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How to Make Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings

comments (9) January 12th, 2009

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Jeffery Rudell, contributor

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Nothing could be less trouble than putting a few stitches in a paper bag, but this simple operation will likely add dozens of uses to it (and keep it out of the landfill for at least a little while).

The tools are simple (and safe) enough for little hands to use, so consider getting your children involved. Ive found that kids are much more likely to reuse things that they themselves had a hand in making.

It is, after all, JUST a paper bag, so dont be shy about it; dare to be daring.

Nothing could be less trouble than putting a few stitches in a paper bag, but this simple operation will likely add dozens of uses to it (and keep it out of the landfill for at least a little while).

Photo: Jeff Rudell

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These two "woven" examples were favorites during the holiday. One contained homemade peanut brittle and the other spiced almonds (both wrapped in waxed paper before being inserted into their brown paper wrappings). For the example on left, I used a 1/2-inch hole punch. Notice that I creased the bag vertically along the dotted lines and then placed my hole cutter halfway over the fold and punch. For the example on the right, seven small cuts made with a craft knife (notice the tiny one at the bottom) provided the lattice through which I wove three bright red ribbons (I fastened the ends with clear tape on the inside of the bag).

For the new year, I like to make cookies to give to all of my neighbors. In New York, with everyone's schedule being what it is, I usually end up leaving packages at people's doors. A 2-1/2-inch circle (again, cut by folding the bag over and cutting half a circle out across the fold) makes a perfect way to hang this gift on a doorknob. I used a custom rubber stamp to label each bag and a little silver cord to stitch them shut around the hole.

For a friend's little boy who just mastered the art of tying his shoe, I made a little lunch bag that allows him to show off his new skill.

And finally, this, for a certain teenage girl who said, "I wouldn't be caught dead carrying my lunch in some dorky bag with decorations on it." Apparently, bright-colored strips of plastic cut from some old wrapping paper are NOT dorky because she carried her lunch in this one for over a week (then asked me to make her a new one...and two more for her friends).

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Comments (9)

Soil writes: How long having you being doing brown bags like this? Where did you get the idea from or where did the idea originate from?

Posted: 7:19 pm on September 27th

Mjoy writes: I think this will be great and its so easy

Posted: 10:21 pm on September 10th

Stile writes: elegantly simple. Lovely idea. Also great use for the ribbons I tend to collect.
Posted: 1:29 pm on January 17th

lling writes: Gush! You are really very creative !!! I love all your work!
Posted: 9:59 am on April 11th

Isobelrose writes: What a great idea !!! They look so good !
Posted: 9:39 pm on February 20th

eveh writes: You are just totally amazing. I want to make everything you come up with. I will use this idea over and over.
Posted: 7:32 pm on January 17th

AWilcox writes: Very neat idea! I love it. I attend many dinner parties and always bring a bottle or two of wine for the host. I am going to attempt making one of these nifty paper gift bags for the next dinner party I attend. I am sure it will definitely stick out among all the other wine bottles! The other guests will be envious.

Thanks for the great and very stylish ideas, you are the best!
Posted: 4:34 pm on January 16th