Little Paper Bag Box

I promised some friends that my first post would be on how to make a paper box out of a paper shopping bag. If you have any trouble understanding any of the steps, or feel I need to be clearer about anything, please comment. This is my first time, so I imagine there will be a teaching learning curve.

First, get a paper bag. Mine comes from the local co-op.

If your bag has handles, gently tear or cut them off.

Cut down one corner of the bag.

Then, cut off the base of the bag.

You should be left with a large, flat rectangle.

Cut the middle fold creating two identical (almost) square pieces. Put one aside, and use the other one for the following steps.

In order to square the paper, fold it at a ninety degree angle. I use one corner as a guide, just folding it perfectly in half from there. And then cut off the excess paper.

Then fold the square in half the other way, creating an X on your paper that will mark the exact center.

Fold all four corners into the center that your X marked.

Now fold each corner back to the folded edge.

Open up the paper and the fold one corner across the center to line it up with the crease you just made folding the corners in. Repeat this for all four corners.

Lay your paper flat again and it should look like this: covered in little, even squares.

Now cut the paper as shown above. creating two triangles. DO NOT cut all the way through, just two little squares in; leaving all sides fully attached to the four squares in the middle.

Next fold the tip of your triangle into the center and then fold the two side pieces of the triangle in so they stick up.

Repeat on the other triangle so you're left with this.

Gather two of the excess triangle pieces together and fold over them so the sides are held in place. Repeat on the other side.

And, viola, you have your box lid.

We'll use the other square for the base of the box, but we can't square it exactly the same because they have to be slightly different sizes to fit together. So, when you square the other side, cut off an extra centimeter or so of the paper so that it will be small enough to fit, but big enough to hold tight into the top box. Once you have your slightly smaller square, fold it exactly the same as the top piece.

Ta-Da! You have a little box to use however your heart desires.

A few pro-tips: Tape the very center of the box where the four corners meet to make sure it won't come unfolded. You'll notice the box is quite flimsy, if you cut out a piece of a cereal box that is the same size as the base of the box, you can slip it under the four corners before you tape it to give the base some strength. Alternatively, you can cut out pretty pictures from a magazine or calendar and tape them around the outside and inside of the box to both strengthen it and help it look prettier.

I really hope you're able to make this box and you find something useful for it. I use them as catch-alls around the house or, if they're decorated nicely, as gift-boxes. 

Good luck and let me know if you have any trouble!