Hello lovelies!  I don't know about you, but I have a habit of trying to find something useful or pretty in almost everything.  Most of the time this is a good thing, although it does lead to a lot of stacks and piles of bits and pieces waiting to be reborn.  Because of this tenancy of mine, I have been collecting up mesh produce bags for a while (I just knew they'd come in handy).  These project ideas aren't technically "green," though it does feel good to reuse something that would otherwise be sent straight to the trash bin.

In any case, I wanted to show you three new usage ideas for the mesh bags that we find on most produce items these days.  There are so many clever ways to repurpose these babies...I hope you'll take my basic ideas and run with them!

Idea No.1: Decorative Gift-Wrapping Band

To make this band (perfect for a stack of stationery, books, etc) I made sure that both ends of my produce bag were open (if yours is sealed shut at one end you can simply snip it open) and then I just slipped it around my gift.  Scrunch up the mesh until it looks how you like, or leave is flat for a different look.  Tie on a tag and you're done!

Idea No.2: Amped Up Gift Wrap

Layering a mesh produce bag over the top of a pre-wrapped gift is a great way to add a little extra interest to your present.  I didn't have any solid paper on hand for the photos, but I think it would look great with this idea.  This particular example looks rather feminine, but you could make it look more masculine depending on the paper underneath (maybe newspaper or kraft paper) and the color of your produce bag.  To complete this look I used an old lemon bag which was already stitched closed at one end, slipped my pre-wrapped gift inside, and tied it closed with some twine I had laying around.  For an extra pop of color I also tied a little ornament on top.

Idea No.3: Makeshift Stocking / Gift Bag

This one started life as a bag for shallots, but I have to say that I think it looks even better filled with these goodies!  I'm sure most of us already have stockings hung by the chimney with care, but this is a great idea for last minute holiday parties and extra little gifties that won't fit inside your regular stocking.  To complete this one I just removed the staples from the top of the bag and rounded the corners at the bottom (for aesthetic reasons), and filled with fun treats.  It's even easy to hang (just hook the mesh onto a nail and you're set).

Taa-da!  Three fun and easy ideas that I hope will come in handy for you this holiday or the next time you need a unique way to wrap up a special gift.  xox Ez

Today Christine Chitnis from Lavender and Limes has created this beautiful project for our 18 Days Series.  These are so soft and romantic and would make perfect gifts.  Better still, they can be displayed in your home year-round!  Here's more from Christine about her project:

Here in New England, we have been experiencing the first signs of winter.  Frost creeps over the garden, night sets in around 4:30pm and our heavy coats have come out of storage.  These crisp, gorgeous days have inspired me to cozy up our home in preparation for the colder months ahead. When I go about setting a winter dinner table, I always feel that a soft glow is needed. Using some old jelly jars, a bit of hot glue and some vintage doilies, I crafted these pretty votives.

Materials:

• Vintage Doilies
• Hot Glu
• Jelly jar
• Tea light candles

Directions:
Wash and dry your jelly jars and find the doily that best fits each jar.  Try to use smaller doilies so that you don't have to cut them (this leads to unsightly fraying).  Place dabs of hot glue on the outer edges of your doily and wrap it securely around your jar, holding it tightly in place until the glue cools.  Wait for the glue to dry completely, make sure that the doily is secure (add more glue if needed) and place a tea light into the jar.  Strike a match and enjoy the ambiance!

Thank you so much for inspiring us with such a gorgeous project Christine.  To see more from Christine visit her: BLOG  |  PORTFOLIO