With this Step-by-Step project, Dawn demonstrates how to use our free gift bag template to create wonderful decorative gift bags.
These are the materials and basic tools that are required to make the gift bag.
- Medium bag template taken from the freebie section
- Two A4 sheets of chosen card
- Giggles Nativity set graphics, I used the tag, Giggles king images and the Happy Christmas greeting banner.
You will also need a selection of coordinating ribbon, fibres, eyelets, brads and gems. Craft knife, metal ruler, scissors, pencil, embossing or scoring tool, piercing tool, eyelet setting tool and a selection of double sided tape, glue and foam pads available from the shop.
1 - Print the medium sized bag template from the freebie section onto card. Using a sharp craft knife and metal ruler carefully cut out the template.
2 - Take the first sheet of your chosen card and place it face down. Take the template you have just cut out and place it on top. Draw around the template and make faint pencil marks where the scores lines will be.
3 - Using a ruler and scoring tool (or small tipped embossing tool) score along the score lines. It’s important to do the scoring before you cut your bag out. Once all the scoring has been done, carefully cut out the first part of the bag using either a craft knife or pair of scissors.
4 - Starting with the longest edges make your folds, using a bone folding tool to give a neat finish. Then fold the two shorter flaps using the bone folder tool. Repeat all of the above, so you have two identical pieces to form the bag.
5 - On the reverse side of the bag, draw two small pencil marks where the eyelets will be placed to form the handles.
6 - Using an eyelet setting tool make a hole over the pencil mark. When using any type of eyelet setter, it’s always a good idea to use an old cutting mat underneath your work.
7 - Turn your work over and place your chosen eyelet in the hole, then turn it back over the use the eyelet setting tool to secure it in position. Repeat this four times, to make the handles for your bag.
8 - It is best to attach your chosen graphics to the outside of the bag before you make the bag up. Take your chosen graphics and carefully cut out with either a craft knife or pair of scissors.
9 - One way to attach a piece of ribbon is by doubling the ribbon over, place on the tag and use a piercing tool to make a small hole through the ribbon and tag. Then pop the brad though the hole and open the legs on the back of the tag to securely hold the brad in place.
10 - The graphics now need to be attached to the front of the bag. Use double sided tape or a strong glue. Apply double sided tape around the edges, turn back the edges of the tape slightly.
11 - Position the graphics on the front of the bag, once you are happy with the position, hold the images firmly with one hand and remove the backing from the double sided tape. Attach the Giggles King onto the tag with foam pads or silicone glue.
12 - On the other side of the bag I`m going to attach another tag. Position an eyelet on the tag as before, then take a doubled over piece of ribbon, thread the doubled end through the eyelet, to form a loop. Take the two tail ends of the ribbon and thread through the loop and pull. Place a small piece of tape on the back to hold the ribbon. Attach the tag, Giggles King and Christmas banner with double sided tape as before.
13 - Take both parts of the bag and face up, apply double sided tape to the edges of all the flaps. On the longest bottom flaps apply tape to the outer edge as you have with the others (as seen by the right hand part of photo) then on the other part of bag, apply tape to the underside of the bottom flap (as seen by left hand side of photo). Remove backing from tape along the bottom flaps and fix together. It’s easier if you fix the shorter flap to the larger flap to begin with. Once you are happy with with these, remove the backing from the side edges and stick together.
14 - Finally, you need to add the handles. Take some chosen fibres and cord, and thread through the eyelet, (you might need to help them with a pokey tool) tie a knot on the inside of the bag. Twist the fibres together then thread through the other eyelet and secure with a knot. Repeat on the other side of the bag.
15 - Another way to use the template is to print it directly to your printed papers. Print two A4 sheets of backing paper from the Giggles Nativity set (use borderless setting if your printer allows).
16 - Turn the paper over and print the template direct to your backing sheets. Score, cut out and add eyelets as before.
17 - Take some chosen graphics, I have layered and mirrored these images in my graphics programme. I’ve matted the images on to green mirror card.
18 - Using a bone folding tool or something similar such as a pencil, gently roll the image over to add some shape. Apply foam pads or silicone glue, before adding to the bag.
19 - Make up the bag as before. This time I`ve used ribbon to make the handles. Thread though the eyelets and tie a knot inside the bag to secure. The template can of course be used with any of the other graphics sets. My Daughter is going to use one of these bags to take some sweeties to her School at the end of term. Have fun making your bags and remember you can add extra sparkle with glitter and gems.
©2007 Dawn Corner
