Pinched Star bag – Traditions of Christmas

Pinched Star bag – Traditions of Christmas. Welcome to Week 11 of 12 of my Christmas Countdown Series. Today’s project is a Pinched Star bag made with the Traditions of Christmas 12″x 12″ (30.5 x 30.5 cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Reviving an old gift packaging technique

Many moons ago, I was asked to do a demonstration for a team quarterly meeting on gift packaging using the Gift Bag punch board. One of the samples I made was a Pinched Star bag. You can see the post HERE and that was way back in July 2015! Almost 10 years on, the video looks a bit dated but of course, without the Gift Bag punch board, I had to create an alternative way to make it.

Pinched Star Bag

It will hold a small bottle of bubble bath, a bath bomb or something similar which will fit. If the bag is too big, you can always insert a small amount of tissue paper in it to prevent the item from rattling around.

The one on the left uses the Traditions of Christmas suite and the one on the right is made from the Peaceful Garden Suite so that it would coordinate with the bath bomb and bubble bath bottle. Both items are from Baylis & Harding’s Fuzzy Duck range.

Pinched start bag template

The template was cut and scored on standard card stock, but it is better to construct it from Designer Series Papers to get a more crisp look after it has been burnished. Card stock is too thick.

1. Cut DSP 11 ⅜” x 8 ⅜” (28.9 cm x 21.3 cm). These are direct conversions hence the funny metric numbers.
2. Long side score at 1 ¾”, 3 ½”, 5 ¼”, 7”, 8 ¾”, 10 ½” ((4.4 cm, 8.9 cm, 13.3 cm, 17.8 cm, 22.2 cm, 26.7 cm).
3. Mark centre of each panel at ⅞”, 2 ⅝”, 4 ⅜”, 6 ⅛”, 7 ⅞”, 9 ⅝” ((2.2 cm, 6.6 cm, 11.1 cm, 15.6 cm, 20 cm, 24.4 cm). Score diagonally as shown on diagram. Tip : score the ones in the same direction, then switch and score in the other direction.
4. Orient card stock so that the short side is at the top and score one side at 1 ⅜” (3.5 cm).
5. Make a V shaped cut at shown in diagram along the bottom tabs and cut tab at the end where the join will be.
6. Punch 2 circles in coordinating colour card stock for each pinched star bag.
7. Scraps of Basic White card stock, glimmer paper and all season velvet paper (white).

Assembling Pinched Star bag

Joining the ends together

1. Fold side tab over as pictured above, apply tear n’ tape on the folded tab as shown.
2. Join ends together as pictured on the right.

Attaching circle anchors

1. I used a 2 ½” circle punch but it doesn’t seem to be available, so you can use the 2 ⅜” instead. Apply adhesive and fold opposite flaps, then adhere to circle – I should’ve have left a gap rather than butting up both ends together. There is room on either side for you to reach inside the box in order to for it to bond together securely.
2. Apply tear n- tape to remaining flaps, it grabs hold much more easily, but don’t stick it down too hard in case you need to adjust it.
3. Once you’re happy with the shape, adhere remaining circle on top as pictured on right.

Punching holes for ribbon

1. Pinch top (3 on each side) and punch holes for ribbon as pictured on left.
2. Thread ribbon or cord through and add your gift and the tag before you tie the bow to finish.
3. Embellish tags as desired.

Supply list

Listed below is the supply list. Just click on the picture to take you directly to the item in my online store.

Product List