Eliot's Eats

A life well read and well fed

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Make Your Own Gift Bags and Go Retro

I become even more retro and vintage at Christmas time.   I think as I get older, I enjoy more retro stuff.   Er…or maybe it is me that is actually become more vintage.

Anyhoo, I found some old forgotten sticker paper in our office/guest room and I went nuts printing vintage images for packages and gift bags.

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This is what you will need to get started. Then you just need some vintage images and an imagination!

Really, I went a little overboard.

I have decorated six-pack containers.  (See an upcoming post on making a Barbershop Reindeer Sextet out of craft root beer bottles.)

I’ve done up gift bags galore.

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And, I have even just slapped my homemade stickers on wrapped packages instead of bows and ribbons.

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This image is from a vintage post card.

The process is simple.

Find some unusual prints and either scan or save them into a photo editor.   Edit if necessary. Lay out on sticker paper in Word or Publisher. Print on your color printer. Cut out, peel and stick on a bag (or package).

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Here are three of my favorites.

Not only will these bags hold your gifts for giving, but they will also be great conversation starters at your next holiday party.

Here are some images that I have used for my gift bags.  Most of these are retro advertisements from the Christmas season and were found on Kitsch and Retro and Edible Celebrations.

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These images came from Edible Celebrations. Click on the this image and the next two to go to the original poster’s site.

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Here are some of my favorite (and humorous) ones for gift bags.    The following are from Kitsch and Retro.  Click on the pictures to go to the original post.

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For some vintage images from my own site, you can click here and here and here.

Stay tuned because I have a treasure trove of authentic vintage postcards from my grandfather that I hope to scan and share throughout the season with you.

 

Comments & Replies

14 responses to “Make Your Own Gift Bags and Go Retro”

  1. Angie@Angie's Recipes Avatar
    Angie@Angie’s Recipes

    They are pretty cool! Thanks for sharing, Debra.

    1. Eliot Avatar

      Thanks, Angie.

  2. kalamitykelli Avatar

    These are really cool! I actually did something a bit like this today – Now I know I need some sticker paper!

    1. Eliot Avatar

      I have no idea why we had this stuff in the first place, but I have used it all up!

  3. veronica gantley Avatar
    veronica gantley

    This is a perfect idea.

    1. Eliot Avatar

      Thanks, Vonnie!

  4. Louise Avatar

    How cool are these, Debra??? You have no idea how thrilled I am to see you putting all of these adorable images to such wonderful use. It has made my day!!! Of course, I am totally lost as to how you did it. Oh I know, you have told us but quite frankly, I lost you at “Lay out on sticker paper in Word or Publisher” maybe because I’m on a Mac?

    Anyhoo, for what ever reason you feel you are getting more “retro” yippee! I chalk it up to appreciating when things were simple and easily understood. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it:)

    Thank you so much for sharing and thanks for the shout-out:)

    1. Eliot Avatar

      You are more than welcome and thank YOU for the retro images. (I like how you think—“appreciating when things were simple…”)

  5. Veronica Avatar

    So fun!!! We have been estate saling lately and I couldn’t resist picking up some vintage Santa Claus wrapping paper at one. The trick is forcing myself to use it when it will just be torn and trashed! lol

    1. Eliot Avatar

      Vintage wrapping paper? How cool is that. I would hoard it, too.

  6. Carol at Wild Goose Tea Avatar

    They turned out pretty sweet—-and funny. Great idea.

    1. Eliot Avatar

      Thanks, Carol. I love the social commentary that they invoke…

  7. chrisscheuer Avatar
    chrisscheuer

    How fun! Aren’t you the smart one, Debra! What a great idea.

    1. Eliot Avatar

      Thank you, Chris.