DIY Letter-Stenciled Drawstring Bags



We're delighted to have gift wrapping expert Corinna vanGerwen visiting today with a fantastic DIY idea using our new drawstring bags.

While these little drawstring bags are cute as is, they’re also the perfect blank canvas for fun DIY projects. Here I used craft paint and adhesive letters (found at an office supply store) to stencil a light-hearted message onto the bags. This is a great way to make unique party favours or personalize a gift.

First, cut a piece of cardboard to fit snugly inside the bag. This will give you a smooth surface for attaching the stickers, and will keep the paint from bleeding through to the second side. You may want to tape plastic wrap or wax paper around the cardboard; I didn’t and found that the fabric stuck to the cardboard a bit after painting.


Next, attach stick-on letters in your choice of message, or try the recipient’s initials. To get the letters straight and evenly spaced, use a ruler and pencil to measure and create guides. Firmly press down to make sure the letters are securely attached.


When ready, squeeze a line of paint along the bottom edge of the bag, then use a brush to spread the paint upward toward the top of the bag, creating a fading, feathered edge. Brush in only one direction. Add paint as needed, and be sure to fill in all the corners around the letters.


Let dry, then remove letters and cardboard. Your bag is ready to fill!

Gift wrapping consultant Corinna vanGerwen provides gift wrapping services, training and workshops in Toronto. For more of Corinna's gift wrapping ideas, visit her over on the Corinna Wraps blog, sign up for her monthly Gift Wrapping Newsletter, connect via Twitter or get inspired via Pinterest.

Send Pretty Mail #17 - Upcycled Packaging


Our love for this fun packaging only pales in comparison with our love for the flip flops that came in it! It simply needed to be upcycled into something else - so why not envelopes? That's the fun of having envelope templates on hand, anything can be turned into pretty mail!


Washi tape stripes & triangles for added interest.



Why send one envelope when you can send three?


Small Japanese "pochi" envelopes are perfect for slipping small treats into and can be reused by the recipient.


Into one I slipped origami cranes folded from packaging scraps.


And into the other, instructions for folding paper cranes and paper squares. Spreading the origami love! You can learn how to fold an origami crane here.

Want to receive some pretty mail in YOUR mailbox? Send me a note at info@omiyage.ca with your mailing address and a little something about yourself. I'll be making a list and choosing new friends to send mail to each month. And don't worry if you don't hear back from me right away - if you send your info, you should find a pretty piece of mail headed your way some time this year!

Handmade Find - Fashion. love, Africa

How fantastic are these bags from Fashion. love, Africa?

Each bag is handwoven out of used plastic bags by women who live in the Gioto Garbage Slum in Kenya. $25 from each purchase goes directly towards sending children from the slum to boarding school and helps to break the cycle of poverty.

You can read more about the story and the people behind the bags here.

Handmade Find - The Link Collective



I have a bit of an obsession with furoshiki - Japanese wrapping cloths - and The Link Collective's are particularly fantastic. Great contemporary design combined with traditional Japanese craftsmanship is never a bad thing, right? The large sized furoshikis can be used as scarves, for wrapping gifts, for carrying all manner of objects. Add one of Link's leather straps, and you can even turn one of these multi-taskers into a purse!

Check out the full collection in their etsy shop. Discover different ways to tie a furoshiki. Connect via Facebook or Twitter.

Neon Triangle Patterns


Here's another way to wrap it pretty - create patterns on kraft paper bags with neon triangle stickers.
Modern + crafty + fun!

The neon stickers are a great new addition to the shop and aren't just great for making patterns - they're also a perfect size for sealing a paper bag or envelope, or for use as labels!

Send Pretty Mail #16 - Neon + Glitter


Neon is such a fickle beast when it comes time to take her picture - but rather than fight with the camera or spend eons editing these photos, these lackluster images of a pretty fantastic piece of mail are what you're going to get!


Shocking pink & turquoise & neon green glitter tape play on a basic white envelope.


Tiny triangle tape confetti add dimension to a bright pink bow. Insert address here!


Tucked inside, some of our new (well, soon to be new) neon triangle stickers and, my favourite, index cards glammed up with a little tape action.


The back of this envelope is having even more front than the back. All sealed up with more glitter tape and she's ready to fly off someplace far away!

I took a bit of an Instagram poll on neon love and it seems like neon in crafting is in, but wearing it is kinda out. But maybe that's the opinion of those of us who've lived through neon (and hyper colour) before?
How about you? What's your take on neon?

Want to receive some pretty mail in YOUR mailbox? Send me a note at info@omiyage.ca with your mailing address and a little something about yourself. I'll be making a list and choosing new friends to send mail to each month. And don't worry if you don't hear back from me right away - if you send your info, you should find a pretty piece of mail headed your way some time this year!

Eye Candy - Fric de Mentol




Portuguese artist Ana Raimundo creates the loveliest things for her shop Fric de Mentol. Gocco prints and paintings and gorgeous embroidery and more. Heavily influenced by nature and her own nomadic lifestyle, Ana's works are full of quirk. How can you not fall (veggie) head over heels in love with her characters? I'm particularly enamoured with her Big Headed Women!

See more of Ana's work in her Etsy shop and connect with the artist via Facebook or Flickr.

Covet Garden & DIY Cards


The latest Covet Garden is out today and I love everything about it from this month's home to the projects to the round-ups. L-O-V-E! Like these DIY pop-up cards. How sweet are they? You'll have to click over and read the issue to find the how-to.

Have you heard of Covet Garden? It's a monthly Toronto-based online magazine which features a look inside one home per month. Real lived-in homes vs the super-styled ones featured in regular design mags. It's a gem!