Thursday, February 6, 2014

Packaging - making unique bags

Just recently, I needed to restock on some of my packaging. While browsing patterned paper bags, I came across some favour bags. They were made with embossed paper and were just the kind of thing I would love for my own packaging. They were expensive though for something I use a lot of, so I set about finding out how I could make embossed bags without them costing a fortune.

During my search, I found something I've never come across before, embossing folders. They are a folding sheet of plastic with a raised pattern on one side, and a recessed opposite on the other. The idea is, you put a piece of paper, or whatever you want to emboss in the folder and run it through a machine to imprint the pattern. Perfect! The only problem was, I didn't want to fork out £80 for the embossing machine to try something out! I sat thinking about it for a while and it hit me... I have a pasta machine, that was a roller! I chose the pattern I liked and some plain bags and prayed my posties would be good and deliver everything quickly.

Thankfully they did, and here's how I got on with my idea...


This is the embossing folder. You can see the feather pattern which will be imprinted on the bag. As I said earlier, this is two sheets of plastic with a hinge at the top and the bag is put in between them.



The whole thing is then fed into the pasta machine. It needs to be a tight fit so that the pattern is embossed, but not too tight that it won't roll through.

I discovered on the first attempt, that it was better to clamp the machine right on the front edge of the table. If you're using a long folder, it will hit the base of the pasta machine, so you need to gently bend it out so that the whole thing will pass through. Putting it right at the edge means it won't hit the table when you bend it.
Once through, you can open up the folder.



And here are the finished bags. I'm really pleased with how they turned out!



The bags are slightly transparent, so you can see the tissue paper I've wrapped the beads in which I think is a nice effect. They are finished off with a handmade sticker and they're ready to go!

I hope you've enjoyed following along with my experiments, and I'd love to see some pictures if you have a go yourself!

Caroline

20 comments :

  1. Creative thinking and a nice result.

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  2. A great idea Caroline, and I have been thinking of getting rid of my pasta machine but not any more.
    I've bought an embossing mat and stylus for the Cameo but haven't tried it yet.

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  3. These are fantastic! Thankyou so much for sharing. I have a pasta machine and never thought of using it for that. Do you mind me asking where you got your bags and embossing folder from?
    Linda
    x

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  4. Hahaaah, I've been wondering for a while now if it might be possible to use embossing folders with a pasta machine ... Thanks for doing this experiment for us!

    Hugs,
    Sandra

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  5. I am amazed that the folder went through the pasta machine! Good thinking! Tour bags are pretty. Where did you get the bags?

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  6. Aren't you a clever clogs! These look great and I have ton of embossing folders...no pasta machine but they're quite cheap aren't they...

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  7. Thanks Lesley! Pasta machines aren't too expensive, you can pick up a new one for around £15.

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  8. Wow, that is a great idea. I've hung my nose over embossing machines too but know it would end up in a cupboard collecting dust. Using a pasta machine is genius :)

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  9. Thanks all, glad you enjoyed reading! For those that asked, I got my embossing folder from Ebay. I would think that most papercraft suppliers would stock them. The bags are for negatives and are made from what I'd describe as thick greaseproof paper. They were from a photography supply shop.

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  10. Very clever, Caroline! Thanks for sharing. I, too, am amazed it fit through the pasta machine.

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  11. Great idea! Now you've got me wondering if using the embossing folder with 28-30ga sheet through the pasta machine would work....
    It would be way cheaper than the price of the Sizzix machines.
    Thank you - your bags are lovely.

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  12. I have never seen those used with a pasta machine before. Great idea, beautiful effect! Love the bags!

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  13. Very cool! This could make neat photo backgrounds too. So how much is a pasta machine? (I've always dreamed of making my own ravioli.)

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    1. OK, NM, saw your comment above! Very economical!

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    2. Pasta machine I got was little over 20.00 been little bit.

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  14. Thank you for all your lovely comments, it was just a daft idea, but sometimes they're winners!

    Love the background idea Keirsten!

    Sandi M... I'd love to see how you get on with metal through it!

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  15. Neat idea, I have a Sizzix machine and a ton of embossing folders, just need to find some neat bags.

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  16. What a great idea! The bags turned out so cute.

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  17. I didn't see where the bags came from and what they are made of.

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