Little paper gift bags can be so convenient when you want to give several people the same gift (such as gift bags at a bridal shower), or if you are handing out samples of something (your world famous brownies). Incredibly easy and cheap to make these gift bags are made from standard 8-1/2 x 11 sheets or thick wrapping paper and cost only pennies each.
Once you know how to make them, the options on how to decorate them are endless.
The glue does need some drying time so make them the day before you need them. (And remember that they were never meant to hold anything heavy just light little gifts).
I used 2 sheets of standard printer paper and a glue stick. You need a form to wrap the paper around and I found that a paper tissue box was an ideal size at 2-3/4 inches by 4-1/4 inches and 8-3/4 inches high.Over lapping the long side two sheets of paper by 1 inch and glue together.
Place narrow side of the tissue box on the middle of the seam and wrap paper over on both sides to form creases. Remove the tissue box and re-crease the folds so they are very crisp.
Place narrow side of the tissue box on the middle of the seam and wrap paper over on both sides to form creases. Remove the tissue box and re-crease the folds so they are very crisp.
Replace the tissue box and wrap paper over the top on both sides to form creases and again remove the tissue box and re-crease the two new folds.
You can print images or words on the paper before you make them into bags. Here I printed Happy Easter in two different colors to make one bag and on the second bag I printed an image that was centered so it would show on the front of the bag. You could use this idea for all the different holidays, just changing the image and words to suit. The top of these bags were folded to the back and two holes were punched on the top and a ribbon was pulled through and knotted on the front.
These bags a simple and easy to make and can be used for a variety of different holidays and gifts.
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Photography and Instructions
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestylethancash
Replace the tissue box and cut off any excess paper on the side and over lapping the seams, glue them together.
Turning the tissue box on its head, the paper that extends over the top of the box, fold as you would a present and glue.
Carefully slide the tissue box out of the paper bag you just formed.
Carefully slide the tissue box out of the paper bag you just formed.
Gently push in the sides of the bag and position the side creases over top of each other and press.
Bring the bottom of the bag up so it is folded against the front and press. This will give you the proper bag shape. You can make several of these bags before hand and store them flat until you need them.
You can print images or words on the paper before you make them into bags. Here I printed Happy Easter in two different colors to make one bag and on the second bag I printed an image that was centered so it would show on the front of the bag. You could use this idea for all the different holidays, just changing the image and words to suit. The top of these bags were folded to the back and two holes were punched on the top and a ribbon was pulled through and knotted on the front. 
You don't have to use standard paper but what ever you use has to be thick enough so it won't tear when you place something into the bag. Here I glued newspaper onto the paper so it would be strong enough. Just newspaper would have been too weak and would have torn as a bag, but gluing it to paper gave it added strength. I cut out a piece of black newspaper and glued individual letters to it to give the name tag a quirky look.
If you can find very thick strong wrapping paper then you can skip the plain paper and just make the bags from the wrapping paper (you will measure out one long piece of wrapping paper instead of gluing two pieces together) . If the paper seem a bit thin then glue it to the sheets of plain paper. The tops of these bags were folded to the back and taped. I punched two holes in the top and pulled wired ribbon through the front and cut bird beak edges on the ribbon.
These bags a simple and easy to make and can be used for a variety of different holidays and gifts.
For more great articles check out Crafts.
Or go to Articles to chose from Decorating, Entertaining, Fashion, Gift Giving, Stationery and Cards, Health and Beauty, Kids, Money Matters or Pets.
Photography and Instructions
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2010
Morestylethancash
Great idea! I'm going to use them on our Easter brunch table, fill them with a few treats and put their names on each bag and use them instead of place cards. THANX!!