Gift weight decides which bag to fold, and the list below runs from the Mini Bag with Ribbon Handle up to the sturdier Plaid Wrapping Paper Gift Bag.
Anything heavier than a card needs wide ribbon handles like the ones on the Lemon Print Paper bag, knotted on the inside, with the paper doubled where they attach, while party favors and jewelry do fine in the Mini Bag with Ribbon Handle.
The ideas run from a bunny folded out of brown kraft paper, the cheapest on the page, to plaid, lemon-print and baby shower bags that need only a ribbon matched to one color in the print.
1. Decorative Touches
A plain white bag with handles is the easiest base to dress up, and a pink satin bow is the quickest way to do it.
Make several bows ahead of time so you can pick the best one for each bag.
Attach the bow at the base of a handle or at the front center. A dab of double-sided tape or a few stitches of thread holds it better than a pressed-on sticker.
Keep to one accent color so the bag looks planned.
2. Plaid Wrapping Paper Gift Bag
Plaid wrapping paper makes a bag that already looks finished, so a red and green check with red rope handles needs nothing else added.
Pick paper with a clear, even pattern like plaid, because the lines follow the folds and make the creases look sharp.
Rope handles beat ribbon here because they give the bag a sturdier, more casual look. Knot each end on the inside so it can’t pull through.
I would choose this for a Christmas gift that is heavier than a card, where a flimsy handle would worry you.
For an extra-fancy gift bag, consider using fancy wrapping paper with either glittered or flocked designs.
— WikiHow
3. Patterned Paper with Ribbon Bows
Small cone-shaped bags from patterned paper suit party favors, and the bow at the closure does double duty as a seal and a decoration.
Choose a different ribbon color for each bag, such as purple on one and black on another, so the set looks collected rather than matched.
Pick ribbon in a color that appears somewhere in the paper, and let it differ from bag to bag so the set looks collected rather than matched.
Make them in a batch: cut every sheet first, then fold, then tie. The bows go faster that way.
4. Mini Bag with Ribbon Handle
A mini bag folded from bow-patterned paper is a good home for jewelry, a gift card or a small candle. A ribbon handle in pink, matching the bows in the print, keeps the look light and tidy.
Use paper with a small repeat so the pattern still reads on a compact bag.
Thread the ribbon through 2 punched holes and knot it inside. Doubling the paper at the top edge before punching helps stop the holes from tearing.
5. Paper Bag Folded Like a Shirt
Folding the top of a paper bag into a shirt collar, then adding a satin tie, turns a simple pink bag into something that looks like a tiny dress shirt.
It works especially well for Father’s Day, graduations, or any gift for someone who wears a tie.
Twine handles keep the look casual, and they cost less than ribbon.
6. Lemon Print Paper with Ribbon Handles
Lemon-print paper with matching blue ribbon handles gives a bag a summery, fresh look, and the ribbon does the work of a bow. Choose a blue that already shows up in the print so the handles look intentional.
I like this for a teacher gift, a hostess present or anything citrus-flavored, like a jar of lemon curd.
Wide ribbon holds up better than thin ribbon when the bag has some weight. Knot the ends inside, or tape them there first, then reinforce the spot with a second layer of paper.
7. Gathered Top with Pleated Bow
A paper bag gathered at the neck and cinched with ribbon makes a pleated top that looks like a little pouch, and it hides whatever is inside.
Solid, saturated paper in yellow, red or blue shows the pleats best, since a print would blur them.
Gold ribbon reads as a finish rather than an afterthought. Squeeze the top into even folds, wrap the ribbon twice, and tie a knot or bow.
Cut the ribbon longer than you think you need; short pieces fight you at the knot.
8. Bunny Shaped Wrapping Paper Bags
Brown wrapping paper folded into a bunny, with pointed ears, a drawn face and a red bow, is the cheapest idea on this page that still gets a smile.
Kraft paper takes marker well, so the face needs no extra supplies.
Mark the eyes, nose and whiskers with a fine-tip marker while the sheet is still flat, because a smudge on a folded bag is hard to fix and the paper won’t take a line well once it’s creased.
Keep the features simple: 2 eyes, a nose, a few whiskers.
I would use this for an Easter treat or a child’s party favor, where a handmade look is the whole appeal.
9. Baby Shower Wrapping Paper Bag
Baby-themed wrapping paper folded into a bag gives a shower gift its own packaging, and blue ribbon handles finish it without a separate bow.
Choose paper with a clear animal print or a message like "oh baby," then pull the ribbon color from the print so the handles look chosen.
Knot the ribbon ends on the inside, and double the paper where the handles attach so the weight of a gift doesn’t tear it through.
For a heavy gift, I would pick wide ribbon over thin.
10. Triangles at the Corners
Small triangles folded at the bottom corners give a plain paper bag a crisp, tailored edge, and a floral print like blue botanical wrapping paper shows off the sharp lines best.
Crease each fold hard with your thumbnail or a ruler edge so the triangle holds its shape.
Keep the paper pattern small and the ribbon a single color. The folds already supply the interest, so I would let them stand alone.
Materials Needed
Sharp scissors matter more than any other tool here, because dull blades chew the paper and leave edges that no ribbon can hide.
A hole punch is the second tool I’d put on the table, since handles of any kind need clean holes.
For sealing the seam, use glue or double-sided tape. Tape gives the neater finish because nothing seeps through or wrinkles the paper.
Plan on ribbon in a color that suits the paper. Plain paper can take a colorful ribbon, while a busy pattern calls for something simple and quiet.
Stickers and pom-poms are optional extras, and I’d add them last, once the bag is built and you can see what it needs.
Cost-effectiveness
A store-bought bag comes in a few set sizes, so an odd gift, whether tall, wide or lopsided, either rattles around or won’t fit.
A bag made from a sheet of paper takes the size of the gift, which is the biggest saving of all.
Cost adds up fastest when you have several presents to wrap. One roll makes many bags, and that beats paying for each one separately.
Buy one roll and use it across every gift for a matched look. Or mix rolls and let the pattern suit each person.
Eco-friendly Benefits
Paper you already own is the greenest option, since reusing it keeps one more piece of packaging out of the trash.
Wrapping paper doesn’t have to come off a roll, either. Old maps, newspaper pages and sheet music all fold into bags, and they give a rustic look with a story built in.
Ribbon works the same way. Save pieces from old clothes or accessories and use them as handles or ties.
Fabric scraps hold a knot well, so they suit handles better than thin paper ribbon does.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you measure wrapping paper for your gift bag?
Measure the gift’s height, width and depth, then add extra for folds.
For the height, add 4–6 inches to the bag’s depth for the top fold; for the width, add 2–3 inches to the gift’s girth, plus another 2–3 inches so the edges overlap around the back.
Cut generously, since you can trim extra later but can’t fix a sheet that runs short. A lopsided present gets measured at its widest and tallest points, and the paper is cut to fit those.
What materials do you need to make a gift bag out of wrapping paper?
You need wrapping paper, sharp scissors, and glue or double-sided tape.
Sharp blades matter most because dull ones chew the edges. Tape gives a neater seam than glue, which can seep through and wrinkle the sheet.
