Christmas Gift Bag Craft Ideas for Kids, Tweens and Teens

With the popularity of Christmas gift bags, last-minute gift wrapping is now a thing of the past. In addition to buying a variety of festive gift bags from retailers, you have the option of crafting your own, which is a fun activity for kids, tweens and teens. This guide provides details for making three Christmas gift bag crafts.

Customized Christmas Iron-On Print Canvas Gift Bag

Description:

With the advancements in technology, anyone can create a DIY custom-designed and professional-looking canvas gift bag using iron-on transfer sheets, the internet, and an injet printer.

Materials:

small, plain canvas tote bag (size 7 x 4 ½ inch Small Canvas Bag with Lace Trim sold for 49 cents on http://factorydirectcraft.com, iron-on, cool-peel inkjet transfer sheets (pack of 12 - 8 ½ x 11 inch sheets sold on www.hp.com, ink jet printer, internet, 8 ½ x 11 inch regular printer paper, downloaded Christmas image, iron, ironing board

Instructions:

1. Go to the website www.hp.com.

2. Go to the HP Activity Center to view the how-to video, create your own Christmas design or message, and download your image.

3. Print a preview of the design on regular printer paper.

4. Ensure that the design is a mirror image of the way it should appear on the canvas gift
bag. If not, use imaging software to rotate the image.

5. Print two copies of your design on the iron-on transfer sheet (one for the front and one for the back of the gift bag.

6. Cut out your designs.

7. Iron them unto the canvas gift bag using the "cotton" setting with no steam.

Tip: Do not use iron-on transfers with laser printers

Christmas Deco Bean Paper Gift Bag

Description:

The designs and charts found in cross-stitch kits are suited for more than just a needle and embroidery floss. I have designed a gift bag idea that uses cross-stitch charts, graph paper, and dried beans.

Materials:

plain medium paper bag (various colors sold in craft stores starting at 79 cents), bag of dry pinto beans, acrylic craft paint, cross-stitch Christmas greeting or design and chart, graph paper (two sheets), glue stick, scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut the two sheets of graph paper to fit the size of the front and back of the paper bag.

2. Glue the graph paper over the front and back of the bag.

3. Arrange and glue the beans on the graph paper to resemble the design on the cross-stitch chart.

4. Paint the beans according to the color key on the chart.

Christmas Cross-Stitch Canvas Gift Bag

Description: Cross-stitch designs serve more purposes than simply being framed. An idea that I've found useful is transferring Christmas cross-stitch designs unto plain canvas bags to make gift bags.

Materials:

small or medium plain canvas bag (available on the website http://factorydirectcraft.com), sewing needle, Christmas cross-stitch kit that includes design, chart, embroidery floss, and a needle (note: size of design should be equal to or smaller than the front of the canvas bag)

Instructions:

1. Follow the instructions included with your Christmas cross-stitch kit to create your design.

2. After completing your cross-stitch design, sew the four sides of the embroidery fabric at ½ inch from the edges unto the front of the canvas bag.

Without question, kids, tweens, and teens will have a blast creating these customized Christmas gift bags. Whether they are into graphic design or craft making, there is something for everyone to create. Best of all, the recipients of your unique gift bags will become ecstatic from the sight of them before even looking into the bags for the actual gifts.

Sources

"Factory Direct Craft Supply."Factory Direct Craft website.

"Print Your Own Iron-On Transfers."HP website.