Felt and Paper Gift Bags

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Paper, 12"x 12"
• Felt, 9"x 12"
• Rotary cutter and cutting board
• Ruler
• Glue options: Hot glue gun and got glue or E6000, clear
• Sewing machine, optional
• Hole punch
• Ribbons

DIRECTIONS:

Paper bags:

1. Cut 1" off one side of paper to make an 11"x 12" rectangle.
2. Fold two shorter sides toward center with slight overlap. Tape.
3. Fold bottom edge up about 2".
4. Open the bottom. This will fold the sides of the bottom into triangles.
5. Fold the top edge of the open bottom down just past the initial 2" fold.
6. Fold the bottom edge of the open bottom up overlapping the top edge.
7. Tape the bottom together on the overlap.
8. Open the bag.
9. Crease the bottom edges of the bag.
10. The top of the bag may be left flat. Punch holes for ribbon ties.
11. Alternate top: Fold the two creased corners of the bag to meet in the center back of the bag, crease. Fold the top center point of the bag down to the lower edge of the creased side folds, crease. Punch holes for ribbon ties. Ribbon should help hold the final fold flat on the back of the bag.
12. Weave layers of ribbon through the holes in the bag and tie in a bow on the front of the bag.

Felt bags:

13. See templates for cut sizes and placement of felt and trim.
14. Hot Glue and E6000 will add some stiffness to the felt.
15. Sewn bags retain the felt softness. Sew using a medium zigzag stitch in a contrast color thread on each edge of felt. The 1/2" back overlap and the bottom folds will need to be glued. The top band may be sewn on from the back first. Fold the band over to the front and sew.
16. Sew or glue all decorative layers and add buttonholes prior to folding bag.
17. Overlap the back edges by 1/2" and glue.
18. Fold bag following the same steps as paper bags. The bottom will need to be held in place with clips or by hand prior to gluing.