paper bag gift bags

Truth be told, when it comes to wrapping gifts I am lazy and I am cheap! While I love creating unique handmade wrapping, I'd rather just throw my gifts into a bag and call it good but gift bags are not that cheap. So during the holidays I always end up using all of my favorite creative techniques to make my own gift bags out of paper bags! 

Doodling and drawing is a great way to instantly transform just about anything! 

I use my favorite pens and watercolors and treat a paper bag just like a sketchbook page. Yes, it it more time consuming than going out and buying wrapping but it transforms a gift into something really special!

I'm a "use whatever I have on hand" kind of gal and you will often catch me using nail polish in my mixed media projects!

Stamping is just about the easiest way to create surfaces with pattern! I used my rubber stamps to create some pretty gift bags.

I love using all kinds of simple printmaking techniques (I even teach a class on my favorites)! It is a really creative way to quickly transform any surface into something colorful! 

I used one of my favorite techniques- plastic bag printmaking (you can read all about it HERE) to create a messy and colorful surface.

With a toddler around I find myself creating things that are whimsical and fun. These house gift bags are a cute way to wrap a gift!

When I am making wrapping paper and gift bags, Lucy loves to get in on the action and getting painting messy with watercolors (for any age) is a really simple way to make a colorful gift bag.

Note: I rarely if ever use traditional holiday colors when I am creating wrapping paper and bags- instead I select colors the same way I do when I am working on art...with my heart :)