Tip-sy Tuesday: How to Make a Wrapping Paper Gift Bag

Not sure if this is a tip, more like a useful helpful wrapping idea perfect for this time of year. I use this technique ALL the time, year round. Originally posted 12/15 but worth knowing and worth a repeat:


Have you ever made a gift bag from wrapping paper? I recently learned and love this -  no more having a gift that won't fit a store bought bag (and no more having to run to the store for a bag - just make your own!). It's a little hard to take pictures while folding the paper haha - I need a third hand sometimes. I took a bunch trying to capture what it is I'm doing exactly...


This is an especially good idea if you need a wider bottom bag or are wrapping something that has an odd shape, you can make the bag whatever size you need.

1. Start with a length of wrapping paper that will fit your item. Lay the paper on a flat surface wrong side up.

2. Fold the sides in, overlapping slightly, and tape.

3. Fold up the bottom as wide as you want the base of your bag to be (mine is approx 4").

4. This next part is hard for me to describe, but it isn't hard to do - open up the bottom part you just folded up and fold the sides that have the crease in them towards the center of the bag creating a diamond shape.

5.Then fold the top and bottom points in towards the center of the diamond, overlapping about 1/2" and tape.

6. cut off the top of the bag to however tall you want it to be

7. open up the bag and shape until the bottom is flat

8. put your gift inside and roll down the top to close. 

There - no more buying bags or putting your presents in garbage bags cuz they won't fit in your store bought bag! I guess I should point out that you can only make a bag as large as your wrapping paper - I'm not sure I could make one as big as a garbage bag haha...hmmm, maybe I'll go try. See ya!