Bagalope Basket

When I first started as a demonstrator with Stampin'Up! one of the first things I did at a workshop was a bagalope. That is a fancy term for a little bag made out of an envelope. So, when I saw the cute pouches that a very clever demo showed at a SU! Regional, I decided to combine the two and make a basket! We made the easter basket at my last workshop and my girls loved them. I promised a tutorial for them, so here it goes.

These are fun and easy... the possibilities are endless. Are you ready? Here we go. Remember, you can click on the photos to see them larger.



Step one: Take your envelope, lick the flap and seal it closed. Stamp the front and the back. The back will be the side that shows the envelope flap.

















Step Two: Score your envelope along three sides. This basket was done with the score lines on both long sides and across the bottom. Depending on how much you score, makes your basket either bigger or smaller. The easter basket was scored at 5/8 (see the next photo) and the flower basket was scored at 1 inch.















Step Three: On the non scored side of your envelope, take your large Tag Punch and push it all the way in until it won't go in any further. Line it up with the edge so that just a little is sticking out. Punch.










Step Four: Line up the punch right over the previous punch and line up the opposite edge, punch out the remaining piece. Repeat step three and four on the opposite side of your envelope.

Your envelope will now look like this:











Step Five: Take your envelope and line up the top of the punched out part with the grove in your cutter. Cut off the little tabs. Make sure to lift up the cutter and not to cut your handle off. You just want to cut off that little tab on both ends.










Step Six: You can decorate your basket with designer paper. It's easier to do that now before you start to assemble your basket. We added paper to the front and the back, which makes a really sturdy basket.

Step Seven: This is the important part! Fold your score lines really well in both directions. Use the bone folder to help get a nice crease. This will make the next step easier.

Tip: If you want to make the pouch only, skip the scoring.









Step Eight: Open your envelope. Start with the side and work your way up to the bottom making a little flap on each side. Work the bottom of your envelope out flat.

















Step Nine: You can glue these tabs down, or you can fold on the center line (out towards you) and make a little snip with your scissors. Fold back out flat, then tuck the tabs into the slit. See the next photo.

One of my customers shared that tip with me.... how cool is she? (Thanks June... you da bomb)














Bagalope Basket is complete and will sit up nice and neat! Continue to decorate as you please, then fill up with goodies. People will not believe this is an envelope!


How fun is that? I hope you give it a try.

Here are the supplies I used for these projects:

Stamps: A Good Egg, So Many Scallops (Flower Basket)
Paper: Shimmery White Envelope (Easter), Naturals Ivory Envelope (Flower). Whisper White, Spring Fling Designer Paper, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow (Easter). Naturals Ivory, Fall Flowers Designer Paper (Flower).
Ink: Basic Black, Stampin' Write Markers, Regal Rose (Easter). Really Rust, Wild Wasabi (Flower).
Other: Medium Shimmery White, and Natural Ivory Envelopes, Word Window Punch, Round Scallop Punch, Crop-a-dile, Circle Punches, Dazzling Diamonds, Grosgrain Ribbon, Build a Brad, Large Tag Punch, Paper Snips, Scor-Pal.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a super week!

~Cambria
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