Showing posts with label holidaydownload. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidaydownload. Show all posts

wrapping paper is not just for wrapping gifts!

Friday, 30 September 2016

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

Wrapping paper is not just for wrapping gifts. And here's 10 DIY project ideas to inspire you.

I created these projects with holiday entertaining and decorating in mind but you can use the same projects with whatever wrapping papers you want for a wedding reception, party or holiday entertaining. 

I used three co-ordinating wrapping papers that are currently in stores and online. One wrapping paper is solid gold, one has a simple gold and white confetti dot graphic and the third one has a fun hand lettering print in gold and white

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

1. Use wrapping paper as a matte for photos. Simple frames work best so your wrapping paper and photo take centre stage.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

Tip: If you are using a wrapping paper with a print, your photo should have a white border.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

2. I framed this beautiful gold wrapping paper and used a white marker to add a message to the outside of the glass.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

Tip: Use a solid paper so your hand lettering stands out. You can trace an image onto the glass if you don't have great handwriting. Use a water based marker that can be removed from the glass.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

3. Here's one more framed wrapping paper idea. This time I framed the wrapping paper and glued a mini clothespin to the glass to hold a photo.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

I love this concept of adding the clothespin to the glass to hold a photo. It makes changing photos easy and quick. Think of it. You could change the photos that you display every day during the holidays. You could even use this as a holiday countdown and feature cards with numbers.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

4. Got lots of books? Use wrapping paper as book jackets.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

You can use the books as decorative elements in your decor. You can also use them in food displays to elevate serving dishes. 

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

5. You can also use bands of left over wrapping paper on boxes. Decorated boxes can be used in displays and like books, in food presentations to elevate cake stands and serving dishes.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

6. Wrapping paper bands can also be added to mason jars. I spray painted my mason jars and added satin ribbon to finish.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

Jars can be used in so many ways. As a vase for flowers, as a base for signs on a sweet table and as a container for utensils to just name a few.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

7. You can create your own cake liners by laminating wrapping paper. I showed you how to do this here. 

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

8. Flameless candles will match your decor when you add a band of wrapping paper and finish with a simple ribbon.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

Tip: Flameless candles work best for this project. There will be a fire issue with real candles.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

9. Wrapping paper and tissue paper were used to turn ordinary chocolate bars into pretty favours. I wrapped the chocolate bars in gold tissue paper first and added a band of wrapping paper to finish. Stack these up on a sweet table. Add a ribbon and maybe a name tag to use as escort cards at table settings.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

10. Make your own favour packaging like these using wrapping paper. I've shown you how to make the paper tube favours before and I'm going to show you how to make the small flat bag now ... 

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

Supplies: download template filewrapping paper, scissors, two-sided tape, pencil, ruler, bone folder.

1. Print and cut out the flat bag template. 
2. Use a pencil to trace out the template and mark the areas that need to be folded.
Note: If your wrapping paper has a pattern like my example, make sure that it will be right side up when you trace the template.


10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

3. Score the fold lines on the wrapping paper bag as indicated on the template. 
4. Cut the wrapping paper bag and fold. 
5. Add two-sided tape to the bag in the two areas as indicated on the template.

10 wrapping paper projects that don't involve gift wrapping | Creative Bag

6. Peel and stick the two-sided tape on the back side as shown above.
7. Peel and stick the two-side tape on the bottom flap of the bag as shown above.
8. Here's the fun part - you can make these simple bags your own by using decorative scissors to cut the top. I used a hole punch to create two holes so I could add ribbon or twine to close.



We'd love to see if you make any of these wrapping paper ideas. You can share your finished projects with us on Instagram using @creativebagco and #creativebaginspire









free download and your last chance to enter the holiday gift away

Sunday, 22 November 2015



In our last post about our third holiday giveaway I featured a picture of a tote bag filled with holiday goodies. The bag was embellished with an iron on transfer that I designed to go along with our 1961 collection. Today I'm going to share the graphics for the iron on transfer with you as a free download.


You can use the large iron on transfer on our large cotton tote bags


There are also two smaller designs in the printable that can be used on our small drawstring cotton and linen bags. If you like free downloads and printables you may want to follow our printables Pinterest board.


If you have not yet entered to win the 1961 holiday giveaway, this is your last chance ... time is running out. You can find the contest post to enter here.






7 sleeps left to finish your holiday gift wrapping and counting ...

Thursday, 18 December 2014


holiday gift wrapping with Creative Bag

Seven sleeps left to finish your holiday gift wrapping ... even less if you are exchanging gifts with friends and family this weekend! We have a number of holiday gift wrapping supplies on sale but quantities are very limited so don't wait too much longer. Here's some of my favourite gift wrapping ideas right now ... 

holiday gift wrapping with Creative Bag

 Our "Into the Woods" kraft wrapping paper is currently my personal favourite and the paper I selected to wrap my family's gifts with this year. This pattern can be used all year long so I'm hoping there will be some left over and I won't have to pack it away after the holidays. 

holiday gift wrapping with Creative Bag

I combined plain kraft wrapping paper and the "Into the Woods" kraft wrapping paper on this rigid clear box with 12 compartments. I arranged jelly belly candies that I purchased in bulk inside the box and I'm using these as an additional gift for a few people that will be receiving gift cards.The printable for the label can be found on this post.

holiday gift wrapping with Creative Bag

Large clear boxes can be used like "snow globes" to make small gifts into something really special. The small box wrapped in kraft paper inside the box holds a piece of jewellery. Add acorns or small pine cones for a natural look like I did. Or if you prefer something a little more sparkly ... use gold wrapping paper and add mini ornaments in festive colours. 

holiday gift wrapping with Creative Bag

Holiday greetings and chalkboard packaging supplies ... what could be more festive. Use chalk markers to write/draw on any black paper packaging product (bags, wrapping paper, etc). Chalk markers do not rub off once the ink has dried so I keep a bunch of them on hand to use on my gift tags as well. 

holiday gift wrapping with Creative Bag

Happy wrapping! 



creative candy packaging for the holidays

Friday, 12 December 2014

creative candy packaging supplies | Creative Bag

Looking for food packaging products for holiday gift giving ... we've got everything you need in our stores and online! Shop with us for all of your bags, boxes, chinese take out boxes, cupcake and push pop containers and more. 

free printables for hot and cold food containers for the holidays | Creative Bag

I really like our paper soup/ice cream containers because they can be used for hot or cold treats. You may have seen these in our online magazine, Creative Living - food packaging. I created a few free holiday printables to use on the lids of these containers and you can download them here. The  baker's twine and chalkboard stickers are available in our stores and online

Find more food packaging ideas on our Pinterest boards!







start with a jar - holiday gift giving and entertaining ideas and more free printables

Monday, 1 December 2014



free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

It's December 1st and the countdown has started! I'm sure that the kids were all excited this morning to start using their advent calendars.

Mason jars are always on my holiday packing supply list. They come in so many sizes and can be used for packaging food and so much more. Here's a simple gift idea: fill mason jars with assorted nuts, popcorn and candy then add printed labels to the lids and finish with a ribbon.

Tip: four 16oz mason jars fit inside our paper bottle bags

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

I created a series of different mason jar labels that can be used on all of our mason jar lids. I left space on most of the labels so that you can personalize them yourself before or after printing them on white card stock. 

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

I used fine point white chalk markers to write on these labels to add to the chalkboard design on the label. Twine or baker's twine work well on smaller jars.

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

These jar boxes are new and are available in two sizes. I added paper bows to the handles with mini clothespins

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag


free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

Here's another gift idea for the tea lover. Package a mason jar mug in large window box along with two glass containers filled with loose leaf tea and a mesh ball infuser. Use paper sizzle to keep the glass containers from rolling around. I created mini sticker designs to co-ordinate with our Into the Woods holiday collection for this project. The stickers are blank so you can personalize them before printing on blank sticker sheets

Note: I added a chalkboard sticker to the mug - the sticker is just decorative and will need to be removed for washing.

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag


ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

Here's another great use for mason jars during the holidays. I use a lot of baker's twine in my holiday packaging projects and I like to store them in mason jars with daisy lids.

free printables and holiday ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

After we designed our Into the Woods holiday collection, we tried to find mason jar themed ornaments to sell in the stores. We could not find any so I came up with another idea ...  make my own ornaments using our mini mason jar shot glasses and lids. I came up with two different ways to hang the mini jars using twine: 1. punch a hole in the middle of the lid and add a piece of twine to hang and 2. tie the twine around the glass and create a loop for hanging.  Glue anything you want inside the jar so it stays in place and once dry add white glitter "snow".

Note: I glued a mini bottle brush tree into one jar and the other contains a "snow bunny" I made using air dry clay. I also spray painted one of the lids black.

free printables and holiday ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

If you've ever been on Pinterest you have most likely seen mason jars used for weddings and party decor. I painted a few of our different mason jars with chalk paint to create the projects above. You can sand them down if you want or just leave them as I have and add a touch of gold glitter to add a little glitz or a simply tie on some baker's twine for a more relaxed look.

Find them here - paper straws, chevron paper straws, chalkboard labels, chalkboard arrow stick

free printables and gift giving ideas using mason jars with Creative Bag

Mason jar mugs filled with hot chocolate and marshmallows make wonderful gifts. Mini marshmallow were packaged in a small clear bag before adding the daisy lid. Other details on this packaging project: linen and cotton ribbons, a gift tag, baker's twine and a pipe cleaner shaped into the letter "A". 

I am looking forward to showing some of these projects and a few more on Rogers Daytime TV Durham this Thursday at 11 and 4. If you live near our Pickering store, I hope that you will tune in!