How to Make a No Glue Paper Holiday Gift Bag

For environmentally safe holiday gift giving consider making  your own holiday gift bags without using glue or tape. Most glues are not recyclable because of plastics that are added to them. Likewise, tapes also contain plastic, which is not recyclable. This recyclable, no glue holiday gift bag can be resized depending upon the square of paper that you begin with.

You’ll need these supplies:

• Square sheet of paper (I’m using 12″x12″ scrapbook paper for this tutorial)
• Two lengths of twine 8″ to 10″
• Bone folder (nice, but not absolutely necessary)

Follow these instructions to make the holiday gift bag:

1. Fold the paper in half diagonally.
2. Turn the paper and fold diagonally in the opposite direction. Your folds will look like this.
3. Now, fold the top point to the center.
4. Repeat, folding the bottom point to the center.
5. Bring the bottom point to the line you just created in Step 3.
6. Repeat, folding the top point down.
7. Open the paper flat, and orient the fold lines as shown below.
8. Fold the paper in half diagonally.
9. Turn up a ¾” cuff along the bottom fold.
10. Fold the right-hand point along the fold line to the right of the center fold.
11. Repeat with the left hand point.
12. Unfold the paper, and orient the fold lines as shown below.
13. Fold the right-hand point to the line to the right of the center fold.
14. Repeat on the left side.
15. Fold the paper on the lines marked in red so the pattern side is together.
16. Bring these folds to the center.
17. Fold the top flap down.
18. Repeat Steps 15 through 17 on the bottom half of the bag.

Congratulations!! Your gift bag is now complete. You can use a paper clip or binder to close it. Or, punch two holes on each side and add twine or cloth ribbon handles.

Keep in mind when selecting your supplies that coated and glittered papers aren’t recyclable. Brown craft paper works well and can be cut to any size you need. Cardstock can be problematic, as the folds become thick and difficult to manipulate. Some ribbons aren’t recyclable, either—look for 100% polyester cloth ribbons.