No Sew Ribbon Gift Bag

It's time for our last Sustainable Craft Challenge!  I am so sorry to see this wonderful craft challenge hosted by Julie @Sum of Their Stories end! Julie has been a magnificent and charming hostess! As you know, this challenge is all about sustainable crafting with a different theme each month!  The projects must have some sort of a sustainable element to them. This could be an upcycling or recycling element, or something that reduces waste, uses leftovers, etc. This month's theme is Last Minute Gifts!

Psst! I need to tell you something! I'm on the Bowdabra Design Team and have lots and lots of ribbon - EVERYWHERE! And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere in my home! That's why I'm making a last minute gift bag out of ribbon! Did you know that most ribbons are not recyclable due to the materials they are made out of!  Most are made out of synthetic materials and some even have bits of metals in them. That's why ribbons should never be put in your recycling bin since they can tangle up in the recycling machines. Consequently, ribbons should be REUSED again and again for other purposes like hair accessories, crafts, gifts and even in home decorating! 

A beautifully made no-sew ribbon gift bag filled with homemade treats or even store bought treats, makes for a tasty gift your family and friends won't soon forget! Plus you can also put lots of different types of knick-knacks in the ribbon gift bag, too!

So let's get started making a no-sew ribbon gift bag!

Materials:

• Wired Ribbon - 5" wide
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Fabri-Tac Glue
• Cording
• Parchment Paper
• Clamps

How To:

Begin by cutting one strip of 5"wide wired ribbon, 16" long and two strips, 6" long. The finished gift bag will be approximately 5 1/2 inches tall. 

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, making sure the lengths are even. Also fold up the bottom edge of the longer strip, too. 

Glue all the folded edges down using Fabri-Tac glue.

 Begin adding glue along one wired edge of the shorter strip and one wired 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.

Continue to the third side, moving around the short strip adding glue to its' wired 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.

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 cording pieces 12" long. To prevent the cording ends from fraying, place Fabri-Tac glue on each end, wrap in small pieces of parchment paper and clamp each end together until dry. 

While the cording ends are drying, cut two strips of ribbon two inches deep and five inches wide. Once the cording ends are dry, lay ends in the middle of one strip of ribbon 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 up over the cord ends, matching edges and pressing together to secure.

Once the handle strips are dry, add glue to the back of each strip, one at a time, and attach each one to the front and back inside top of bag. 

Use clamps and parchment paper to hold cords in place while drying.

Look how cool the ribbon gift bag looks! But we're not finish yet!

Complete the charming gift bag look by tying on a stunning handmade bow - cut from the center of the same ribbon!

There’s something special about gorgeous ribbon - especially when made into a gift bag.

Nothing’s more impressive than receiving a gift in a beautiful homemade ribbon bag!.

Be sure to check out all the creative "Last Minute Gifts" Sustainable Craft projects from my fellow crafters listed below:

Julie @Sum of their Story   Crochet Sleeping Bag for a Tiny Toy

Terri @Our Good Life   The Ultimate Guide to Last Minute Gifts: Unwind with Lavender Bath Salts!

Christine @Christine's Crafts   Easy DIY Leaf Brooch from Scrap Fabric

T'onna @Sew Crafty Crochet    Crochet Christmas Holly Scarf

Gail @Purple Hues and Me   No Sew Ribbon Gift Bag

Marci @Old Rock Farmhouse     Christmas Berry Cordial Recipe 

Happy Holidays!