Craft Paper Gift Bags

I bought a set of six craft paper gift bags at Hobby Lobby 

(Original price $3.99 at 50% off = $1.99 which is  roughly .33 cents a bag)  

to decorate them myself for Christmas gift giving.

 I shot these pictures quickly with my cell phone so they aren't my usual 

quality but I think you will understand what I did. This is my ugly vinyl

tablecloth that I use for my crafts so pay no mind to it!

First I put a weight inside to help the bag stay open  

(I happened to have a small 3 x 3 x 6 gift box that I put a cup in for weight.  

 I used wrapping paper for my accent. 

I decided on a width that I wanted the wrapping paper to be.  

I left an extra inch so I could fold in each side 1/2".  

I like the foil paper because it has some body and is pretty easy to work with.

 The width of the roll worked out pretty close to the overall length I was 

going to need to go under and up both sides.  

I started on one side by creasing the top where I needed to make a fold.  

Then I put some Elmers glue on the back so I could stick it to the paper bag to keep it from shifting and from hanging loose away from the bag. 

I did not put glue on the folded edge of the foil that is laying against the bag because I figured it wouldn't stick and I'd end up with dried glue that would look bad.

I put glue on the bottom also and then I came up the other side and did the 

same fold and glued it.  

I used my hands both inside and out gently pressing just enough 

to get the two papers to join.

  I used this wide ribbon as an accent against the wrapping paper. 

I guided it up the bag with my hand and creased it over the top.

 I cut both ends of the ribbon to be the same inside the bag and used the 

Elmers glue again to keep it in place.

I gathered the two handles and tied on a ribbon.  

This was my first run through and I think I'll work on making the 

ribbon a little fancier on the handles.

 Overall this was a pretty inexpensive project and I'll have six bags in the end for a small investment and they are customized to my liking.  

I'll add some tissue to make it ever prettier as I start to fill them!

I will be joining 
Between Naps on the Porch 
for
Metamorphosis Monday