Last updated on January 5th, 2025 at 09:17 pm
So here’s the deal: I bought some DIY craft videos, sight unseen, then I discovered that while the ideas were good, the videos were too fast or missing details. Like those awful Facebook reels that look promising, but go so fast that you can’t take it in.
But what if I made the crafts myself then shared the DIY (and the edited and slowed-down videos) with you? You can skip the angst, follow what I did and, if you like it, try for yourself.
So here we go. These pretty little paper gift bags are my first attempt. I’ll tell you what worked, what didn’t, and how I feel about doing it again. Then you can decide if you’d like to try making these tiny little bags yourself.
Tiny DIY Paper Gift Bags
What You Will Need:
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- scrapbook paper (Amazon), leftover gift wrap or other pretty, lightweight paper
- white glue, preferably tacky glue (Amazon)
- paper scissors
- decorative edge scissors (Amazon) or pinking shears
- ruler
- narrow ribbon for the bag handles
Tip: Consider making these tiny little bags from a recycled larger gift bag. Children may enjoy decorating their own paper gift bags by hand-stamping them with plastic pop bottles.
You can make these little bags in custom measurements to suit your purposes. I tried several different sizes, starting with a rectangle of 4″ x 5″ and ending with the one that I found easiest to work with, which was 5″ x 6″. That sounds big, but the finished tiny paper gift bag is about two inches wide by three inches high and holds three toffees.
I suggest you start with this size and adjust the ratio later if you need different sizes of bags.
Tiny Gift Bag: Folding and Gluing
Step 1: Fold over 1/8″ at the top of the shorter (5″) side of your rectangle. This edge will be one side of your bag.
Bring the lower edge of the paper up to meet the folded top edge then form a firm crease line along the bottom.
Step 2: Fold the top edge down again another 1/8″. Glue securely in place.
Fold the bottom edge up 1/8″ to match the top.
Step 3: Open up the paper rectangle. The sides are formed and your tiny little gift bag is taking shape now.
On the glued side, gently push down on the middle side fold so that it points downward, toward the inside of the bag.
Repeat on the other side. Reinforce these side folds by pressing down with your fingers along the edges so the folds are nice and crisp.
Step 4: Here’s where things got tricky for me. This is much harder than shown in the video! But it gets easier with practice.
Fold one end of the bag about 1/2″ or about the same depth as the sides.
Open up the rectangle and gently push down on the side ends, as shown, like wrapping the end of a boxed gift.
Step 5: Shape the bottom of the bag by folding down the long edges, one on top of the other. Glue these securely in place.
Step 6: Cut the top off the bag at the desired height, using pinking shears or decorative edge scissors for a pretty effect.
Use the cut-off piece to make two small rectangles of paper. Cut narrow ribbon to 4″ long, or desired length.
Glue the ends of the ribbon to the back of the paper rectangles, as shown.
Step 7: Glue one ribbon rectangle on the inside top of each side of the bag. And guess what? You have now made a tiny DIY paper gift bag.
All by yourself. And it’s pretty, and useful, and now you know how, you’ll make more. Guess how I know?
Suggestions for Using Tiny Paper Gift Bags
These tiny paper gift bags are treasures in, and of, themselves. So they make what’s inside even more welcome and cherished. Here’s my suggestions for using them:
- three toffee-sized candies in one homemade bag makes a special gift for a child without overdoing the candy or calories
- Halloween treats anyone?
- Easter hunt surprises? Valentine’s day?
- make the bags from Christmas paper and the uses are endless
- wedding celebrations: make with wedding wrapping paper and fill with a memorable token of the wedding for each each guest
If you have more leftover gift wrap, why not turn it into Recycled Wrapping Paper Bows?
How to Make Tiny Paper Bags: Video
And here’s the short Tiny Paper Bags Video that started this crafting adventure.
A quick review: I slowed it down, but it’s still quite short, just over a minute long. Maybe that’s because it skips anything to do with glue, or maybe they are just more clever with paper than me.
I hope you find this project, and the video, inspirational. If you try it, please let me know if you found it easy or difficult. And I’d love to hear any DIY hints that you care to share.
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