Folks, we have a fun post for you today!  Monique is back again with another awesome article…

Welcome everyone to another monthly 2 part hybrid special! This month I’m going to show you not one, not two, but three different trick or treat bags that I made… I’ll tell you all about how I made them (Below), and (over at Monique’s Scrappin’ Blog) I’ll link you up to some more tutorials, some templates and pre-made products so you can make your own! Sound good? Great!

Altered Coffee Can Tutorial:

So you’ve seen the altered paint cans right? Well I live in a small town and have no access to nice clean alterable paint cans, but I wanted to make a cute little trick or treating container for my DD to use this year. So here’s what I used:

• 925g (empty) coffee can
• 2 – 18 gauge floral wire (I bought mine at a dollar store in the craft section, can also be bought at your local flower shop)
• Mix of craft beads.
• Photo paper cover (printed on 2- 8×10″ Mat finish photo paper)
• Modge Podge and foam brush
• sandpaper
• Dremel drill tool (hubby did that part for me!)

Ok, so after I gathered/bought my materials, I measured the dimensions of my coffee can (they can vary), designed the cover and printed it. I designed mine in one piece (19.25″x6″) then cut (using the crop tool once, then clicked undo and used it again) it in half and pasted the two halves onto their own 8×10 images to print.

Next I used a ruler and a marker to mark where I wanted the holes drilled for the handles (into the lip that goes around the inside edge of the can), then my hubby graciously drilled them for me. Then I used the sandpaper to rough up the sides of the coffee can, and used the Modge Podge to glue the covers on. I did mine one side at a time, and used rubber bands (tons of them) to keep the paper on the coffee can while it dried.Add a few sealer coats if you’d like, I use a spray sealer and do it in my garage as it’s pretty strong smelling. Be sure to follow the directions on your sealer if using one. After the paint and sealer has dried, you can add any other embellishments you’d like to add.

For the handle, I inserted both wires about 3/4″ into one of the holes that were drilled and bent the wires that were inside the can to 90 degree angles. My DD and I then strung on the beads, bent and inserted the other end into the other hole and bent the inside part of the wires again. So far mine are holding just fine and my DD has already tested it by filling it with tons of little toys as she practiced her trick or treating (lol, I kid you not!). Here are closeup photos of the handles to give you a better idea of what I did:

And that’s it! Now my DD has a cute little trick or treating can!

Altered Canvas Bag Tutorial:

This was a super easy project to make. And can be used year round by simply changing the insert!

The materials I used were: a $0.99 bag made from recycled materials that I purchased at a local grocery store (you know, the kind of bag that’s “green”), took an 8×8″ page protector for a scrapbook album, and some black (to match my bag) thread and a needle.

First I cut the edge that goes into the album off of the page protector, then sewed (on 3 sides, leaving the protector’s opening open) it onto one side of the bag. I sewed mine right over the bag’s logo.

Then I designed an 8×8″ insert to fit the theme that I wanted for the bag, pasted the 8×8 image onto an 8×10 image so that I could print it onto an 8×10 Mat finish photo paper (I print at Walmart). Then just cut the excess off of the design’s edges and inserted it into the page protector.

And just like that I had made myself a customizable tote bag! I love it!

Treat Bag Toppers:

These were another super easy project. First I opened a document in my photo editing program that was 4×6. Then I created a Vector Line across the middle so that I could see where the middle was. Next I scrapped the bottom half of the image, then I “Copy Merged” and pasted it into the document and rotated it to fit into the blank half. Or you can rotate the whole thing so that the decorated half is upside down, and scrap what is now the bottom half.

Then I saved the document and printed it! I like printing at Walmart on photo paper with a Mat Finish. Once printed, all I had to do was fold the topper in half and staple it to the top of a sandwich bag filled with goodies!

For more Trick or Treat bag tutorials – and to see some products to help you make your own, check out the corresponding article on my own blog called Hybrid Hookup – Trick or Treat Bags!

You can find more scrapbooking inspiration and information on my regular blog, Monique’s Scrappin’ Blog and if you’re on Facebook feel free to join me there too!

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Char here again… I just have to say a BIG HUGE THANK YOU to Monique for this article.  She works so hard to create fun projects and share them with me and you!  My kids have seen this article, and there is no way I’ll be getting through October without making them a Trick or Treat can!  We’ll probably use formula cans though, since we don’t drink coffee.  I’m sure it will work just as well, don’t you think?

And now… for today’s GIVEAWAY! (You didn’t think I’d forget, did you?)

I think I’ve mentioned before (a time or two) that I own and run a candy wrapper business besides doing all this digi-scrappin’ stuff.  Well, in honor of Halloween AND Monique’s treat bag topper tutorial, I’m giving away 100 custom printed miniature wrappers from HeavenlyPromises.com.  I’m thinking miniature Halloween wrappers for a party or for giving away, but If you win and want baby or wedding wrappers (or something else entirely), that’s ok too!

So, like most of the giveaways this month - leave a comment to win!  I’m only leaving this one open for TWO days, so I can work with the winner and get mini wrappers sent off in time for Halloween if I need to do so.  I’ll pick a random winner on Wednesday morning!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED – WINNER ANNOUNCED!

Thanks again to Monique!  Be sure to click on over to her blog for more fun hybrid tuts and info!

Happy Monday, folks!