Party Preparations: Cutlery Bags (con-tain-it)

This weekend my only niece, Cortney, is getting married and I've been very busy trying to help her get ready because I am her Maid of Honor :} This is going to be a very small, private family affair because everyone is spread out all over the United States and trying to get everyone together is like an "Act of Congress". So in lieu of a formal "Rehearsal Dinner" I am hosting a party here at our apartment complex's Community Room the evening before the wedding so that all of the in-laws and out-laws can meet one another before the actual wedding day.

Found these wonderful fashion shots that featured fashion designers that were inspired by Tim Burton movies...and Cortney and Carl just love his movies...so of course I had to use them for the invitations. I believe this was a fashion shoot for "Vogue" or some other fashion magazine and now I cannot find the link so please accept my apologies and if you read this and have the link, please notify me so I can update this blog post...thanks:}

So the invitations have gone out and I have been busy creating all the special "effects" and "treats" for the party. I wanted to take the time to show you the cute "cutlery" bags that I made for the family party. Since it is not being held in my actual home, we are using plastic silverware and paper plates because it will be so much easier for cleaning up, etc. Also, I'll be carting over enough glass and service ware so I'm trying to "lighten" my load.

My inspiration came from the newest Somerset Life magazine:

OMG...aren't these just the sweetest thing...so it was a no brainer for me! I had a bunch of lunch bags on hand so I quickly stitched up 30 bags...with my cute little machine (so glad I bought this thang).

Next...I was trying to figure out how to "decorate" them...I didn't want to just put a rubber stamped image on them because I was using black paper napkins and black silverware...so I needed some color. Then I remembered that I bought these fun 12x12 decorative page die-cuts from K&Co. for Halloween and I bought them to use as masks with my spray inks/mists and this would be the perfect application.

Truth be told...I haven't been doing any "traditional" scrap-booking lately...just working in my art journals. So this came with six "mats" so I was able to lay out the thirty bags and get them all done, front and backs, in less than two hours (including drying time).

So...I simply layed the "masks" on top of two bags at a time: be sure to cover your surfaces with lotsa newspaper to protect your surfaces...cause this is messy...but oh so simple and instantly rewarding! But if like me...you just can't wait for them all to dry...then you can break out your heat tool and speed things up a bit...just be careful because this tool is very hot and you can burn these bags very easy :}

Here...you can see the difference between the plain bag versus the inked bags...cool beans :}

I also decided to add a little "stamped" image of "cutlery" to the bag as a final embellishment...but you don't have to if you don't want to...I just thought it was neat for after the plastic silverware is used then people have a "visual" reminder of how the bags were used...I know I'm weird...but very happy...

In my bags I folded my large "dinner" napkin in half and actually tucked it inside the larger, back pocket...the sample in "Somerset Life" shows a smaller, colorful napkin folded into the outside pocket...but it must be a "cocktail" size napkin because mine was too big for this type of fold. But that was fine with me...I kinda like the black napkin "peeking" out of the notch in the top of the bags. For the front pocket I inserted a "wet/moist" wipe for easy clean up after dinner...along with the black plastic silverware and a "treat" of a sweat tart lolly. So for the grand finale...I placed all thirty of the "stuffed" sacks inside of a black basket with a coordinating bow...of course:

Well you know we can't have these bags falling all over the place on the buffet table...I just need to take this basket out and touch up the spray paint...remember this post...love black spray paint!

In case you are all wondering about my spooky "Halloween" theme...well Cortney and Carl love this time of year and he has been in art school for the last 18 months in Pittsburgh, PA getting his degree in "Special Effects". Both of them have always enjoyed Halloween and attend costume parties and fairs and celebrate the "anniversary"' of their first date during this time, so of course they wanted to get married in the fall. Their wedding date is October 25th and that was my Father's birthday so it is special to everyone in Cortney's immediate family. Also my mother, her Nana, has her birthday on October 31st...so we are all just a bunch of "witches"...hehehehe...now I'm off to find my broom...enjoy!

Comments

Hi Roberta!
I know I have been quiet..still need to reply to your emails! I have not forgotten you...we were away since Friday and before that was a busy week! I love your napkin bags you made, they are so cool! What a great idea! I just finished my class I was doing, photos on my blog! need a new project!Enjoy the preparations!

Posted by: Bonnie | October 26, 2009 at 01:18 PM