'Basic' Bag-a-lope Tutorial (gift bag made from an envelope)

My basic Bag-A-Lope instructions are made using an A5 end opening envelope.

Step 1
Trim flap from envelope at the open end.

Step 2
With the opening of the envelope at the top, score in 1.5” from the right, left and bottom edges of the envelope.

Step 3
Score from inside corner to the outer point of the bottom corner squares.

Step 4
You can now decorate the front of your gift bag, staying inside the score lines (for the purpose of this tutorial I just doodled with pens, you can add dp panels, stamps etc).

Step 5 (Optional)
If desired, use decorative scissor or corner rounder to scallop the top of your gift bag.

Step 6
Crease the score lines and open up the envelope into a bag, I put my hand inside and gently work with the creases to form the bottom, the bottom corner squares will form into a point on each side.
Step 7
Apply adhesive to the flaps and stick to the bottom of the bag.

Step 8 At the moment the sides will be 'bulging' just gently push them in and crease the other way part of the way down.Step 8
Punch holes at the top of the bag for the ribbon.

Step 9
Finish decorating the bag as you wish.

This bag is very basic for the tutorial. I take no credit for the design of these bags, this is an idea that I saw on another forum, thought it was fabulous and have now made many of these bags in different styles and sizes. I have been asked several times how to make these so thought I would try making a tutorial for them, hope you can follow it and apologies for the awful pictures, I am having real problems with taking decent pictures at the moment.


You can make the bags with any sized envelope and any size as long as you score the same amount at the bottom and sides. (I think you can make them with a normal envelope, just seal it down and cut the end off so it opens, just think you will get a few more lines, but don't take my word for it!)

Here are some more examples :these were made for teachers thank-you's the elephant candle holder is what was inside the bags!For this bag I added a top, by cutting a piece of paper a teeny bit wider than the bag, cut the edges with decorative scissors, feld it in half and taped it to the top of the closed bag.This one I made for my sister, I simply feld the top over then puched a couple of holes and tied closed with the ribbons.