"Spiffied-Up" Paper Bag

Earlier this week I posted a photo of the felt baby booties that I've been making. (Click HERE for that post and link to the bootie pattern.) Before giving this cute pair of booties to our family friend Jessica, for her baby girl Natalie, I made a little coordinating gift bag to put them in. Here's how I made the bag:

Start out with a colored 8 1/2" tall x 4 1/2" wide paper bag that can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. (These bags come in lots of pretty colors!)

Cut a piece of patterned paper 11 1/2" long x 4 1/2" wide. Attach a 3 1/2" piece of cardstock that matches the color of the bag to one end of the patterned paper. This will become the bag flap...the cardstock just reinforces the paper to give the flap a little more body. Using adhesive of your choice, (I prefer a tape runner), attach the patterned paper to the backside of the paper bag. Cut a strip of contrasting cardstock 4 1/2" long x 1" tall. Using a scallop punch, punch design along one edge of the strip and adhere to the underside of the flap, leaving 1/2" of the edge showing on the flap. (See photo below.) Attach a silk flower, or design element of your choice, to the flap of the bag:

Cut an 8 1/2" long x 4 1/2" wide piece of the patterned paper to attach to the front of the bag as shown below. Attach a couple of knotted pieces of ribbon to the front of the bag; then add a small piece of Velcro to keep the bag closed once your gift is placed inside:

Here's a side view of the bag...

Super cute and easy, huh??

Lastly, here's a close-up of the darling booties that I made for Natalie...love the red ruffled gingham ribbon trim and the contrast of the yellow stitching on the blue booties!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Blessings,