In this project, learn how to make a small party favor bag that is self-closing. These easy to make bags are ideal for packaging small party favors of food, candy, soaps or jewelry. They are gusseted with a top flap that folds into the opposite top pleat to lock the bag closed. Choose from four sizes of printable patterns with or without the colorful dot designs.
Related craft: To make larger bags from wrapping paper, see the Easy Gift Bags craft project.
Choose a bag to make. Download and print the pattern. The medium bag is 3½" tall, the small bag is 2¾" tall and the squat bag is 2½" by 2½". The bag sides, front, and back extend from the bag bottom in the center of this pattern. The pieced bag is 6" tall and has two patterns with four pieces that must be glued together before doing the assembly.
Tip: Make a more decorative bag with wrapping paper, marbled paper, or oriental paper. You may want to transfer the pattern to the decorative paper before proceeding. You can easily make the bag from two colors of paper by cutting the sides and main bag piece from different papers. Make glue tabs on the side pieces so they can be attached to the base of the bag.
Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.
All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter-size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.
Cut around the pattern on the outline. Tip: The pieced bag has four parts—front, back and two sides.
Tip: Using a straight edge and craft knife will make some of the cutting easier, but be sure to protect the table with a cutting mat or thick piece of cardboard. Caution: Be careful. Craft knives are sharp and should not be used by children.
Glue the two parts of the front and back strip together—half of the bag bottom is on each piece. Glue the bag sides to the strip on either side of the bag bottom. Glue so the tabs are inside the bag.
With the printed side down, fold back and unfold on the center fold line and the angled fold lines—marked here in blue. Fold forward and unfold on all other fold lines—marked in red. To make folding easier, score the fold lines first.
To score: Use a ruler and the bone folder or empty ballpoint pen to make an indent—not a cut—on each fold line.
Gently bring the sides, front, and back up into a bag shape. Be sure the glue tabs are on the inside. Glue the tabs to the sides with a good craft glue.
Pinch the sides in from the bottom up on the fold lines. You should be able to fold the bag flat.
Open the bag up and place whatever you want inside. Fold the locking flap over and tuck it into the opposite gusset.
Finish your bag with a cutout or decorate the bag any way you like. A cutout glued to a paperclip doubles as a decoration and another gift.
Your bag is now complete!
Tip: Medium-size favor bags look great with any striped digital paper, like this bag made using Honey Stripes digital paper. Print the B&W pattern on one side of the paper and the digital paper on the other side.
Tip: The Sky Blue Dots digital papers match the dots used on the bag patterns in this project. Print the digital paper on the reverse side of a box or bag pattern or use the digital paper to make matching cards or to wrap a gift.
Tip: Make a Collapsible Box that coordinates with the favor bag by using Sky Blue Dots digital papers.
Tip: The pieced bag is assembled like the smaller bags, but the four parts must be glued together first (Step 3).
Tip: Leave the bags plain or add cutouts as decorations. Stamped images colored to match the bags work well.
Related project: Use wrapping paper to make an easy gift bag. To see how checkout the Easy Gift Bags craft project.
Related project: To make simple tube bags in any size, see the Tube-shaped Gift Bags craft project.
