How to Make Little Gift Envelopes

I can’t stop myself!  I am on a creative roll (no pun intended) on how to use up my wrapping paper scraps!  Ever since I found out how easy it was to Make Your own Gift Bags, I decided that some of my packages needed a “little note” to be attached to them, other than the regular gift tag.

So, I found a small coin envelope that I had laying around, measured it, and opened up my Microsoft Publisher and created a template for the Gift Envelope.  You can download the Gift Envelope template HERE. Now, I could have just told you to find an envelope yourself and trace it, but that is not me!  I wanted to provide you with a template to use!

Open up the PDF, and printout the gift envelope template (I included two on a page) onto card stock paper, then cutout the template.  Use this card stock template to trace onto your wrapping paper scraps, or any other colorful paper, or magazine page.

Next, just cut out the envelopes with either your scissors or x-acto knife, then fold in the two sides, then the top and bottom.  Crease seams.

For my gift envelopes, I just used scotch tape, but you could use your glue stick to close up your envelopes.

Now, the gift envelopes would not be complete without adding a little note inside, right?  Well, you are in luck, because I made six different designs for you to print out and use!  (these are on page 2 of the PDF)

My wrapping paper scraps are almost all gone right now, with all of these creative uses for how to use up the scraps!

In case you missed my post on How to Make Your Own Gift Bags, click HERE for the instructions!

How To Make A Gift Bag From Wrapping Paper Scraps

They say that presentation is EVERYTHING when it comes to gift giving! I would agree.

At this time of year, admit it, we all have tons of wrapping paper scraps just laying around, just in case we “need” them for a small gift.  I know that I do. Today, I decided to actually use these scraps for something.

Here’s the nitty gritty low down easy-peasy directions on how you can turn those small wrapping paper scraps into handmade Gift Bags!

Materials Needed:

• Wrapping paper scraps
• Tape
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Small box
• Gift Tag

Ok, now that you have your supplies ready, let me tell you how easy it is to make your “own” Gift Bags for those small little gifts.  The wrapping paper scrap that I used for this tutorial was approximately 8″ x 11″ (just in case you were wondering), but you can use any size of wrapping paper scrap.

First, I folded down a little flap at one end of the paper and creased it real good.  Then I put three small pieces of tape across this flap to hold it down.

I took a small box to use as a template for the gift bag and laid it on the paper.  I folded the wrapping paper around the box like I was wrapping it up as a gift, but kept the box closer to the bottom of the paper since the box was smaller than the paper.  Wrap the paper loosely around box.

Run your fingers over all the edges to create a good crease.

Remove box, and fold the paper where you can see the creases.

Put box back onto the wrapping paper and tape up the seam and the bottom.

Remove the box from the wrapping paper.  If you wrapped it loosely, the box should slide out easily.  If not, the box might not slide out.

Now, you need to make the side creases.  Lay wrapping paper gift bag down and fold the sides in half to crease the sides.  Your gift bag should be able to stand up by itself now.

Next, use your hole punch and punch two holes on each side of the bag at the top.  (keep the holes uniform too!)  These holes are for the handles.

Cut two small pieces of ribbon (of course, a color that coordinates with your wrapping paper, as we are going for awesomeness here!) and tie the ribbons through the holes.  (NOTE: If you want to add a gift tag to your gift bag, now is the time to do it before you tie the handle on!)

Congratulations!  You have just made your very own Gift Bag!  No need to head to the store for a gift bag any longer, just use up those wrapping paper scraps that you have laying around the house!

After I made a bunch of these today, I also thought that you could use a sheet of scrapbook paper too, as we all know that you can get them with great designs on them at the craft store, or even an old map!

My finished gift bags from an 8″ x 11″ wrapping paper scrap, made a small gift bag 3″ x 6″ x 2″ in size.  Your completed size will depend on the size of the box you use as your template.

Go crazy!  Go grab your box of rigatoni for a different sized gift bag, or any other box you have and see what size of gift bag you can create today!  You will thank me for actually using up all of those scraps of wrapping paper!