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Gift Bag Christmas Sign With A Twist

December 13, 2019

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Holiday gift bags make great wooden signs. With a little imagination you can use them to decorate your home at Christmas. Come see how...

Brown and White Merry Christmas Gift Bag

For a long, long time, I've wanted a festive sign to hang over my kitchen window during the holidays.  Unfortunately, the space is tiny.

Store-bought signs are generally too large.

Leaving DIY as my only option.

Which is fine. Most of the year.

However, December is a very short month and making signs can be a tedious process if you hate to stencil (me!) and you don't have one of those fancy cutting machines (also me!).

In the past, I've used wall decals and stickers to cheat my way to pretty, but that means I have to be able to find a sticker I like, with the right look and sentiment, in the size I need.

That part can be tricky, hence my dilemma.

Well, this week, while I was digging through my craft closet, in search of some kind of snowflake for my Let It Snow cutting board sign, I came across this old gift bag.

The inside of an old gift

Now, if you're a longtime reader and you feel like you're having deja vu...you are. You see, way back in December of 2015, I used one side of this gorgeous bag to make a very cool sign for my living room.

Merry Christmas Sign From A Gift Bag on the fireplace

Since the bag was decorated on both sides and it was so spectacular with its wood carved appearance and its dainty white glitter, I couldn't toss the remnants.

I tucked it away in my craft closet and there it's been for almost five years.

As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what I was going to do.

How To Make A Gift Bag Christmas Sign


Brown And White Merry Christmas Gift Bag

Of course, the easiest way to make a sign from one of these bags is to simply glue it or tack it to a board. Easy peasy, right. I've actually done several this way already.

Today's version is a little different. Instead of making a square or rectangular sign, I made a long, skinny one. And gift bags don't come in that shape.

I had to make some adjustments and only use parts of my bag. Keep that in mind when choosing yours.

Paint The Board


Painted White Wooden Board

Ok, so my board was already painted. It's actually the back of my red rooster sign. It used to have white roosters on it for spring, but I removed them to make room for Christmas.

I undo my projects a lot - but that's another story.

Back to painting...which, like I said, it already was, but I gave it a fresh coat of craft paint with a foam brush for good measure.

While it was drying, I mapped out my design.

Choose A Bag With Elements You Can Adapt For A Horizontal Presentation


DIY Supplies for gift bag sign including bag, scissors, yard stick

I needed coverage for the whole length of the sign. My bag was perfect for this.

I planned to use the top and bottom scroll portions and the Merry Christmas words. In order to make it look natural, they would need to be separated and cut out in uniform sizes.

I used a yardstick and drew a line on the backside of the bag, so that each portion was five inches wide.

Cut Out What You Need


Fiskars Cutting Board

I cut the bag apart with scissors and then trimmed the pieces perfectly with my Fiskars cutting board. I have to tell you, I love this thing.

The blade is sharp and the boxes help me to keep everything straight and square.

When I was teaching, my favorite toy was the giant paper cutter.

Over the years, I have missed that tool more than another other. I finally broke down and bought this little cutting board a few years ago and my only regret is that I didn't buy the larger one.




Hello, Santa? Are you listening?

Glue The Pieces On The Board


Partial View of Wooden Sign From A Gift Bag

The last part of this simple DIY is to adhere the bag pieces onto the board. If your bag is plain and unadorned, I would use decoupage gel to do this and then give it a coat of decoupage over the top.

My bag is/ was made of a very sturdy cardstock-like paper and heavily textured, so that wasn't really an option. In the living room, I used decorative tacks to give it a rustic look.

I wanted a softer version in the kitchen, so I simply glued them on.

DIY Christmas Sign From A Gift Bag

This will also make it easier for me to remove them, if I so desire once spring comes around.

Christmas Kitchen Decor DIY Gift Bag Sign Over Sink

And let's face it, we already know that I will so desire.

Which means there's a distinct possibility that this bag will get upcycled yet again at some point.

Can you have deja vu three times?

Hmmm.

Do you craft with gift bags?




Kim Signature


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  1. Wow this is so crafty and pretty Kim. I love the header over your kitchen window. Really cool. Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thank you Kris!! I have to say I love this gift bag pattern and I was happy to be able to use every last inch of it! Happy weekend! xo

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  2. This came out so pretty. Much better than anything you could have found in a store.

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    1. Thanks so much Briana!! I really liked that bag, it was so unique, I knew it'd make a great sign. Or two!!

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  3. This beautiful Kim. You're so creative and good at this.

    Hope you have a great weekend. Baking is my plan

    Cindy

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    1. Thank you so much Cindy, I have to say I really do enjoy crafting. I hope you enjoy your baconI hope you enjoy your baking! Merry Christmas!

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  4. I haven't with gift bags but I have with Christmas cards and gift labels. I will keep in mind the gift bag idea. It is great.

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    1. Thanks Susan and thanks for the tip! I have never used Christmas cards or gift labels to make signs or projects but I will keep that in mind, as well. I bet they would make me really cute banners! I really appreciate the comment and helpful idea. Merry Christmas!

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  5. Wow! This is Exquisite!

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    1. Thank you so much Donna, you just made my day!!

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  6. I discovered decorating with gift bags a few years....they are just too beautiful to toss. I have quite a few Christmas decorations I've made from bags. I guess I need to look for some bags to use in other seasons.

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    1. I completely agree with you, Jenny, they are just too cute to toss! And with artwork being so expensive, this is the super economical way to get some personalized decor!

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  7. I love how you used the gift bag to make the cute sign. It looks great on the wall over the sink. You are just so creative Kim. I used to have way back when I was a teen a paper cutter and don't know what happened to it. :( It was such a good cutter and I miss it. I do want to get a paper cutter like that and I hope Santa brings you a larger one.

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    1. Thank you, Julie and what a lucky girl to have had your very own paper cutter! That was honestly my favorite tool and it really did come in handy all the time. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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  8. Your sign is beautiful, Kim and you'd never guess it was made form a gift bag. Very clever!

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    1. Thanks Ann! When it comes to making signs I avoid painting at all costs! This was an easy one…

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  9. Great project as always. Hope you and family have a good holiday! I bet the girls will be performing at some point. Take care.

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    1. Thank you Cheryl! I wish you and yours a good holiday, as well... And yes, the girls are singing, today actually, at a charity event for children. They love it when they can use their talent to help others.

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  10. You are so creative! Who would have thought it was a gift bag!

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    1. Thank you, Mari! I could not resist this bag when I saw it, it was just too beautiful.

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  11. Kim, each idea you come up with amazes me. Another fantastic idea. I love the header above the kitchen window.
    Carla

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    1. Thank you, Carla! Your sweet comment just made me smile ear to ear, as usual!

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  12. Very crafty, Kim! The window looks beautiful. I hope that you are keeping warm and enjoying this hectic, festive season.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you, Amalia! I have to say I have been taking it very slow this season...decorating slowly, shopping slowly, and spending long, slow hours with friends and family. I hope you have been doing the same! xo

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  13. What a beautiful job! I totally love that you have put it over the window like that. Looks GREAT...

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    1. Thank you so much, Pam! I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

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  14. Well, aren't you the most creative one! I love how this turned out and thank you for how to do it! Thank you for your visit and I wish you a Merry Christmas!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Sheila, you are just so sweet! Thank you for the visit and the kind words. Merry Christmas!

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  15. Well, Kim, you have done it again!! That has to be the most clever and most prettiest thing I have seen in awhile. Over you kitchen window it is just darn adorable.. I mean it, so cute and pretty and clever. You are the Christmas Queen of all..Am leaving my thank you's under each post from now on. Tired of trying to figure out this blogger thing..Happpy Sunday..xxoJudy

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    1. Judy, thank you for all of your lovely words and I have to agree with you, Blogger and email do not mix, and I think I may start to do the exact same thing! And thank you for your sweet comments about my sign I like this bag a lot!

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  16. Oooooo I need to find some of those gift bags. Such a lovely pattern and the signs you made from it have put my brain into over drive. Stencils and me aren't the best of friends either so this is a great cheat,

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    1. I have to say Michelle, this was a very special bag. I haven't seen one like it anywhere else. However, there are some really beautiful ones out there and I have had to put the brakes on since I have quite a collection already!

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  17. There you go again, Kim, blowing my mind!!!! I love this - it's perfect in your beautiful cottage kitchen!!

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    1. Oh Debbie, you absolutely made my day every time you come here and comment! Merry Christmas my sweet, sweet friend.

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    1. Thank you so much you just brought a big smile to my face!

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  19. So scuttle and so sweet!
    I really like your ingenuity to create when there is nothing that works.
    I bet you could use this idea for a more permanent or other holidays ❤ !

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    1. Christine, you took the thoughts right out of my head! I have been looking at that sign and thinking what bag could I buy that we'll work the rest of the year? I am on the hunt!

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