These gift bag ideas prove that even the plainest paper bag can become something beautiful, and as an added bonus, making DIY gift bags are a fun, practical addition to the list of Christmas crafts you have planned to fill the open hours of this holiday season. Picking Christmas gifts for everyone on your list is its own challenge, but any savvy gift-giver knows that presentation is a huge part of the total gifting package. Putting time and effort into wrapping or bagging your gifts makes the gift exchange even more of an experience, and using bags instead of gift wrap is one way to help your presents stand out. Unlike wrapping paper, gift bags are also reusable year after year if they’re taken care of, so your DIY gift bags can be a sustainability effort, too. Whether you’re planning white elephant gifts or figuring out how to differentiate the gifts for your kids, creative gift bag ideas can help. Here, you’ll see smart ideas for dressing up basic paper gift bags, plus DIY guides with the supplies and steps you need to make your bags shine. Read on for eight creative gift bag ideas—even if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, you can get your gift bags ready to go. Crafts developed by Morgan Levine.
Brown paper lunch bagScissorsDouble-sided tapeCardstockGlueRed pom pomsBlack marker
Dark paper gift bagWhite ink padSnowflake stamps (available at your local craft store)Silver tissue paper (optional for an extra-festive look)
Large rubber eraserCraft knifeChristmas tree stencilBrown paper bagWhite ink padAssorted gel pens
A sprig or branch of pine (one from your yard is fine)Repositionable adhesive sprayColorful, solid-colored paper bagSpray paint in a metallic color
A tall, narrow gift bag (aka a wine bag)Colorful artist or masking tape
Solid-colored paper gift bagWashi tapeThin ribbonBlank gift tag
Small, colorful gift bagsBlack felt-tip marker
Colorful tissue paperGlueSequinsFestive stickersCellophane bagTapeRibbon
