You know that moment when you’ve finally sat down to wrap gifts, the tea’s gone cold, the dog’s under your feet… and you realise you’ve run out of gift bags? Or worse, the present you’re holding is some awkward shape that absolutely refuses to be wrapped nicely. That’s usually when I sigh, rummage through the cupboard, and remind myself that wrapping paper can do more than just wrap.
Turning wrapping paper into a gift bag is one of those old-school, thrifty tricks that never gets old. It’s quick, it uses what you already have, and it looks surprisingly polished when you’re done. Once you’ve made one, you’ll wonder why you ever bought gift bags in the first place.
What You’ll Need
This is a very low-effort craft, which is always my favourite kind. Grab a sheet of wrapping paper — sturdier paper works best — along with scissors and tape. If you want to add handles, you’ll also want ribbon or twine and a hole punch, but those are completely optional.
Getting Started
Lay your wrapping paper flat on the table and place your gift roughly in the centre. You want enough paper to wrap around the item with a bit of extra height at the top. Cut the paper to size — don’t stress about perfection here, this is meant to be easy and forgiving.
Take one long edge of the paper and fold it inward. Bring the opposite edge over the top so the two overlap slightly, then tape the seam down securely. You’ve now created a paper tube, and this will become the body of your gift bag.
Shaping the Bottom of the Bag
With the tube still flat, fold the bottom edge upward. The depth of this fold determines how wide the base of your bag will be, so think about how chunky your gift is before you crease it.
Once folded, gently press the sides inward so the bottom opens into a diamond shape. This step feels a bit fiddly the first time, but it’s what turns flat paper into something that can actually stand up.
Fold the top and bottom points of that diamond toward the centre and crease well. Tape everything down firmly — this base is what holds the weight of your gift, so don’t be shy with the tape.
Carefully open the bag and stand it upright. You should now have a proper little gift bag that holds its shape. If you’re putting in something slightly heavy, slipping a piece of cardboard into the bottom adds extra support.
Drop your gift inside, fluff in some tissue paper, and admire how much easier this is than wrestling with tape and scissors on an awkwardly shaped box.
You can fold the top edge down slightly to create a neat finish, or leave it tall if you like lots of tissue paper peeking out. If you want handles, punch two holes near the top on each side and thread ribbon or twine through, tying knots on the inside.
Add a tag, a bow, or even a sprig of greenery, and no one will ever guess this bag started life as leftover wrapping paper.
Handy Tips From Someone Who’s Made a Lot of These
Thicker wrapping paper is much easier to work with and less likely to tear, especially if you’re adding handles. If your paper is thin, double it up or reinforce the bottom with cardboard. Patterned paper looks lovely, but lining the inside with a contrasting sheet can make the bag feel extra special with very little effort.
This is one of those crafts that’s perfect for last-minute gifting, odd-shaped presents, or when you’re trying to be a bit more mindful about waste. Simple, practical, and quietly satisfying — exactly how I like my crafts.
If you want, I can also turn this into a printable, no-nonsense version to keep in your wrapping drawer for next time the gift bag stash mysteriously disappears again.
Do you need a visual guide? Check out this youtube video.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pKtHccvFG1M
* This article was originally published here
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