How to Make a Paper Carrier Bag

Decorative paper carrier bags can be created with newspaper and glue.

People use paper carrier bags for groceries, gifts and other items they wish to transport by hand. Using paper bags is better than using plastic bags because the paper can be recycled later. The bag can even be constructed from recycled paper in the first place. With two sheets of newspaper, some glue, string and other basic supplies, you can create a paper carrier bag that will have many uses. The project takes only about an hour or so, and it is an ideal activity for children who are bored on a rainy day or who are learning about recycling.

Things You'll Need

• 2 sheets of paper, 17 inches by 11 inches
• White glue
• 2 pieces of card stock, 7 1/2 inches by 1/2 inch
• Ruler
• 2 pieces of string, 12 inches long
• Hole punch

Instructions

1. Put glue on one piece of paper along the long side. Put the glue from the edge inward 1 1/2 inches. Place the other sheet of paper on top of the glued one to line up evenly. Press the edge that has the glue firmly so that the paper sheets adhere to each other.

2. Position the glued sheets so that the glued edge is at the top. Fold this top edge down 1 1/2 inches. Crease the fold and unfold.

3. Apply glue to one side of the card stock strips and place them above this crease. Place the end of one strip 1 inch from the left edge. Place the end of the other strip 1 inch from the right edge. Make sure the bottom of the card stock strips line up evenly with the crease. Press down to secure the strips. Apply glue to the top of the strips and fold the paper flap down over them to glue it in place.

4. Fold the left side toward the middle, creating a 1-inch flap. Repeat for the right side. These flaps should fold over the ends of the card stock strips at the top. Crease the folds and unfold.

5. Fold the left side toward the middle, creating a 6-inch flap. Crease the fold. Fold the right side toward the middle, creating a 3-inch flap. Crease the fold. The flaps should overlap 1 inch, at the creases previously created.

6. Insert the the left flap between the layers of the right flap and glue in place. Make sure to apply glue on both sides of the left flap.

7. Stick your hand through the bag that is now open on both ends. Slightly roll it to one side and make a sharp crease parallel to the existing creases and 3 1/2 inches from one of the existing creases. Press the bag flat, creating a fourth crease. The four parallel creases form the four corners of the bag.

8. Bring two adjacent corners together. Use corners that are 3 1/2 inches apart. Tuck the paper inside as you bring the corners together and press, creating a pleated side. Repeat for the opposite two corners. Flatten the bag with the sides tucked in. Crease all the folds so it lays completely flat.

9. Fold up the bottom edge 2 1/2 inches. This is the edge opposite where you glued the card stock in the flap. Unfold and fold it to the other side along the same crease.

10. Unfold and open the bag so that it lays on one short side, allowing you to fold the bottom edges. Fold the flaps along long sides so that they overlap in the middle. Tuck the flaps along the short sides inside of the bag as you do this, creasing triangular sections near each corner so that the paper forms a flat bottom. Glue these flaps in place. The bag is now complete except for the handles.

11. Make the handles. Punch two holes 3 inches apart in the middle of the top of each long side. Punch the holes through the card stock flaps. Knot one end of a piece of string with a knot large enough so that it will not fit through the hole. Thread the unknotted end through one hole and then through the other hole. Knot this end in the same manner so that when the handle is grasped, the knots do not slip through the holes. Repeat for the other handle.

Tips & Warnings

• The measurements presented here make it easy to form a carrier bag out of two tabloid-sized sheets of newspaper. However, any size paper can be used. Remember to also change the size of the card stock strips if you change the size of the paper.

• Butcher paper or craft paper also make a sturdy carrier bag. Using gift wrap makes a good gift bag idea.

• You can decorate the paper with markers, paint, stamps or pencils before beginning.

References

• The Newspaper Bag Project: How to Make Your Newspaper Bag

Resources

• Unique Holiday Gift Ideas: Gift Bag Making Instructions and Video