DIY Brown Paper Bag Gift Wrapping

Tis the season for obscene amounts of gift wrapping, and if that's not your forte here's an easy and cheap alternative that still looks cute and christmasy. All you need are some plain brown paper lunch bags, a hole punch, some ribbon, and mini bows.

1. Fold the top of the bag down a few times. You can fold it down more if you have a small present in the bag, or less if you've got one that fills most of the bag. (I'd already punched holes in this one before I remembered to take a picture).

2. Use your hole punch to punch two holes (yes, I sound like Lady Redundant Woman) in the fold of the bag. If I were you I'd punch them about an inch apart (and since this is my tutorial you should probably listen to me). This is where your ribbon is going to come through to tie the bag shut.

3. Choose what side of the bag is going to be the front--then feed the ribbon ends through each hole coming from the back to the front. If that doesn't make sense, just follow the picture.

4. Tie a nice little knot to close the bag. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, just tie it shut.

5. Take the ends of the ribbon and wrap them around the fold so the ribbon lies flat against the bag. This step makes more sense when I show you how to tape it in the back in the next step.

6. This view is the back of the bag. At this point you should have pulled your ribbon around the flap of the bag to back, then you'll tape the ends together so it stays flat and tight against the bag. Doesn't really matter what the back of the bag looks like so feel free to go crazy with your tape. Also, feel free to use only one piece like I did.

7. Go back to the front of your bag and stick a little bow right over the knot you made. Feel free to switch up the ribbon and bows to make different color combinations - or try something else completely.

For some of the bags I just tied some silver ribbon in a bow in the front, then added a pre-made to/from sticker from my mom's christmas wrapping stash (I did this project at my mom's house since we're spending time with our families for the holidays).

Then all you have to do is throw them under the Christmas tree (gently! the presents inside might be fragile!) and VOILA! Instant gift wrapping goodness.