DIY Paper Grocery Bag Flowers & Gift Wrap
“Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things ” The song from my favorite movie describes our little project today – make your own unique gift wrap and gift toppers by up-cycling grocery paper bags!
(And our Silhouette winner is annouced at the end of the post!)
This is a really simple project! All we need here are paper bags, a little bit of craft paint – I used gold and white for a holiday touch, and some [easyazon_link asin=”B00004Z1TX” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”apieceofrainb-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Natural Fiber Twisted Sisal Rope[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link asin=”B002U72BNU” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”apieceofrainb-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Baker’s Twine[/easyazon_link]!
First, draw some petals, or download the full size template here-Download template. Print it out on letter size paper, and use these petal shapes as guides.
Open up the bags, trace the petal shapes, and cut them out. It’s fun to utilize the designs and colors on the bags. I also painted the blank side to create some gold and white patterned paper to cut the petals. Cut a few larger petals to use on the out edges, and a few smaller ones to use near the center.
Create a crinkled look on each petal by gathering and twisting each cut piece.
To make the center stamens, cut small fringes on a piece of paper, I used newspaper and white paper. Roll the piece, glue or tape it (use paper tape) at the end and gently fan out the fringes.
Starting with the smaller petals, put a little glue on the base and glue it to the stamen. Keep adding petals in a spiral pattern until your flower looks happy and pretty!
The final step is to wrap your gifts and tape some flowers on top. These flowers would be beautiful on a wreath too!
Flowers are not the only thing you can make from paper grocery bags! A pendant lamp DIY is waiting for you!
If you love the idea of up-cycle, check out these ingenious Christmas Trees made of unconventional and up-cycled materials!
Now it’s time to announce our lucky winner (selected by random Pick Giveaway Winner app) of the Silhouette Portrait Giveaway!
Thank you so much to everyone who entered, and please don’t feel discouraged if you are not the winner – I entered last year and did not win, so I bought one, and it’s totally worth it! See, you are not alone! =)
THE WINNER IS: Roopa I.! Congratulations Roopa!!! Please send me your mailing address via my contact page! =)
Hi there! Came in via Pinterest.
Just wanted to say these are the sweetest flowers! I want to make a mirror, but didn’t have any idea how to attach some floral detail to it. These might have the right amount of body to paint. But then, I might change my color scheme to just use the paper bags! I love the rustic, natural look. Funny thing to say about a grocery bag, but the flowers have changed character!
Lovely job.
thank you christine! =) yes i still debate- paint or not to paint in almost every diy! =)
I just came across your blog. Wonderful ideas! I am looking for ideas for papercrafts with wallpaper from sample books. Maybe I can adapt some of these!
thank you so much christine! =)
This is genius! And beautiful!
You have ever so great ideas !
I like read you wonderful blog !
greetings
Uwe
thank you uwe! happy holidays dear friend! =)
Those are beautiful! I would have never thought they were made out of recycled paper bags!
thank you dear rebekah! =)
This is such a genius idea and great way to recycle. I think the best presents are wrapped in brown paper with big beautiful bows around them! I may try this for my Christmas pressies!
Katie <3
These are SO pretty! I love finding new ways of using things that I would otherwise throw out. 🙂
These are gorgeous! And I wont lie… I treated myself to the Portrait package. 😉
Wow Erin! that’s awesome! You will have so much fun with it!! xx
What a cool way to upcycle your paper bags! Thank you for the tip! I think it’s just perfect for the holidays!
thank you Joanna! Happy holidays! 🙂
We used to cover school books with the paper bags. This is much prettier!
wish you took pictures ! I would blog it! 🙂 xo
This is a great activity. Talk about making something out of nothing. Awesome!
thank you Erica! Xo
This is so pretty and what a great way to upcycle grocery bags!
thank you jenn! 🙂
these are so cool! I have never seen this done before and absolutely love it! Can’t wait to give it a try : )
xo Jen | The Single Diaries
http://www.thesinglediaries.com
so glad you find it useful, thank you Jen!!
Those are REALLY cute and I love the green aspect of them – no need to buy paper, just use grocery bags! It is really unique,
thank you andi! grocery bags are fun!
Congratulations Roopa! I have actually included that Silhouette Portrait in my Christmas list thanks to your previous post! As for your recycled holiday wrappings…totally love ’em! I actually do kraft paper wrapping every year but I’m following your tutorial for some recycled wrappings this time. 🙂
thank you cara!! I didn’t win the silhouette and have used it so much since I bought it, you will really enjoy it! 🙂
How adorable! What a great way to recycle. Those would look lovely on top of a present under the Christmas tree <3
Thank you angelic! xo
These are so cute! I was already to do the brown paper wrappings so this is great!!!! Thank you for the great tutorial! Tess
hi Tess! Thank you and happy holidays!!! xo
These are seriously adorable! What a great way to reuse paper grocery bags. The bags from Trader Joes are so pretty, I feel bad getting rid of them.
I have greatly enjoyed looking at your paper bag flowers. We did these when I was a little girl, decades past. They are still as elegant and lovely now as then. Thank you for your wonderful pattern pieces and tutorial. I’ll be sharing this with my great grand-niece later on this week.
thank you dear karen, and happy holidays!! xx
What a good idea for the gifts!! Thanks for sharing!!! And congrats to the winner!!
Un beso
thank you dear sofie! xo