In January, before all this craziness started, I decided since we were in a new development and most people were from some other area of the country, I would pick a few people and send some secret pal things.
I started with Valentine Cards with a local muffin shop gift card. Then St. Patty’s day, April Fools, birthdays and sporadic things throughout the summer. As Covid hit and things got crazy, it was fun to hear people talk about they had a secret pal and what they got. With all this electronic doorbells, dropping things on peoples porches just didn’t work this year. Although I was able to drop some fall mums on back porches. I did set up a secret pal email address, so I could communication with them, send amazon gift cards anonymously and let them know I dropped something on their back porch.
I am going to do a get together this fall and let them learn who is their secret pal. Hope that as a group we can do this next year too.
Ok, on to Bags for Secret Pals. I decided to put together little gift bags, so what better than to use a Noodlehead – Open Wide Zipper Pouch
These bags are quick and easy to put together. I always get my zippers from Zipit on Etsy. She has a great selection of sizes, colors, plastic or metal.
Here was my first bag. Used some Tula Pink I had won awhile ago.
Once I had the first bag done, I decided to production line them. Here are the front side fabrics
The inside fabric linings. I used metal zippers for these bags.
Now I just need to fill them and get a little gathering together. I plan to make a mask for each bag, Kleenex pack, Chapstick, and of course some chocolate.
What else would you like to see in your bag? Leave me a comment and let me know.
Linking up with some friends:
Bee Social with Sew Fresh Quilts
Mid-Week Maker with Quilt Fabrication
Wait Loss Wednesday with The Inquiring Quilter
Those are such cool bags! And I love the idea of filling them before gifting. As far as other ideas of things to go inside, maybe a packet or two of fancy hot cocoa?
I love Zipit on Etsy too. When I gift a bunch of bags I go to one of our odd lots stores here in Ohio (Marc’s) and get the brightly colored, shiny pens that are 15 for $1. I add a pen to a bag. Students love them. Love that pattern! Nicely done.
What a sweet idea! I love that you will have a reveal someday…but not too soon. They are all great and I think of course a mini handsanitizer or gum or mints could be added as well.
You are amazing, what a Great Idea!!!
Hmm – I want to be your neighbor – haha! What a great idea and fun way to either get to know your neighbors or bring some fun and joy during this crazy season. Those pouches are so fun. I haven’t made zippy pouches with metal zippers yet, so I’m wondering if you found it easy. As to what to put in them – packets of tea/coffee, deck of cards, small notebook, small measuring tape.
Those are great bags. I agree they are easy to make and fun. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
We need more neighbours like you. What a sweet thing to do especially now with Covid. I like to include mechanical pencils, coffee cards, little hair clips (like I use for binding quilts), and make tissue covers for the tissues in my little gift bags. What fun you’ll have at the reveal party. Hope you can have it safely when you plan it!
What a fun idea and so very generous, especially when you’ve moved to a new place! I love open wide pouches, and I bet your new friends do, too!
I love these bags and think they are a wonderful idea. I think a silly writing pen would be fun. We all need some laughter right now. Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!
What thoughtful gifts! I have made many batches of assembly line open wide zippered pouches. Thank you for linking up with Show Me Something!
This is a fun and thoughtful idea! Possibly, I can try it with my neighbors someday. I received a pattern to make a cover for travel tissues. It takes me all of 10 minutes to sew one. So that would be a nice item to add. These pouches would be a great way to use up some stash, too.