Gifts are made even more special when you wrap them in a hand-embellished reusable bag! With so many types and sizes of blank bags available, all you have to do is the fun part: decorating! For most of these gift bag ideas, you won't need much more than acrylic craft paint and a few household items like masking tape, freezer paper, or even vegetables! Acrylic paint is permanent on fabric when dry which makes it a great choice for these projects. Your gift recipient will think of you every time they use their cute and custom bag!
This easy technique for making a drop shadow makes letters and image decorations bolder! If needed, iron your bag to flatten it out. Place a piece of scrap cardboard inside so the paint doesn't bleed through. Choose two colors; you'll stamp the lighter color first. Spread a thin layer of acrylic craft paint on a paper plate and dab a sponge onto the paint. Keep dabbing your sponge until it's well coated. Stamp your first layer. While that is drying, wash and dry your sponges. Once your paint is dry, repeat stamping with your darker color, stamping just off to the side by ¼" or so. Add a bow with a candy cane or lollipop!
Stamp numbers 1 through 24 on mini drawstring bags to make a reusable Advent calendar that will bring joy every year! If needed, iron your bags first to flatten them out. Place a piece of scrap cardboard inside so the paint doesn't bleed through. Spread a thin layer of acrylic craft paint on a paper plate and dab a number sponge onto the paint. Keep dabbing your sponge until it's covered in paint. Stamp your bags. After the paint dries, remove the cardboard and fill with little gifts, treats, or a note listing that evening's family activity such as "holiday movie and popcorn!". You can display the bags on a mantel, wall, or down a banister by hanging them from a ribbon with clothespins.
Raid your vegetable crisper for craft supplies! Cut a round vegetable like a radish, a small potato, or even a carrot to use as a stamp! Spread a thin layer of acrylic craft paint on a paper plate, dip the cut end of your veggie into the paint, and stamp it onto a blank tote or drawstring bag into a polka dot pattern. When the paint dries, use a fabric marker to turn the shapes into Christmas ornaments by drawing on a topper, loop, and string. And, for a fun anytime craft, you can use the veggies to make a simple polka dot pattern!
Freezer paper, like the kind you may have in your pantry (or can buy in the supermarket) makes an excellent stencil since you can iron it to fabric! Cut a shape with scissors or a craft knife. Slide a piece of scrap cardboard into a colorful drawstring or canvas bag and position the stencil on the bag, shiny side down. (Important, the plastic on the shiny side should adhere to your fabric, not the iron!) Press the stencil to the bag using a dry hot iron for 10 seconds until it is totally adhered. Use a stencil brush or paintbrush to paint, brushing inward from the edges so you don't accidentally lift them up. Remove and discard the stencil and allow the paint to dry!
Use masking tape to create quick and easy stripes! Place your first stripe of tape across the top of a blank tote bag and press the tape down well, paying special attention to the edges. Tear off a little piece of tape or two to use as a spacing guide while adding additional stripes. Slide a piece of scrap cardboard inside the bag so paint doesn't bleed through. Use a stencil brush or a regular paintbrush to spread acrylic craft paint over the un-taped parts. Brush inward from the tape edges so you don't accidentally lift them up. When you've finished, remove the tape. To finish it off, tie a ribbon and a candy cane to the handles!
What does a grandparent love more than their grandkid's handiwork? To make a gift bag that grandma and grandpa will show off all year round, have the kids collaborate on a doodle session using fabric markers on a blank canvas tote! You can have the kids use the same color to give it a unified look, or all different colors. Finish it with a ribbon, a candy cane, and a gift tag!
