Raindrops on Roses

by Gail Balentine

Making a craft project, learning a new way to do something, or spending time with a dear friend - during the busy Christmas season, it’s fun when you can take a break from the shopping rush and fit in things you enjoy. Recently, I got to do all of these in one day.

Several months ago, I created small tote bags for my writers’ group, using pre-made bags and transfers purchased at Michael’s craft store. When my friend, Carol, wanted to make her grandchildren personalized Christmas gifts, I suggested the bags and she was delighted.

She came to my house last week, arriving with a Thank You gift in hand! Just prior to her arrival I tried to get the printer set up and mildly panicked when I could not remember how to reverse the images. This step was essential for our project, else the names would print backwards. I finally figured it out and thought, with relief, that we were all set. What’s that old saying about “don’t count your chickens …?”

We quickly decided on the clip-art to use, got the printer set, and we used the special paper designed for this process. Great! While I was doing this, Carol ironed the bags, set up the work surface, and we were ready.

We centered the image, laid down the transfer paper, and ironed it onto the bag, following the directions carefully. The results were less than perfect. An 8.5x11 sheet was pressed onto the bag - image in the middle with lots of blank space around the edges that curled. And, we were gazing at those images through that sepia colored stain a hot iron can leave on fabric. Carol, bless her heart, tried to make the best of the situation - the children are young, the images are cute, the names are clear. But if there is one thing a seasoned crafter is, it’s honest. These were not grandchild-worthy gifts.

I wracked my brain to figure out what had gone wrong. Finally, we thought to examine one of the bags from last summer and that’s when I remembered trimming off the excess paper around the images AND using a white linen handkerchief when pressing the transfer. As soon as we made those simple changes the bags came out just the way Carol wanted them.

The craft project, Christmas gifts, and time spent with a friend speak for themselves, but what about the learning part? Well, I now have my own, step-by-step directions, written as I did them, for making this or any similar project in the future. There’s that other expression about old dogs and new tricks that comes to mind but I guess that one’s not always true.

I’d like to thank Carol for a nice day and wish our readers a Merry Christmas season where you,too, get to combine “a few of your favorite things.”

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