If you’d like to add a personal touch to the gifts you give, there is no better way than to design your own packages. You can use creative gift wrapping ideas, make your own wrapping paper, and you can make and decorate your own gift bags!
There are many varieties of gift bags available, but making your own adds a custom element. Start with plain, solid colored paper bags. You can select those with handles or without and decorate or personalize them as you like. This is one of the simplest options, and you can find some other ideas in “Crafts: Making Custom Gift Bags.” Some of the ideas there are for other events or occasions, but you can adapt them for any holiday or special time.
Here’s an idea for Christmas (or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any special holiday) that I think you will like:
Felt Gift Bags
Cut out two rectangular shaped 8” x 10” pieces of felt (you can adjust sizes as necessary to fit your gift). You will also need two strips 10” long by 2” wide, and one strip 8” long and 2” wide (make wider if necessary). Lay the pieces out side by side, reserving the 8” x 2” strip for later. Lay one large piece, one narrow, one large, one narrow. Glue them together side by side with fabric glue. When dry, glue the two ends together to form a box. Allow to dry and glue the 8” x 2” strip on to make a bottom for your bag.
You can attach ribbon or strings of beads to the top if you’d like to make handles, or use strips of felt of fabric.
Next, decorate your bag with different colored pieces of felt. Cut out leaves from green and circles from red to make holly, or cut out other festive designs from your favorite colors. Glue them to the bag.
Stencil on names of recipients if desired, to make these gift bags even more personal, or add a special holiday message.
More Gift Presentation Ideas:
Creative and Frugal Gift Wrapping Ideas