Love Is In The Air!

UPDATE: 

Want to learn more about how to 
creatively use our packaging products?

Take a look at our new blog,

A Beautifully Wrapped Life here

Love is in the air with our new Heart Collection!

Our creative team really wanted a program that would be great for weddings but 

for other occasions like Valentines, anniversaries, bridal showers or just because. 

The Heart Collection of white gift bags, satin ribbon and labels is available 

in both metallic gold and silver. This makes it ideal to co-ordinate with 

any occasion or event theme

All you need to add is some patterned tissue paper or  

solid colored tissue paper and you're got a beautiful wrapped gift!

Want to see more inspiring photos of our Heart Collection? 

Take a look at the February 2016 newsletter on our website!

This collection is available at our retail Store and online.

That's all for now but we'll see you soon!

Anna @ Essential Packaging

Paper Bag Easter Baskets!

UPDATE: 

Want to learn more about how to 
creatively use our packaging products?

Take a look at our new blog,

A Beautifully Wrapped Life here

Welcome everyone and Happy Easter!! To get ready for the big day, we created this quick and easy project that even the kids can help you with - paper bag Easter baskets!

These Easter baskets can be made from any size paper grocery bag, in either white, natural or color. This white bag is a 4 lb. size (5" wide x 3 1/8" side gusset x 9 3/4" tall). We used grosgrain ribbon to decorate the handle, some green sheer Asiana ribbon for the bow and a white fluffy boa bow for the center.

The natural bag in this photo is a 2 lb. size (4" wide x 2 1/2" side gusset x 8 1/4" tall). To decorate the handle we added a satin ribbon

Here are 2 more samples, without any extra ribbons, that can be left plain or can even be painted on. The smaller natural bag in this photo is a 1/2 lb. size (3" wide x 1 3/4" side gusset x 5 1/8" tall) and the larger one is the 2lb. size.

To start making your paper bag Easter baskets, cut off a portion of the top of the bag; how much you trim off is up to you as this trimmed piece will become the handle. Also, the more you cut off the smaller your bag will be (translation: less goodies will fit into a smaller bag!!) For the bag on the right, we used scalloped scissors to make a fancy handle.

Cut open one side of the paper handle and lay it out flat.

Fold over one length of the paper handle, then the other length; this will strengthen your handle and give it a nicer edge. You can glue or tape the flap down.

The bottom handle in the photo will be what the underside of the handle will look like. The top handle is what it will look like from the outside when you attach it to your basket.

Attach either end of the paper handle to the inside gussets of the paper bag. You can adjust the length of the handle by attaching it lower or higher up in the bag. Use glue or double sided tape to attach the handle.

And viola! You now have a paper bag Easter basket ready for decoration, filling and enjoying!!

We hope enjoyed this fun project and will try it out for Easter!

Easter Treat Bag!

UPDATE: 

Want to learn more about how to 
creatively use our packaging products?

Take a look at our new blog,

A Beautifully Wrapped Life here

Hi everyone!

 Easter may seem a little ways off still (and the cold rainy weather isn't helping to convince us otherwise!) but we thought this would be a great project you do ahead of time. A plain white grocery bag an be transformed into a cute treat/gift bag for friends, family or guests AND a fun coloring craft to occupy the kids!

To begin making your Easter treat bag, download an image that you like. Check your margins (in relation to your grocery bag size) to ensure your egg will print in the center of your grocery bag. For this project, we used a 4lb. grocery bag that measures 5" wide x 9 3/4 tall".

Before you insert your bag into the printer, tape the open end closed with a low tack tape. This will prevent any bags jamming up inside the printer. We always recommend testing your printer with a few practice bags to see how they'll print.

Once you've printed your Easter treat bags (and you're using an ink jet printer) let them dry for a little bit so the ink doesn't smudge (this will not be an issue with a laser printer). Now they're ready for coloring!!

Have an assortment of crayons, colored pencils, markers, stickers or any other fun embellishment the kids can use to decorate their treat bags. And that's it!

We hope you enjoyed this post and that you'll try this fun and easy Easter treat bag project this year!