Grandma’s Brag Bag – Mother’s Day Gift

Grandmas love to brag. It’s what they do and I plan to brag like crazy when I have grandkids too. Grandmas have their photo books or iPhone’s packed with images of their far away grandchildren but now thanks to Martha Stewart Crafts by Plaid my kids and I made their Mimi (Grandma in Texas) a brag bag. When I agreed to be part of this Mother’s Day Gift campaign I knew I had to do something with my kids because that is what No Time For Flash Cards is about. The bag was created by my kids and I and we even tried to make sure it was a little fancy cause they like it fancy in Texas. You gotta check out how I turned my son’s writing into a custom stencil. Enough talk you just have to see it.

1. Gather your materials.  This is what they sent me. Amazing right? What we ended up using were the heat tool, the stencil film, stencil tape, craft paint (I am in love with this paint), sponge-tip bottles, stencil brushes and stencil adhesive. I also bought a tote bag and we used some wood cut outs, thread, needle, glass, paper, marker and a thumbtack we had.
2. I started by getting my son to write Mimi on some paper. This was the central idea for this craft. I wanted to make sure it was his writing on the bag.
3. Then I put the paper under some glass and taped the stencil film on top.
4. Time to cut with the heat tool. Now as you see my kids are not doing any of these steps and no child should. This is adult time for sure. This heat tool is seriously hot. It’s easy to use and hold correctly but please it’s only for adults. It cut so easily through the film. I am in love with this idea of custom and reusable stencils. Think hand prints, silhouettes… the possibilities are endless. I specifically kept the edges rough to make it match my son’s writing.
5. Next, I sprayed the adhesive on the stencil and applied it to our bag. I totally put it on wrong and just like the can said, I could reposition it no problem.
6. Then using the stencil tape I added a few stripes as per my son’s request. I let my kids choose the colors. Ok so really I let them choose pearl or satin.
7. Then I painted the bag.
8. I think it turned out really well. Also something for moms like me that can fit adult crafting in only if you can do it fast, this paint dries quickly. I love that it does. It’s also non-toxic which is so important to me.
9. We weren’t done yet, though. I wanted my daughter to add her touch as well. These sponge tips that can be added right to the paint bottles were the perfect tool for her to help. {There are no warnings on these products but please use the utmost care and give any young child your complete attention when crafting}.
10. I used some wooden flower cut outs we had and made them into buttons by hammering a pushpin into them. Use one as a guide so all will line up.
11. Then I taped then to a paper towel and let my daughter paint them.
12. Once they were dried I threaded them together into a cluster.
13. Then sewed them on to the bag as the dots on the i’s.

Now, all we have to do is send this to Mimi in Texas for her to carry around telling everyone how her brilliant grandchildren made her this amazing Mother’s Day gift.

This post is part of a wonderful campaign you can find more great ideas for Mother’s Day using Martha Stewart Craft Paint by Plaid by connecting to them on Facebook, Twitter, and my fave Pinterest.

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