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How to Make a Purse from a Paper Gift Bag. Easy DIY Tutorial!

I saw how to make a purse gift bag from a recycled paper gift bag on Instagram and couldn’t wait to try it myself. I tested this idea using a Christmas gift bag with a torn handle — and I absolutely loved the result! The photo on the bottom of the page. This project is a perfect example of how we can upcycle old gift bags and turn them into something creative and useful. This DIY purse from a paper gift bag is a fun and stylish way to transform something ordinary into something special. This repurposed gift bag craft makes a unique and easy-to-make gift for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and other holidays. So cool for a gift like cosmetics or candies to impress your girlfriend!

*You can use gift bags of any size for this project! The examples in the photo below. The smallest one, measuring $4.5 \times 6$ inches, is the perfect size to hold a standard gift card.

What We Need:

Gift bag with ribbon handles
Scissors
Strong glue
Stepler is optional

*Make sure the design is looking good in both directions. For example, if you like to make a gift bag with hearts, make sure they are in a different direction on the bag.

How to Make Purse from Paper Gift Bag Step by Step:

Fold the bag in half to create a crease; this line will serve as your guide for where to cut.

2. Cut off the top half of the bag. Save this piece, as we will use it later to create the closure that holds the front flap in place.

3. Bend the top 1 inch from the cut. It will be the place where we attach the handle.

4. Cut off the sides, as shown in the photo.

5. Fold the sides of the top inward and apply glue to both sides. For extra security, you can also staple them together, if possible.

5. Cut a strip from the leftover scraps and decorate it with a bow made from the original handles.

🎀 Pro-tip: You can swap the strip for a heart or any fun shape to hold the purse flap in place! Very important to use strong glue.

6. Cut a strip from the leftover scrap piece to create your handle. Glue the handle into place, then secure it with a stapler. You can cover the staples with a sticker for a cleaner look, but this is optional. Also, we can have enough paper left to make a double handle. Glue together and handle will be the same design inside too.

Hack: Use a bag with silver in decor—the staples will disappear right into the design!

Whether you’re creating a purse for yourself or making a thoughtful handmade gift, this tutorial shows how to make a paper gift bag purse that’s both practical and stylish — and a great way to reuse gift bags instead of throwing them away.