How to Make a Gift Bag Out of Wrapping Paper

Brown Paper Bag Style Gift Bag

Create a brown paper bag style gift bag in just a few easy steps.

1. Measure the Gift

   Begin by rolling out your wrapping paper on a large flat surface and placing the gift on top to see how much paper you will need, then cut it to size. Set the gift aside so you can start constructing the bag.

2. Tape the Bag

   Place the wrapping paper face side down on a flat surface and bring both the right and the left side towards the center so there is enough of an overlap and press down to get a neat fold. Take some clear or double-sided tape and place it along the entire length of the seam to secure it in place.

3. Fold the Bottom of the Bag

   Next, create what will be the bottom of the gift bag. Do this by taking the bottom of the folded wrapping paper up, making sure that you bring it up far enough so that the bottom of the bag is wide enough to hold your gift.

4. Create a Triangle

   Take the bottom section of the wrapping paper that you just folded up and open it so it sort of looks like an open mouth, then go ahead and fold it down by flattening out the corners. What you should end up with is a triangle shaped bottom.

5. Secure the Bottom

   Grab the ends of the top and bottom triangles and fold them towards the center, ensuring that there's an overlap. Press down for neat, crisp folds, then secure all the seams with tape.

6. Open the bag

   Your gift bag is ready to be used now! Open it and stand it up, and check if any of the inside folds need an extra piece of tape for added sturdiness. Then, place your gift inside.

7. Finish It with a Bow

   To finish it off, fold down the top of the bag. You can either fold it down once or twice, but make sure you get at least a one to two-inch wide fold. Take a hole punch and make two holes into the folded top, about an inch or so apart, then take your ribbon or twine and loop it through. Tie it into a bow and add a gift tag if needed.

The 15 Best Places to Buy Wrapping Paper Online of 2023

Gift Bag with Handles

To make your own gift bag with ribbon handles, follow the six steps below.

1. Measure the Paper

   As with the first method, start by rolling out your wrapping paper on a flat surface and placing the gift on it to measure how much paper you will need, then cut it to size and set the gift aside.

2. Fold Down the Top

   Place the wrapping face side down and make a one inch fold along the top. Then, fold down again and secure the seam with tape. This will form the top of your gift bag through which the handles will be looped.

3. Tape the Seam

   Bring the right and the left side of the paper towards the center, making sure there is enough of an overlap, then press down for a crisp fold. Secure the bag by taping down the length of the seam with clear or double-sided tape.

4. Create the Base of the Bag

   Next, construct the base of the bag by taking the bottom of the wrapping paper and folding it up. Bring it up far enough so the base of the bag is large enough to hold the gift. Then, take the just folded bottom section and open it up and fold it down, flattening the corners. The bag should now have a triangle shaped bottom.

5. Secure the Bottom

   Take the ends of the top and bottom triangles and fold them towards the center. Press down for a crisp fold, and make sure there is an overlap so that the bottom is secure. Then, tape down all the seams with clear or double-sided tape.

6. Attach the Bag Handles

   Now you're ready to open up the gift bag. Stand it up and using a hole punch, make two holes into the top folded part on both the front and back of the bag. Then, cut two pieces of ribbon, one for each handle. Loop the ribbon through the two holes on the front of the bag and either make a knot at the end of each inside the bag so the ribbon doesn't slip out or tie the two ribbon ends together. Do the same for the second handle.