{paper sack gift bags}

Looking for a fun way to package treats or small gifts?  I’ve got the perfect thing! I took paper lunch sacks and sent them through my printer, making an all-in-one bag and tag.  It’s simple, inexpensive, and SO fun! You could actually do this for any holiday, birthday, or as an invitation, too! I love Paper Sack Gift Bags!!!

I just love paper sacks.  Not only are they super cute, but they’re inexpensive, which means making just a few or in bulk is very reasonable. I’m going to give you directions based on my printer, but you will probably have to make a few changes depending on the kind of printer you have.  Just take a few minutes to experiment with which way the paper goes in, which side it prints on, and how it comes out.  Once you know that, you’ll know how to insert your paper and/or lunch sack.

Here’s how I did it…

ITEMS YOU NEED:

paper lunch sacks

printer

ribbon or fabric strips

hole punch

DIRECTIONS:

1. I created my text and image in Photoshop, then inserted it into a Word document.  Don’t worry–if you don’t have Photoshop, you can just use your fonts and create the text right in Word. A lunch sack is about as tall as an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, so you can place your text on the document where you would want them on the sack, and it works out just about right. (Fonts = Typewriter and MS Try a Bon)

2.  My printer won’t let me put a paper sack through by itself–it has to be exactly the same dimensions as an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper.  I really miss my old printer, because I could put through even the smallest scrap all by itself, and it would print on it.  You might have a printer like that (LUCKY), and you could just go ahead and print right on the paper sack.  If yours is like mine, then keep reading…

In order to trick my printer into printing on the sack, I had to send it through attached to a regular-sized piece of paper. I printed out the text on an 8.5 x 11 piece of white paper, then I was able to use it as guide, placing the lunch sack directly over the text.  This way, I would know where the printer was going to to print, and it would be right where I wanted it.  I taped it lightly in place on the sides, and at the top–just so it would stay in place while it went through the printer. I printed the sacks one-by-one, then carefully removed the tape. It worked like a charm!

3.  I tore strips of fabric into pieces about 1.5 inches wide and 15 inches long. I folded the bag over twice, punched two holes in the top, then used the fabric to tie it closed.  SO cute!!!

Here is the Merry Christmas image, in case you’d like to use it.  Just right click on the image, select “save as”, and save to your computer.  Open up a new Word document, select “Insert”, then ” Picture”.  You’ll be able to browse for your picture, then click to insert it into your document.