We all know that celebrating a friend's birthday, wedding anniversary, or another special day requires gifting them in a memorable way like no other. Put your artistic stamp on your next gift by creating a DIY gift bag that is as individual and unique as the gift itself. The great thing about this project is that you can make these bags in any size you need, which can be very helpful for large or uniquely shaped presents that may be difficult to wrap.
Equipment & Tools Needed
- Hole puncher
- Ruler
Materials
- Wrapping paper
- Tacky glue
- Glue runner
- Cardboard
- Ribbon
- Paper box (the size of the desired gift bag)
Instructions
Whenever you celebrate a friend's birthday, wedding anniversary, or another special day, you will most certainly be giving your loved one a gift. We crafty types like to put our artistic stamp on everything, so why not create a DIY gift bag that is as individual and unique as the gift itself? Not only will your packaging be beautiful, but you will save money as well. If you follow these instructions, you can make custom gift bags at a fraction of the cost of the one you would find in a store.
The great thing about these bags is that you can make them in any size you need, which can be very helpful for large or uniquely shaped presents that may be difficult to wrap.
Tip: It is recommended to use heavier wrapping paper when making these bags. Lighter papers are a little harder to work with for this project. DIY gift bags made from thinner paper may not be sturdy enough to hold very much weight without tearing. You certainly don't want your gift peaking through, spoiling the surprise!
Instructions
Measure and cut your wrapping paper
First, using the cloth measuring tape, measure the circumference of the box and add 1/2 inch. This measurement will be the width of the wrapping paper square. Next, measure the height of the box, add an inch plus 3/4 of the depth of the box. This will be the height of the wrapping paper square. Cut out a square of wrapping paper that matches these measurements.
Fold the top of your paper
Fold the wrapping paper 1 inch toward the inside top of the wrapping paper square. This edge will be the top of the gift bag.
Place your box on the wrong side of the wrapping paper
Place the paper box bottom on the bottom right side of the wrapping paper square. The folded edge should be on top. Pull the wrapping paper on the right side of the box until there is a one-inch margin of paper on the top right side.
Glue the edge of the gift bag
Pull the left hand side of the paper over the box and, using a glue runner, tape, or tacky glue, adhere the left edge to the top of the right edge of the paper. You will now have a cylinder paper shape around the box.
From the bottom of the bag
Push the box forward a couple of inches. The next steps are the same for covering a box. Pull the top paper down over the box and fold creases on the left and right hand sides. Crease the bottom toward the center. Fold the left and right creases toward the center. Secure the bottom of the bag with tape. Fold the bottom crease upward and apply tape to secure it. This side will be the bottom of the gift bag.
Finish the top of the gift bag
Stand the bag upright and fold the sides of the bag together and release. If you are planning to put heavier items in the bag, you need to line the top portion and bottom part of the bag with cardboard. Cut a square of cardboard the same size as the bottom of the bag and place it inside for extra stability. Cut a piece of cardboard the width of the top of the bag plus one inch high. Glue it under the top wrapping paper margin. Punch two holes on the top of each side of the bag with a hole punch and insert a ribbon for handles. Tie each end of the ribbon handle into a thick knot. Happy gifting!