I Like Paper: 6 inches tall gift bag

Howdy Crafters - I figured out dimensions for the first gift bag I created after reading these directions Click HERE for making a Newspaper Gift Bag.

I have measurements to share with you if you wish to make a 6 inch tall gift bag that is 3 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches wide - it just seems to be a good size for small type gifts. Thanks for stopping by. Gail
The photos are one bag - where I decorated the front and back

Gift Bag Directions:
Needed - one piece of 13 x 8 1/2 inches computer paper or decorative paper - or cardstock - recycled cardboard for bottom of bag - cardstock strips for top of bag - ribbon or jute for the handles - hole punch - glue - and whatever you want to use to decorate your bag - Scor-Pal or MS scoring tool.

Take two sheets of computer paper 8 1/2 by 11 inches - cut off a 2 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch piece of paper from one of the computer sheets. Glue down the 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch computer paper to the 8 1/2 x 11 computer sheet - leaving 2 inches - therefore, gluing 1/2 inch of the cut computer paper to the full sheet - see photo's below:

2 pieces of computer paper - sides shown are 8 1/2 inches

Glues down the 2 1/2 inch cut

Lay the long side [13 inches] at the top of your Scor-Pal or scoring tool and you will score 2 1/2 inches, 3 1/2 inches, 2 1/2 inches, 3 1/2 inches - I burnish and folded the first score - move the paper to the left on the Scor-Pal and do the same with all of the scoring - therefore, you are scoring 2 1/2 inches, burnish, fold - then move that fold to the left of your scoring tool and score at 3 1/2 inches, burnish and fold - then move that fold to the left of your scoring tool and score at 2 1/2 inches - burnish and fold and move that fold to the left of your scoring too and score 3 1/2 inches - then burnish and fold - unfold the sheet now and turn it to the 8 1/2 inch side is at the top of the scoring tool

Bag scores and burnishing - paper is 13 inches at top and bottom and sides are 8 1/2 inches

Now turn your paper so the 8 1/2 inch is at the top of the Scor-Pal
Score at 1 inch - this will be the top of the bag
Turn the paper so the other end is at the left of the scor -pal and score at 1 1/4 inches - this will make the bottom of the bag - study the photo above to get a complete understanding.

Burnish the top and bottom scores you just created - turning them to the inside of the bag

Take 2 pieces of cardstock 3 1/2 inches long by 1 inch long to insert at the top of the bag inside and glue down [you might want to shave a bit off the ends if it seems to snug] - this will reinforce the top when you make your holes for the handles. Glue the entire length of the top down to the inside of the bag - punch holes for ribbon or jute

Showing inside bag - cardstock pieces were add to both 3 1/2 sides - glued down top and punched holes - this photo was taken after I had the bag assembled

Optional - you can decorate the front and back of the bag before assembly - the front and back pieces to decorate on your bag will be the 3 1/2 inch x 6 inches sides OR you can assembly your bag then decorate -whichever will work best for you.

To assembly bag - cut a 3 1/4 by 2 1/4 piece of recycled cardboard for the inside of the bag.
Fold the bottom of the bag as shown in the directions for the newspaper gift bag - my tabs were coming in from the side of the bag - the bottoms just matched up and did not over-lap so I added cardboard inside my bag - I glued it down - then I finished the outside of the bottom of the bag and glued those tabs down - the bottom of the bag can also be covered up if you wish. See my photos:

cardboard piece inside of bag bottom

Bottom of bag on the outside - which can be covered with paper

Add ribbon or jute cording. Finger fold bag on the sides to make seams if you wish.

I hope this makes sense - go and view the newspaper bag instructions and I think you will have no problem making this smaller bag - happy crafting!