Last Updated on April 16, 2023 by Ellen Christian
Have you ever wondered how to make decorative gift bags? Check out these simple tips to create homemade gift bags to use for gift giving.
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How to Make Decorative Gift Bags
I love wrapping presents creatively and often use gift bags to keep the gift more of a surprise than wrapping paper would allow. Whenever I’m shopping, I wander through the wrapping aisle and check out all of the cute gift bags.
I nearly had sticker shock when I saw that some of the decorative gift bags can cost as much as $8! I realized that if I knew how to make decorative gift bags, I could simply purchase a plain bag.
Then, I could add my own design and embellishments for a very small fraction of the cost that they charge.
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Create pretty gift bags
How you decorate the gift bag is entirely up to you. If you have little children, you could give them a box of crayons or a package of markers and let them create their own decorative gift bags for friends.
If you enjoy rubber stamping, you could rubber stamp a random pattern of colorful shapes all over the front of the gift bag.
Because I have a box full of scrapbook embellishments, I wanted to create a gift bag that used up some of my craft supplies. Most of the embellishments that I have are small. So, I wanted to have something for a topper.
I started with a lace doily and a flattened cupcake liner. I used a pink gift bag as the base for the decorative gift bag. You may also want to try making your own gift tags.
Add rhinestone accents
Then I created a flower embellishment with a rhinestone center. I added a white gift tag tied with string and used a clear adhesive sticker on the gift tag that had a romantic quote on it.
You could easily write your own quote if you don’t have stickers. Make sure that you fill the bag with whatever you are putting inside it before you add the doily and the cupcake liner since you staple those on top of the bag itself to close it.
You could easily make a decorative gift bag for any occasion by changing the color of the bag, the type of cupcake liner and what you use for embellishments.
This was a much more affordable option than buying an $8 gift bag from the store. Are you inspired? Try making a Chevron Tin from an old tin.
Ways you can make a decorative gift bag:
- Rubber stamps
- Make a DIY gift bag from wrapping paper
- Learn how to make a fabric gift bag
If you need a gift bag for a small gift, check out this helpful video and let me know how they came out!
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
Very beautiful! I love pink and I love doilies! What a great way to give a gift!
Thanks so much, Dawn. Pink is one of my favorite colors!
It’s so adorable and yes, the gift bags sold in the stores are ridiculously expensive! Love the way your craft turns out to be so good!
Thanks so much! I need to try a few more of them.
What a very cute idea. I would have never thought to do that. I think its clever!
Thanks, Stefani. I like the way it turned out!
Very pretty. Such a great and inexpensive way to give a special gift.
Thanks, Mary. I thought it was a nice touch.
These are really great! I like the idea, like you said, just change the color and maybe the decoration a bit and you have a gift bag for every ocation. Thank you for sharing this!
Very true, Joanna. I love that I can change it for each holiday.
looks cute! I just used plain old pink gift bags…I am boring!
LOL that works too, Diane!
Cute…this would be perfect for Mother’s Day too!
Thanks, Wendy! I agree!
Beautiful! And perfect for V-day! LOVE it!
It would definitely work for Valentine’s Day! Great craft for the kids too!
What a super cute idea, love that you used a cupcake liner as an accent!
I thought it worked out perfectly there!
This is so awesome. Thanks for sharing this idea.
Glad to share, Jeremy!
How cute Ellen! i love how creative they are!
Thanks, Heather! There are so many different ways you can make them.
This is great because they can be pricy! So pretty!!!
Thanks, Jennifer! I agree that they can cost a lot some times!
Very cute and creative DIY project. I love how the doily looks like lace! Great idea for a Mother’s Day bag! 🙂
Thanks, Nancy! It would work well for Mother’s Day!
I am sure the person getting the gift loves having a custom bag made special just for them, too.
That is my hope, Nicole!
I saw this on Pinterest and pinned it already!
Super cute anytime of year really!
Thanks for pinning, Ronni!
Oooh, very pretty and seems very simple to do… Thanks so much
It really was easy to do, Shauna!
So pretty and a favorite verse of mine!!
Thanks, Marina! Mine too!
These are gorgeous! I am going to do this for my Mother in Laws Valentines Day gift.
Thanks, Tammilee! Great idea too!
Love simple ideas that turn boring gifts into meaningful ideas! Great suggestion!
Thank you so much, Sharon!
That is very pretty! What a great idea to put your Valentines stuff in!
Thanks, Tess! I agree it would work well for that!
Wow! That looks so nice and is so much cheaper than purchasing a fancy gift bag. I have had sticker shock over the price of them too!
Thanks so much, Pam. I agree they are pricey!
I love projects like this that are kid-friendly!
Me too! Great way to keep them busy!
very sweet idea! I have tons of scrapbook paper we could really have some fun with this
Definitely! Great snow day activity!
Very nice and I love the idea of saving money too. Some of the gits bags are ridiculously expensive.
I totally agree, Candace!
Very nice, I’m in love with Doilies right now and the cupcake liner is so fab!
Thanks, Rose. I really liked the pattern.
Looks super cute and shabby chic, and can be done quickly! Thanks for sharing! Love this!
Thanks, Dominique. I really like the shabby chic look!
Beautiful – I love when the project is easy and turns out great. People think you either spent a fortune or it took forever!! Love it!! Pinned & Tweeted!
Thanks, Jamie! It was very simple and fairly fast to do too!
Such a cute idea and look how much money you would save making your own! Great post Ellen!
Very true, Kelly. Thanks!
How cute, what a simple and unique idea!!!
Thanks so much, Kristin!