br />
Kristie
These a so sweet. Might haveto try for upcoming birthdays...maxed out for Christmas, lol!
diane
very cute wrappings
melody miller
Aww, I love them. So smart to make one an actual pillowcase size too!
Maureen Cracknell Handmade
SO cute!!
Live a Colorful Life
These are great! I'm going to try a french seam next time for sure!