january artful bag challenge


Welcome to The 2011 Artful Bag Challenge.
First I'd like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year. I hope this year will be fun, inspiring and creative for all of us and what better way to start it off than with a brand new challenge.

January's theme is Playing With Paper. This month we are crafting our bags and purses from paper. Any paper you like can be used: scrapbook paper, book and magazine pages, card stock, etc. Embellish your bag however you like. Try here for a little inspiration.


For January I created a paper 'Winter Opera Bag'. It's inspired by vintage opera bags that are usually highly embellished with beading and jewels. I imagined going to a winter ball or enjoying a night at the opera watching La Boheme. I used a matte silver embossed paper which I dry brushed with gold shimmer and burnt umber paint. I also used a dark distress ink pad in Vintage Photo around the edges. The 'jeweled' borders are a glitter covered snowflake which I cut up and also dry brushed with paint for an antique finish. Finally I added tiny blue paper flowers (my latest addiction) also brushed with gold shimmer and burnt umber paint. The handle is a silver pipe cleaner folded in half, twisted and attached to the back.


I'm also posting the preview bag I made in December to give you more ideas.





To add to the fun and to kick off this challenge I also have exciting news! This month The Artful Bag Challenge is being sponsored by Sandy's Space. The lovely Sandy is kind and gracious enough to offer the book Purse Pizzazz by Marie Browning as a prize. How wonderful is that?! Sandy makes amazingly exquisite paper art so if you haven't visited her yet make sure to go over and say hello.


 

The winner will be determined by a random drawing. Everyone who creates a paper purse and adds a link will automatically be entered. The winner will be announced when I post next month's project.

To play along this month just add a link to your bag post below. Make sure to add the permalink to your actual post and not just to your blog. Email me if you need to know how to do that.  I added my link first to test it. The Linky is open all month so you can join anytime. However, it's best to join as early in the month as possible as everyone tends to make their rounds the first few days.

For more information on The Artful Bag Challenge
please visit the challenge page here.

Have fun and join me again next month for a new theme!


Update: If you participated in the January challenge and you're wondering
where your bag is please click here.


27 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just love your artistic talent! I don't think I would be very good at this but I will come by to admire all the creations. - Hugs and sparkles WG

Anonymous said...

I love the bags you have made and cannot wait to see the rest!

Netty said...

Oh wow they are gorgeous. Happy New Year. Annette x

Linda said...

Beautiful.....Very creative and oh so much fun.

Cindy Adkins said...

Happy New Year!!! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!! I LOVE your purse!!! It is exquisite!!!
XO

Barbara Jean said...

These are great!
Cindy Atkins told me of your new Meme. When you do fabric I'll be ready. Have a post up today.

blessings

barbara jean

Wendy Aspinall said...

Hi Anna my bag is ready on my blog..... I tried linking but it has come up yet I will try again later.... happy 2011 to you and your family ... hugs wendy

Heathen said...

I'm so excited! I'll be making my bag this weekend!

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Your artful bag is absolutely breathtaking! I ADORE it. How I wish these bags are human-size and real! LOL Anna, I wish you and your family an enchanting and prosperous New Year! I'm so delighted we got to meet and become friends!!! : Theresa

Sandy Ang said...

Your opera bag is just stunning. Thanks for the shout out for my blog and being so generous in your praise of my crafting. If you have a 2010 fav project, come by and link it up.

Jill Marcott-McCall ~Feathers & Flight~ said...

Happy New Year Miss Anna!
Hope This New Year Brings much Peace and Joy to you and your Dear Family!
Hugs
Jill

Rebecca said...

These are really neat-don't know if I could do anything like it -but they're so pretty!

Unknown said...

Anna,
I love your bags, specially the opera bag.
Thanks for hosting.
I look forward to more bag challenge.
Michele

pchickki said...

Anna I love your blog and cannot wait to visit you often.
What a great idea with the bags. You are for sure an inspiration!

I am so happy to have found you through blissful atc swap.

Karen said...

Hi Anna,

It's been awhile! I have just checked in because I have literally been checked out lately with illness. I have been out of sync with the blog world ever since Thanksgiving! But I missed your blog and you always have something so wonderful to share. Hope you are enjoying the new year with the family!

♥Karen

Angela said...

Anna,
Your January dress is gorgeous! I especially love the little blue roses! I can't wait to see everyone's bags! (I'm still working on mine).
Angela

Terry said...

Wow! I love your purse and what a great challenge. I have an old leather purse that I love, but it is beaten up pretty good and did you give me an idea to alter it and make it like new! Have a great day!

Simply Debbie said...

Hello Anna,
Mr. Linky will not let me post...it says mac failure...work in the debug code...I have no clue as to what they are talking about...I don't have a Mac....I rarely have trouble with Mr. Linky although I know he can be Stinky
my url is
http://iamsimplydebbie.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-artful-bag-challenge-for-january.html
HELP
Have a sugar sweet day
hugs
Simply Debbie

Ana Cristina Caldatto said...

Querida Anna
acabei caindo nos encantos da proposta do desafio das Bolsa!
estou feliz por participar!
amei amei!

Jeanie Callaghan said...

Lovely, glamorous bag!

Patricia's Paper Crafts said...

Both handbags are lovely! thanking you for this great challenge.

PATRICIA said...

ANNNA, AMEI A IDÉIA DO PROJETO, ENVIO MINHA COLABORAÇÃO....AMEI O RESULTADO

peggy gatto said...

I posted on my blog my paper clutch!
I had some trouble loading the correct size to linky. Hope it is o k!

CuddlyBunny said...

Thank you for the inspiration and fun challenge!

Your bags are Gorgeous!

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Oh your bag if absolutely gorgeous!!! I just love purses! I have quite a collection... I may have to dive in on this challenge!

Rosemary said...

I love this challenge, I love the art dress challenge and I'm so glad that it all happened from following a link and popping over to see you! THANK YOU for inspiration!

Fran. said...

Oh my gosh Anna I did it!! With thanks to you!! I wrote down what you told me to do last time!! Let me know if there is any problems with it!! XO Love, Fran.