Bag in the USSR: How to turn an old map into a gift bag

If boxes aren't your bag, then make a bag! They're not just for gifts, but wrapping a gift in a pretty bag made from a map is a great way to recycle something old into something new, and maybe even something blue! These would also make the PERFECT welcome bags for out-of-town guests if you use maps of your city.

Here's how to turn a map into a gift bag.

Materials and Tools

• Map
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Gluestick, glue dots, double sided tape, or another adhesive
• Hole punch
• Cardboard (form an old cereal box or case of pop is perfect)
• Cording or ribbon (for handles)

Procedure

Step 1: Determine your dimensions. We're going to make a bag that's 10″ tall by 8″ wide by 5″ deep. You'll want to scale your drawing in step 2 up or down according to your dimensions.

NOTE: Make sure that your bottom flap is 1″ bigger than half your depth or your bag bottom will have a hole in it. Sadfais.

Step 2: Measure and trace out your dimensions like so, using any already-in-place-folds if any are convenient. (You'll actually want to trace on the back, but I wanted you to see how the map's going to work for this.)

Step 3: Cut out your rectangle and make all the noted folds.

Step 4: Cut out two rectangles from your cardboard that will reinforce the ties of your bag. Cut out one piece of cardboard that will support the bottom of your bag (this should be width times depth or 8 x 5 in this case).

Step 5: Assemble! Slide cardboard supports for ties into place on the sides of the bag and glue in place. Glue the top support flap down all the way around the bag.

Step 6: Next, glue tab and flap together to form the bag sides.

Step 7: Now fold the bottom sides of the bag in and crease the front and back parts of the bag bottom into triangles. You're going to form the bottom of the bag as if you were wrapping a box with gift wrap. Glue bottom flaps in place firmly and stand bag up.

Step 8: Add the cardboard you cut to support the bottom.

Step 9: Punch holes in the front and back of bag, nearer the sides than the middle, through all layers of paper and cardboard.

Step 10: Thread your cording through each hole and make a sturdy knot. TADA!

Applications:

• Make welcome bags for out-of-town guests out of a map of your destination.
• Fold a pile of smaller bags to hold flatware, napkins, and beverages at a picnic event.
• Hand kidlets-in-attendance a bag of goodies just for them, like crayons, scavenger hunt pages, etc.

Tips:

Obviously, this doesn't have to be made out of a map. I just love me some maps. You can use newspaper (though I'd double up the layer of paper in that case), calendars, magazine pages, recycled wrapping paper, coloring book pages – whatever suits your fancy.

A glue stick or double sided tape works best for me. Regular school glue is a bit messy/warping for this, but if it's all you've got, just make sure you give it time to dry in each stage of assembly so things don't slip around.

Your Turn!

Will you make some gift bags like these? Tell us how you'll make this DIY your own.