With the holiday and gift giving season upon us, here's a quick and super easy way to make a gift bag out of ribbon! You know a handcrafted giftbag offers a personal touch to gift giving and makes the gift that more special! And the best part, once you know how to make this lovely no-sew giftbag, you'll be making them throughout the year for those special occasions! All you need is any type of four inch wide decorative wired ribbon and fabric glue! It's a pretty simple design that comes together in no time - especially when you top the bag off with a beautiful Bowdabra bow!
Supplies:
- Wired Ribbon 4" wide
- Ruler
- FabriTac fabric glue
- Cording
- Scissors/clamps
- Mini Bowdabra, Measuring Tool, Wand
- Bowdabra Bow Wire
Begin by cutting one strip of 4"wide wired ribbon, 16" long and two strips, 6" long. I am making a gift bag approximately 6" tall. To get to this measurement of the longer strip at 16 inches, take the width of the ribbon (4") and subtract it from the length (16") to get 12". Divide by 2 (short sides) to get 6 inches for the height. You can use this formula to make any height for a gift bag.
Once you have the lengths of the ribbon lined up, place the longer strip in between the two shorter strips. Fold over (1/4") the top edges on each strip and glue down, making sure the lengths are even. Also fold down and glue together the bottom edge of the longer strip (not shown).Begin adding glue along one edge of the shorter strip and one edge of the longer strip, stopping where the shorter strip ends and . . .
press edges together to bond. Let dry.
Once that side has bonded together, continue adding glue to the next side of the short strip edge to the longer strip edge and . . .
bond together.
Make sure to add glue in the corners and press firmly together. Continue to the third side, moving around the short strip adding glue to its' edge and . . .
then the long strip edge, to bond the two pieces together.
Be sure to go around all three sides, pressing together, making sure all the edges are glued together, especially the corners. Add additional glue if needed.
Repeat the steps to glue on the last strip, starting at the top side edge and then the bottom and finally the side to connect all the edges - pressing the edges together. Let dry.
To make the handles, cut two strips of ribbon, 1/2" wide and 8" long. Lay on work surface. Cut two cording pieces 12" long. Lay ends of one cord on top of one ribbon strip in a horseshoe shape. Add glue along strip and under cord ends. Add additional glue on top of the cord ends that are on the ribbon strip.
Fold ribbon strip over the cord ends, matching edges and pressing together to secure.
Use clamps to hold cords in place while drying.
Once the handle strips are dry, add glue to the back of the each strip, one at a time, and attach each one to the front and back inside top of bag. Clamp in place and let dry.To make the bow:
Cut an 18″ piece of Bowdabra bow wire, folding in half and placing down into the Mini Bowdabra, tucking ends under. Then cut a strip of wired ribbon 12" long. Dovetail the ends by folding each end together and cutting at an angle from the end up to the fold at an angle.
Then take the 12″ strip of ribbon and pinch the ribbon in the middle and insert down into the Mini Bowdabra for the bow tails.
Create a loop by folding over the ribbon at the 3″ mark on the Bowdabra measuring tool. Twist the ribbon down into the Mini Bowdabra smoothing the ribbon out.
On the opposite side, fold over the ribbon at the 3″ mark creating another loop, twisting the ribbon down into the Mini Bowdabra. Leave about two inches of ribbon for the finish center and cut off ribbon.
Use the Mini Bowdabra wand to crunch down the bow.While the bow is still in the Mini Bowdabra, thread the two loose ends of the bow wire through the loop, pulling tightly while gently pulling the bow out.
Take the end of the ribbon in the center over the bow wire, tucking under into a decorative knot for a finished look!
Attach the bow to the top center of the ribbon gift bag, gluing in place. Fluff the bow for a fabulous designer look!
Your gift bag turned out really pretty Gail. Love that lace ribbon!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tuula! I appreciate you stopping by! I like that I can customize a bag to suit the occasion - especially since I have so much ribbon!
DeleteSuch a pretty gift bag Gail, the lace is lovely.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Linda! It certainly transform a simple gift into something special.
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