DIY Paper Bag With Drawstring

Shake up your gift-giving game with a cute and functional DIY paper bag with a drawstring!

Perfect for party favors, little gifts, Christmas treats, or special surprises.

This DIY paper bag with drawstring is a fantastic craft for creating personalized, practical, and charming gift bags.

Whether you're preparing party favors, organizing small items, or looking for an adorable way to present a gift for birthdays, Christmas, or Easter, this project ticks all the boxes.

With a few folds and a drawstring, you can create a stylish and reusable bag.

For an extra festive touch, attach a ribbon or string to hang them on the Christmas tree, filled with small treats or surprises!

These bags aren't just for the holidays-they're perfect for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and more.

Fill them with candies, jewelry, or notes for your guests. With customizable paper designs, you can create gift bags to match any theme, from elegant florals to unique prints.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, these bags are incredibly practical.

The drawstring closure ensures that your contents are secure while adding a polished finish to your creation.

So, what are you waiting for?

Let's get folding!

If you're after other cute party favor or gift bags, you might like to try this easy DIY mini tote bag tutorial, pleated paper gift bags, DIY gift bags from wrapping paper, or this heart gift bag.

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Perfect for Every Occasion: These bags are incredibly versatile and can be adapted for numerous occasions. Use them as party favor bags for birthdays, fill them with chocolates for Valentine's Day, or even use them to hold small trinkets for a wedding or baby shower. Their simplicity makes them suitable for all kinds of themes.
• Customizable: Let your creativity shine! Decorate the bags with your favorite materials-think washi tape, markers, or glitter. They're a blank canvas that can match any color scheme or theme, from rustic to elegant.
• Quick to Make: Ideal for last-minute projects.
• Functional and Decorative: Not only are these bags great for holding gifts, but they're also beautiful on their own. Fill them with candies and hang them on your Christmas tree or use them as part of your table settings for special dinners or celebrations.

Skill Level

★★☆☆☆ (Easy)

Materials Needed

• 1 square sheet of paper, e.g. origami paper.
• Ribbon
• Hole Punch
• Scissors

We recommend using lightweight cardstock for larger DIY paper bags.

Instructions

Step 1: Start with the color you want your bag to be facing up.

Step 2: Fold the bottom right corner up to meet the top left corner.

Step 3: Unfold previous step.

Step 4: Fold the bottom left corner up to meet the top right corner.

Step 5: Unfold previous step.

Step 6: Flip your paper over from left to right.

Step 7: Fold the bottom edge to the top edge.

Step 8: Unfold previous step.

Step 9: Fold the left edge to the right edge.

Step 10: Unfold previous step.

Step 11: Rotate your paper 45 degrees so that it sits like a diamond.

Step 12: Hold the left and right sides of the paper and bring the left and right points to meet bottom point. You will find the paper starts to collapse on itself. It will form a square.

Step 13: Making sure the open edge is towards you: Fold the top right diagonal edge (top layer only) to the middle crease.

Step 14: Unfold previous step.

Step 15: Lift the top right flap up so it stands 90 degrees along the middle crease.

Step 16: Open out the flap slightly and then squash fold the flap so that it sits flat.

Step 17: Fold the left side of the top flap to the right.

Step 18: Repeat steps 13 to 17 for the left side.

Step 19: Flip your paper over from left to right.

Step 20: Repeat steps 13 to 18.

Step 21: Fold the bottom left and right diagonal edges (top layer only) in to meet the middle crease.

Step 22: Fold the bottom point up (top layer only) so that its folded edge aligns with the edge of the colored section.

Step 23: Unfold previous step.

Step 24: Fold the bottom point up once again, but this time to meet the crease you made in step 22.

Step 25: Unfold previous step.

Step 26: Refold the bottom point up along the crease you made in step 22.

Step 27: Tuck the tip of the same point into the small pocket found underneath it.

Step 28: Flip your paper over from left to right.

Step 29: Repeat steps 21 to 27.

Step 30: Turn the left side of the paper to the right, like you are turning a page in a book.

Step 31: Flip your paper over and repeat previous step.

Step 32: Repeat steps 21 to 27 for both sides.

Step 33: Rotate your paper 180 degrees, so that the point is towards you.

Step 34: Fold the point up to meet the bottom edge of the top section. Crease well.

Tips For Success

Make sure that when you punch your holes they are all about the same height.

Common Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

• Using Paper That's Too Thin: Thin paper can tear easily when you're threading the drawstring or filling the bag. Opt for a medium-weight paper (around 70-100 GSM) for smaller bags and lightweight cardstock for larger ones.
• Misaligned Folds: Ensure your folds are precise to maintain symmetry and avoid a lopsided bag. Take your time with each step and use a ruler to press down folds evenly for crisp lines.
• Overfilling the Bag: Be mindful of the size and capacity of your bag. Overfilling can strain the drawstring and risk tearing the paper. Use lightweight items like candies, small trinkets, or dried flowers to ensure the bag remains intact.

Color, Paper Ideas, and Variations

• Holiday Themes: Match the bags to your holiday celebrations. Use red, green, and white paper for Christmas bags, pastel shades for Easter, or gold and black for a sophisticated New Year's theme. Pair the colors with coordinating ribbons to tie everything together.
• Use bold, cheerful colors or patterned paper featuring animals, cartoon characters, or favorite hobbies to delight children. These make perfect party favor bags for birthdays or school events.
• Rustic and Chic: For a more natural look, use kraft paper with twine or jute as the drawstring. These give off a rustic vibe that's perfect for weddings, baby showers, or farmhouse-inspired themes.
• Seasonal Patterns: Celebrate the seasons with your paper choices. Opt for florals in spring, leafy motifs for autumn, or snowflakes in winter. Adding complementary embellishments, such as stickers or small ornaments, can elevate the design.
• Monochrome: Go for single-color paper in metallic shades like silver, gold, or rose gold for an elegant and refined touch. Pair with matching or contrasting satin ribbon for a high-end look that's suitable for formal events.
• Personalized Designs: Hand-draw designs or add initials for a custom touch. These personalized bags make great keepsakes and can also act as place cards at a dinner party or special event.

FAQ

Other Paper Crafts You Might Like To Try:

• 2D Origami Carrot
• Cat Origami Box
• Origami Hearts
• Valentines Origami
• Origami Mouse

Helpful Origami Tips

If you're curious to learn more about origami, you might like to look at our basic guides on how to make some common origami folds.

Start with the valley fold and mountain fold-these are the foundation of most origami models.

Once you're comfortable, you might like to try the petal fold for 3D shapes, and explore the bird base and square base for more complex designs.

The water bomb base is also great for creating inflatable or geometric models, like this inflatable origami rabbit.

Useful Paper Craft Terms

Want to learn a little more about paper crafts and origami?

We've made this helpful printable just for you. It explains common terms and helpful tips you might come across when you are folding origami or making a paper craft project.

You can download the useful paper craft terms printable PDF here.