How to Make a Beautiful Paper Gift Bag

Pack your gift with this beautiful paper gift bag. You can make your paper gift bag with almost any size or any color you like best. To make a smaller paper gift bag, use one layer of paper but use a double layer to make a larger bag. You could decorate your paper before you begin folding. Always make a stencil to decorate the paper if you plan to make a lot of bags so as to match the party favors. Use pretty ribbons, stylist strings or any type of strings to make the bag handles. You can also use gold or silver paper, or you may want to look around for paper decorated on both sides to beautify your bag.

Note: All photos by author.

Things you need

Step 1

Prepare three pieces of papers. You can make a paper gift bag with almost any size. In this project, I reused papers from an old magazine book.

Step 2

Align the three papers, so that their edges match well. Use a ruler to measure about 1.5cm (adjusting to the size of the paper accordingly) and then use a pencil to draw one straight line. Begin by folding the paper according to the line you has just drawn.

Run your thumbnail along the fold to mark it well. Now, tape it with cellophane tape.

Step 3

Turn the paper over and place it like this manner.

Fold the paper in half.

Step 4

Unfold the paper. From the center crease you just created, measure about 4 cm (adjusting according to the size of the paper) down the line and run your thumbnail along the line to mark it well.

Step 5

Measure about 1.5 cm (adjusting according to the size of the paper) using the ruler, and draw the line as shown. Mark the two lines along the paper.

Fold along the line. Your paper should now appear in this manner.

Draw another 1.5-cm-line (adjusting according to the size of the paper) just beneath the line you folded along (in the second photo) and fold it accordingly.

Step 6

From step 5, turn the paper over and put a hole punch on top of it to firm its position.

From the center crease you created in step 4, repeat step 5 for the other side.

Step 7

Open up the paper and your paper should now look like this.

Fold about 1cm (adjusting according to the size of the paper) over the lower end of the paper. Next, tape it with cellophane tape.

Step 8

Flatten the triangular shape. Run your thumbnail along the edges to make a good fold. Next, tape the side opening with cellophane tape.

You should now have a typical bag shape.

Step 9

Place the paper this way where the opening facing towards you.

Lift the lower part upwards (about 2 cm, adjusting according to the size of paper) to form the base of the bag.

Turn the paper backward and lift the lower part upward as shown in the second photo. Run your thumbnail along the fold to mark it well.

Step 10

Now, overturn your paper and make it stand by placing two heavy objects to hold its position firmly in the middle.

Fold the upper part downward and the lower part upward as though you’re wrapping a present.

Step 11

Use a hole punch to make holes to thread a string/ a ribbon through at the other opening.

Step 12

Prepare two strings (any color you like) and burn both ending parts of each string respectively with a lighter slightly.  

Step 13

Make a knot on each string respectively.

Step 14

Inside the bag, thread a string through and make a handle.

Do the same for the other string (the red one) too.

Step 15

For a decoration purpose, use one small and one big square colored papers to make paper hearts (Kindly refer to my article entitled How to make a paper heart ) and later, attached them with strong glue on the front side of the paper gift bag.

Turn the paper gift bag backward. Make one gold paper snowflake (kindly refer to my article entitled How to make a paper snowflake) and the other paper heart prior to pasting them onto the paper gift bag.

Congratulation! You’ve just created one beautiful paper gift bag.

You might also like my other craft works

• How to make paper roses (the easiest way)
• How to fold a beautiful paper flower
• The easiest way to craft pumpkin for Halloween
• How to make an envelope
• How to make a paper rose

You can find more of my craft works and DIY stuffs at CraftStudio.