How to Make Your Own Christmas Gift Bags

Looking to add a handmade touch to your festive gifting this year? Creating your own Christmas gift bags is not only easy and fun, but it’s also a brilliant way to match all your makes to your tags and greeting cards.

In this tutorial we’ll walk you through how to craft a striking handmade gift bag. We’re using our Retro Christmas collection but you can choose any paper and dies to match your theme! It’s perfect for wrapping small presents or special party favours.

Grab your scoreboard and let’s get started! 

What You’ll Need:

• 2 sheets of 12”x12” patterned paper - we used the Retro Christmas Paper Pad.

• Twine or ribbon

• Large Guillotine

• Scoreboard

• Pokey tool or hole punch

• Collall Tacky Glue 

How to assemble the bag:

1. Cut two pieces of your 12” x 12” patterned paper to 10⅜” x 8”.
2. Next score one piece on the long side at 1½” & 10⅛” . Then, score on the short side at ½” & 6½”.
3. On the second piece, score on the long side at  1½” & 10⅛”. Then, score the short side at 1½” x 7½”.
4. To create the bag shape, turn both pieces so that the ¾” score line is at the top, running horizontally. At the bottom of each piece, remove the small scored tab below the 1½” line. Cut vertically on the 6½” score line up to the  1½” line to create flaps for the base.
5. Next, assemble the sides. Fold and burnish all the score lines and add glue to the reverse of the ½” vertical tabs, and attach them to the inside edges of the wider side of the opposite piece. You’ll now have a rectangular tube.
6. Fold and glue the bottom flaps to form the bag’s base. Allow to dry fully for a secure hold.
7. Then, carefully pinch the bag sides inward to create a soft valley fold. Work your way down slowly until you feel resistance at the base.
8. Fold the top ¾” score line and burnish. Use a pokey tool to punch two holes through the flap, front, and back of the bag. Thread twine or ribbon through from the back and tie a bow at the front.
9. For a special finishing touch, you could add a die cut embellishment. We’ve die cut and assembled the Santa and Ho Ho Ho sentiment from the Retro Christmas collection.
   

Whether you’re wrapping handmade soaps, festive bakes, or small trinkets, this DIY gift bag is a gorgeous way to give your gifting a special homemade touch. 

Make sure to tag us on our socials if you give it a go – we’d love to see your makes!

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