How To Make A Simple Paper Gift Bag

Hi everyone!

Today, I want to show you how to make a simple Paper Gift Bag : )

It's very simple and quick to make & needs only a single sheet of A4 paper & a few very basic supplies. The kind of things we all have in our craft box.

And my finished bag measures 14cm x 15cm (5 1/2″ x 6″).

As with the Gift Box I shared in my last post, I think knowing how to fold a paper Gift Bag is an important tool to have in your crafting arsenal.

To make it, I've chosen one of a few new designs I'll shortly be adding to the Colour Collection in the Boutique. Very shortly : ) I'll be telling you about those in my next post.

And they're much easier to make than you think ...

HOW TO MAKE A PAPER GIFT BAG

Print this Tutorial

You will need ...
Single sheet of A4 paper.
(I printed onto 120gsm paper)
Permanent Adhesive
Hole Punch
Ribbon or Twine for Handles

Optional
Bone Folder (You could use the edge of a ruler if you don't have one)
Small piece of white card
Gift Tag.

Lay your paper horizontally on your work surface with the wrong side facing up. Create the top edge of your bag by folding down 2 1/2cm (1") along the top, long horizontal edge. And create a tab to seal the side edge of your bag by folding approx 1-1.5cm (1/2") in from the short, right hand side. Press down the folds firmly with your fingertips & crease.

Open up the 2 folds you have just made, & fold the remaining short side up to the edge of your folded tab on the opposite side.

Apply adhesive along the tab, in the folded area only ...

… & fold it over, carefully lining up the top & bottom edges.

Working at the top of your bag & using the crease you have already made, fold it to the inside.

Now you're going to create the bottom of your bag.
So with the tabbed edge facing upwards (this is the back of the bag) and the folded top edge at the top, facing away from you, fold upwards 6 1/2 cm (2 1/2") from the bottom. Press & crease this fold firmly.

Lift & open up the bottom edge ...

… & gently fold one side towards the middle. Aligning the crease with the bottom folded edge will help you keep this straight. Make sure the points you create at the corner are open & flattened fully & neatly. Press down & & crease firmly.

Repeat to fold the opposite side towards the centre too, again using the crease & the fold to keep this straight and ensuring the corner point is neat & fully flattened. Press down & & crease firmly.

Fold up the bottom edge. Using the horizontal crease line in the centre as a guide, fold so the bottom edge sits approx 1cm (slightly less than 1/2") above the crease.

Repeat with the opposite edge, again using the crease as a guide & folding so the short edge sits approx 1cm (slightly less than 1/2") beyond it.

Open up the 2 flaps you have just made. And working on the top one only, apply adhesive to the areas shown above. Fold down this flap & stick it firmly in place.

Repeat this step on the remaining flap, applying adhesive to the same 2 areas on this and to approx 1-1 1/2 cm (1.2") in the centre too.

Being careful where you apply adhesive in the last two steps will ensure there is no stickiness on the inside of your bag when it is finished : )

Fold down this flap too & stick it firmly in place.

Punch 2 holes at the top of your bag. Punching through both layers at the same time will make sure your holes are perfectly aligned.

… cut a length of ribbon or twine approx 50cm in length & thread through your handles, adding a tag if you like as you do this.

And tie it neatly on the inside.

Your bag is now essentially finished!

There is another final small step which I always like to do. And that is to add a small piece of card to the bottom on the inside. I think this makes my bags a little stronger, they have a neater finish on the inside and my bags feel more professional when I have : )

It is optional. But it is simple to do ...

Cut a small piece of white card, approx 92mm x 57mm (a little over 3 1/2" x 2 1.4") & pop it in the bottom. It may need a little adjusting to get the best fit. But I just slice 1mm off the edges at a time until I have something I am happy with. And when I have, a little dab of glue on the underside holds it securely in place.

And that's how to make a simple Paper Gift Bag : )
How quick & simple was that? I think they're fun to make too.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!
New Colour Collection paper designs next : )