Maptastic Gift Bags

This is one of my fave all time projects!!  I mean this is just the best!!  I found a tutorial here on how to make gift bags from paper ephemera.  I mean GENIOUS!!  I decided to do a little tutorial on my own but y'all can check out both of em!

I mean how cute is that gift bag??  Seriously!! 
You are going to need some maps or other paper ephemera, a ruler, and some scotch tape.  A hole punch and ribbon finish it off if you so desire.   Seriously...that is all...

Are you ready to fold?  Decide which side of the paper is your front and which end is the top.  Fold your paper so that the ends meet in the middle of the "back".  Your top should be up and your front is facing out not in.  Make sure it meets all even and neat like.  And all your folds need to be neat and crisp.  Use your ruler or fingernail to run down all the creases as you do them.  Run a long strip of tape all the way down that seam. 

All these dimensions are for this particular bag, you can play with all of this later for different sizes.  I did and you can do all sorts of things!
Fold up the bottom of your bag 1 1/2 inches.  Again nice crisp, even fold.

Open up that fold and make a triangle in the corner like so....

The crease in that triangle should line up just perfect with the crease in your paper.  Nice, crisp folds.  And repeat on the opposite side.

Now take both sides and fold them to the center making them meet at the crease.  Nice and neat folds perfectly meeting in the center. 

Run a strip of tape all the way across where those pieces meet and pop open your bag!!

NOW it is starting to look like something!!  Crease all of your bag edges with nice neat folds so it looks all professional.  Work with it...it will get there...

And you have a gift bag!!  Seriously...cute...

Here is the back...

Even the inside is ca-ute!

I folded down the top a few times and punched a couple of holes.  Threaded in a length of ribbon and tied it off.

Can't you see all of your little Christmas gifts in vintage paper ephemera???  I mean the possibilities....maps, sheet music, dictionary pages, old magazine ads....serious cute potential here!  Using this same basic method, I even used two sheets of paper to make a larger gift bag.  I mean endless possibilities!! 

Are you as giddy as I am about these??  Get your paper ephemera and get to work!

Tomorrow -- Friday November 5th -- is the Maptastic Party!!

Join us and link up a map project or just get some extra map inspiration! 

 Posted at Transformation Thursday on The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Posted at Show off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.
~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

Posted in: budget friendly, Christmas, handmade gifts, paper crafts, tutorials