Embellishing Gift Bags

We all give gifts at this time of the year and we put a lot of thought into the gift whether it is a store bought or a home made gift. But do you put much thought into the wrapping of the gift?  You can easily personalize store bought gift bags making them unique for each recipient.

Go to your local craft store or your local dollar store and buy some plain gift bags. I love the kind with handles. You can typically buy these in different holiday colors or you can buy them made out of the brown craft paper for a more rustic look. There are a number of different ways you can spruce up those plain bags.

You can stamp on them using rubber stamps. Try making silver snowflakes on a blue bag, holly leaves on a white bag, or angels on a brown craft paper bag. Stamp one large image or make several smaller images. Or stamp the recipient’s initials or name. You could also stamp something that gives a hint as to what the gift is. For example, if you are giving Dad golf tees and golf balls, then use a golf ball stamp on the bag. What you are stamping doesn’t necessarily have to scream Christmas. Add tissue paper in a complementary color and you have a beautifully wrapped gift! 

You can also decorate the bag with stickers or rub ons. Then using glitter paint, add a few small touches of glitter detailing to the stickers. For example, if using a snowflake sticker, add a little glitter paint to the middle of the snowflake to make it shiny. Again, add tissue paper in a complementary color and you have a beautifully wrapped gift.

Decorate the bag with ribbon. Create plaid on the bag using the ribbon by gluing down strips of ribbon to all the sides of the bag. Or buy a large printed piece of ribbon and glue it at the top of the bag and then make a large bow in the front. Again, add some complementary colored tissue paper and you have another beautifully wrapped gift.

Giving gifts is fun so make the wrapping of the gifts fun and personalized too!

See Also:

Holly Wreath Ornament
Crafting with Jingle Bells