Gift Bags

Figure A Figure B

Beautiful gift bags can be assembled with nothing more than heavy, embossed wallpaper or Con-tact paper, a little paint, glue, cardboard, and cording. Although templates may be purchased, a cereal or cracker box may be used as the pattern for the bag.

Steps:

1. Unfold the box and trace around it onto the wallpaper, leaving an inch or two of extra paper at what will become the top of the bag. This will allow the top edge to be turned inside the bag for sturdiness and will also provide a finished appearance.
2. Mark the fold lines on the paper (figure A).
3. Paint and decorate the paper before it is assembled into a box-shaped bag. For this bag, we first painted the paper brown and gold, then applied Rub 'N' Buff over the paint for an attractive antique effect, but other types of decoration may be used, depending upon personal preference.
4. When the paint is dry, fold the paper like the box had been folded, and use glue or rubber cement to hold it all together.
5. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit the base and place it inside the new bag.
6. Cut two strips of cardboard for the handle area, and glue them in place before turning the top edges over (figure B).
7. Turn the edges and glue them in place, if desired.
8. Punch holes for the handle, insert a piece of cording, ribbon, etc., and knot the ends.