How can I make a gift bag reusing and recycling stuff?

We all know wrapping paper is bad, m’okay? and that reusable gift bags are a far better alternative if you go in for that type of presentation and reusable gifts bags made out of recycled stuff from around the home are better yet – but how do you make them?

I wanted to make a gift bag in a hurry the other day out of some old brown paper. A quick search pointed me towards a number of tutorials which used existing boxes as templates – either intact boxes or as nets – but I wondered if anyone else had any other designs?

Another idea I had was to make a quick pouch out of a pretty fabric – or even just fold the fabric furoshiki style.

Any other suggestions?

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art & crafts using recycled stuff, Christmas, household, items, packaging, paper & stationery, reverse this, Valentines

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9 Responses to “How can I make a gift bag reusing and recycling stuff?”


  1. Ruth says:

    Look at this: http://sparenundrecyceln.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/recycling_geschenkverpackung/
    It is made from the inner part of a coffee package and nets from onions and oranges.

  2. Kara says:

    I like to make this little bag: http://mylittlemochi.typepad.com/my_little_mochi/2005/05/origami_pocket_.html The original is made of fabric, but I usually use a full sheet of newspaper and the folding doubles the thickness so it’s more sturdy. Tape up the sides, and you can square off the bottom a bit if you need to.

    The other thing I’ve done is to take apart a battered old store-bought gift bag for a template. Once I figured out how it went together, I started adjusting the size.

  3. Bobbie says:

    Scarves wrapped furoshiki style would be pretty. I’ve wrapped with brown paper or newspapert then foraged in my yard for dried winter plants to adorn my gift with. It makes a very beautiful and earthly wrapping, I think.

  4. Marie says:

    I use brown paper and newspaper. I you tie it up with pretty ribbon or make a decoration out of buttons, beads or flowers, it looks arty rather than cheap!

  5. HuntingWabbits says:

    My guess would be to carefully take apart a bag at the seams and trace the template to another sheet of paper and fold it like usual.

  6. Mary Horesh says:

    For Christmas, I set up at Birmingham Friends of the Earth, “Its a wrap”, a craft group devoted at making reusable wrapping, see our blogs http://birminghamfoe.blogspot.com/search/label/itsawrap. We mostly made bags that could be reused, especially wine bottle size. Also CD bags, inspired by a Thai project Porgai- photographed in the blogs.

    It was interesting to see Lush had a Christmas campaign which you could pay for your present to be wrapped in a vintage scarf. Find out more at the link above.

  7. Melinda says:

    As mentioned above, drawstring bags are easy to make, and a bit more decorative if they use a quilt block ( and it’s a good way to use the extra block). I’ve been making and giving such bags. Sometimes we get them back within the family get-together, but usually I include them as part of the gift. A bandana makes a good furoshiki-style wrapper, too. Once could also decoupage boxes and bins in which groceries come for re-useable decorated containers. One could also use a dish-towel for a kitchen-related gift.

  8. RainDots says:

    The Re-bag! A bag made out of plastic grocery bags (too bag no one uses them anymore….wait, what am I saying?) But next time you see one in a bush or blowing down the street, catch it!

    http://www.cocoknits.com/knit/garments/accessories/rebag.html



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