• Home
  • About Me
  • Contact

The Gunny Sack

  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Slow Cooker
  • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Appetizer
    • Beverages
    • Breakfast
    • Crock Pot
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Salad
    • Side
    • Soup
    • Snack
    • Holiday
  • Tutorials
    • All Tutorials
    • Mason Jars
    • Homemade Gifts
    • Party Ideas

Home » Tutorials » DIY » How To Make Gift Bags

How To Make Gift Bags

Pin
Share

This post may contain affiliate links to products. If you use those links, I may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more here.

magazine gift bags

I’ve heard of people making their own gift bags using magazines or calendar pages.  Then, last weekend at the craft sale, someone at another booth was using handmade bags for their merchandise!  I just had to try it out myself.  I think these will be perfect for wrapping Christmas gifts!

Supplies needed:
(2) 12×12 sheets of scrapbook paper
4 magazine pages
Tape runner or glue
Paper Trimmer
Sewing Machine

cut pieces of paper and magazines
Cut the 2 pieces of 12×12 scrapbook paper as shown in this picture by using the magazine page as a pattern for the largest piece. The largest pieces of scrapbook paper will be the main pieces of the bag, the next size down will be the sides of the bag and the narrowest pieces will be the handles.

cut pieces of paper and magazines

Then, cut 2 of the magazine pages to fit the 2 side pieces of scrapbook paper.  Here are all of the pieces need for the bag:

Bag Sides:
2 full-size magazine pages & 2 pcs scrapbook paper of the same size

Side Panels:
2 trimmed magazine pages & 2 pcs scrapbook paper of the same size

Bag Handles
2 pieces of scrapbook paper

sew on the handle

Stack 1 magazine page and 1 piece of scrapbook paper, wrong sides together and hold together loosely with a small line from the tape runner.  Fold the piece of paper for the handle in half lengthwise and sew shut with a zig-zag stitch.  Insert the handle ends between the 2 pieces of paper and sew shut.

sew side panels

Stack the side panel pieces wrong sides together and hold together loosely with a small piece from the tape runner. Sew the top and then sew the side panel to the bag.  I tried to mix up the magazine pages and the scrapbook pages so that some were on the inside and some on the outside.

sew front and back

Fold the side panels and then sew the 2nd bag side onto the side panel.  Then, fold bag together and sew the far right side to the far left panel.

how the top looks

Now, the bottom of the bag looks like this…but not so blurry…close it up and sew straight across the bottom, sewing the side panels to the bag sides.

magazine gift bags

And the bag is fully sewn!

flatten the bottom

If you want a flat bottom on the bag, gently open and crease the sides so the bottoms look like this.

inside the bags

Here is the interior of the bags…adorable!

magazine gift bags

A great way to customize these would be to use magazine pages that coordinate with the gift you are giving.  If you are giving goodies, use magazine pages that show food.  If you are giving a baby gift, use magazine pages that show babies or baby gear and so on!

Pin
Share
« Vehicle Maintenance with STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment
Peppermint Latte Recipe »

Comments

  1. Floyd Gary Clyne says

    August 15, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    I wonder if it is possible to use lamination in the process to make these bags more permanent. Great idea.

    Reply
  2. Danielle says

    December 29, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    new follower:>

    Reply
  3. Danielle says

    December 29, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    This is so fantastic and what an awesome idea!! LOVE it! I am going to try this one out! It would make great gift bags for a birthday or something. I having a Home Year linky party over on my blog Blissful an dDomestic and would love for you to link this up:>Have a fabulous week!http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/p/my-homemade-year-linky-party.html

    Reply
  4. Tina says

    November 17, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    Wow, what a neat idea! I’m not good at crafts, AT ALL, but this looks like a really fun and easy project. When I give a gift, I like to make the wrapping of it also part of the gift, and these bags are a perfect example of that.Tina @ Life is Good

    Reply
  5. Rebekah Greiman says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    LOVE this! Found you through HOH and just had to see how you did this. Thanks for sharing this great tutorial! Have a great (early) weekend.www.potholesandpantyhose.com

    Reply
  6. Carissa says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    This is pretty much amazing., Thanks so much for sharing! I found your project on Pinterest and will definitely be trying it this week.Cheers! Carissa from Carissa’s Creativity Space

    Reply
  7. Jamie says

    November 17, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    Those are AMAZING!! Jamiehttp://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  8. Allison @ House of Hepworths says

    November 17, 2011 at 1:59 am

    You are awesome so I featured you at my Hookin Up with HoH Party!Feel free to stop by for a button if you’d like. :)xoxoAllison @ House of Hepworths

    Reply
  9. Katie's Nesting Spot says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:18 am

    Fabulous idea, I just started stitching on paper and have a huge collection of scrapbook papers. These would be great for all the extras. Thanks for linking up to A Crafty Soiree, I featured you this week.

    Reply
  10. Adelina Priddis says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Love it!!!

    Reply
  11. Megan says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    i knew there was a good use for all those magazines I don’t need anymore! Thanks for the great tutorial! They are beautiful.Megan @ The Crafty Conunrum

    Reply
  12. House Revivals says

    November 15, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    What a fantastic idea! I’ve linked to this post from my Facebook page.

    Reply
  13. Andrea says

    November 14, 2011 at 11:27 pm

    Now that is COOL! I have seen a lot of crafts on blogs and this maybe my favorite! The bags are so eye catching. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! I am newer to blogging and trying to use giveaways to get some attention lol. Come see what I mean.

    Reply
  14. Jenn says

    November 14, 2011 at 4:42 am

    I never knew you could sew paper? I really need to learn to sew, because I would totally try this. I stumbled this!

    Reply
  15. Lindsay says

    November 13, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Thanks for sharing at Show & Share, friend! I just adore you!

    Reply
  16. Pati @ A Crafty Escape says

    November 11, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    This is brilliant… I love the look and would much rather receive this than a store-bought bag! I might try my hand at them for the teacher gifts :)P.S. I’m giving away 25 free shutterfly holiday cards… come on by! http://acraftyescape.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-shutterflys-2011-holiday-cards.html

    Reply
  17. Sue Frazier says

    November 11, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    what an awesome idea! great project!

    Reply
  18. Christina at I Gotta Create! says

    November 11, 2011 at 3:41 am

    These are Fabulous, Tonia! So colorful, useful, AND it’s upcycling! I’d be thrilled if you shared this at my “Abundant Thanks” linky party.

    Reply
  19. CAS says

    November 10, 2011 at 12:52 pm

    Wow, this is one of the cutest craft projects I’ve seen in a long time! I’m new to your blog but already following, & I can’t wait to “snoop” around your blog for more fun & inspiration!:) CAS

    Reply
  20. Happy in red says

    November 10, 2011 at 8:49 am

    So, you’re sewing paper? That’s brilliant! And that makes for such nice gift bags. Really fantastic.Esther.

    Reply
  21. Elizabeth says

    November 9, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    Adorable! Love these!!

    Reply
  22. Tricia says

    November 9, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    So neat!

    Reply
  23. sherri lynn says

    November 9, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    This is such a good idea! I always have tons of magazines laying around and all with such pretty pictures!

    Reply
  24. Anne @ Domesblissity says

    November 9, 2011 at 5:45 am

    Oh Tonia! How beautiful. I’ve heard of this with folding and gluing but not with sewing. How wonderful! And wonderful papers you’ve chosen. How did your sale go?Anne xx

    Reply
  25. Amy of The Salvage Collection says

    November 9, 2011 at 4:32 am

    okay, one more reason i need to learn to sew! this is an awesome tutorial! great photos, too!amy

    Reply
  26. Katie says

    November 8, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    LOVE this idea to make your own bags. I’ve never thought to do this before!!!

    Reply
  27. Lindsay says

    November 8, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Such a cute little craft! These would make for some really fun gift bags! Great tutorial!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

Tonia LarsonHi, I'm Tonia, a lover of food and photography! Fill a gunny sack with ingredients, tie on an apron and let's get cooking!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
sign up for emails button
Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Nutrition Disclaimer

Categories

Blog Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 ·Tasteful Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in