Getting Started with Those Bags
So, the other day, I got this idea stuck in my head about making some custom paper bags. Nothing fancy, just something fun, maybe for gifting some small stuff or just to mess around. I kept thinking about this phrase, kinda like “aints saints,” you know, like nobody’s perfect, but in a playful way. Decided to run with that for the theme on some plain old paper bags.
First thing, I had to dig around to find the supplies. Wasn’t much, really:
- Some basic brown paper bags I had lying around.
- A couple of sharpie markers, black and maybe a red one.
- Got out some old acrylic paints – white, black, maybe a bit of gold for kicks.
- Found some cheap brushes, the kind you don’t mind messing up.
- Paper towels, water cup – the usual painting setup.
Making the Mess
Alright, got everything spread out on the kitchen table (put down newspaper first, learned that the hard way before). I grabbed the first bag. Didn’t really have a solid plan, which is usually how I roll. I just started sketching lightly with a pencil. Thought I’d do some slightly crooked halos, maybe some little impish wings on stick-figure type characters. Something simple but hinting at that “aints saints” vibe.
Then came the markers. Outlined the sketches. The sharpie bled a little on the brown paper, kinda liked that rough look, actually. Felt right for the theme. Getting the lines bold was key.
Next up, paint. This got a bit messy. Tried painting some halos white, but the brown paper bag soaked it up funny. Had to do a couple of coats. Let me tell you, waiting for paint to dry when you just want to get it done is a test of patience. Patience I don’t always have. So, yeah, maybe smudged one or two while trying to add black details too soon.
I decided to add little splashes of gold paint here and there, just tiny dots or accents. Thought it made them look a bit more special, less like just scribbles on a bag. Spent a good hour or so just doing a few bags, trying different little doodles on each one. Some looked better than others, that’s for sure. One kinda looked like a confused potato with wings, but hey, definitely not a saint, right?
The Final Look
So after the paint finally dried and I cleaned up the mess, I lined them up. They looked… well, handmade. Definitely not perfect, kinda rough around the edges, which honestly, fit the whole “aints saints” idea perfectly. They had character. You could tell someone actually made them, didn’t just buy ’em. Used one already to give a buddy a book, got a good chuckle out of it. It was a simple little project, kept me busy for a bit, and I got these unique little bags out of it. Not bad for an afternoon messing around with paint and paper.
