Scrapbook Paper Gift Bags

Who knew there was such a shortage of little gift bags in our town? Not surprising as it's often hard to find what you are looking for here due to the lack of shopping. Little gift bags though? I thought I would easily find a couple at the grocery store, or our one big box store. Nope. 

I needed little ones, because they are for these...

Two of my 6yr old's friends are a set of twins. They are moving to England this week and my sweet girl wanted to give them a gift. She bought these with her piggy bank money. I thought of sewing little gift bags but  I hate sewing little fiddly stuff that will probably get thrown out in the end anyway. 

I remembered I had a big stack of scrapbook paper in a box somewhere. Once upon a time I thought I would become a scrapbooker. I bought a stack of fancy paper and a pretty album. I completed two pages! I love looking at scrapbooks but they aren't my thing to make. So, yay! I found a way to use up two sheets! Read on and I'll give you the simple instructions so you can make pretty little bags too. One sheet makes a bag perfect for small things like jewelry, or you could put a couple of sheets together to make a larger bag. They would be really cute as party favor bags!

What you will need:

-Scrapbook paper

-Ruler

-Glue or tape

-Ribbon

-Hole punch

This is the back of my scrapbook paper. I made a bag that was 5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 2 inches deep.

Notice there are 4 rectangles on top that alternate, side, front, side back. 

• The width of your side rectangles are how deep your bag will be.

• The width of your front/back rectangles are how wide your bag will be.

• The height of your top rectangles should be one inch taller than you want your finished height.

• The bottom rectangles should be the height or your side width. The width of your bottom rectangles should just carry down from the top.

• The narrow rectangles on the right are just a tab to help you glue or tape your bag together. I chose 1/2 inch.

 After you have your drawing done cut off your excess paper. Then, cut your bottom rectangle lines up to where they meet the top rectangles. Your bottom sections will be the bottom of your bag.

Fold along all of your lines. You should fold all lines inward. I added an extra inch to the height so I could fold the top down one inch. You can leave a "raw" edge but I prefer a folded edge. Now fold up like a box.

Hole punch two holes on each side and add some ribbon for handles. 

To give your bags that gift bag look and not a box shape don't forget to pinch the sides in.

Add some tissue paper and you're all set!

If you haven't entered the Tonya's Temptations Giveaway, enter now! Closes tomorrow evening!