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paper bag crafts

Paper Bag Grinch Craft

December 22, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This cute and colorful paper bag Grinch craft doubles up as an aromatic Christmas present to give to someone special over the holiday season.

It’s tradition for me to visit a nearby greenhouse during the holiday season to view the beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The trees all have gorgeous, coordinated decorations that complement each other in color and theme. The decorations are the inspiration for crafts to make. At the end of my visit, I pick out a lemon cypress plant to take home and often select other items to purchase.
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Lemon cypress plants look like miniature Christmas trees and are often decorated with tiny ornaments as a space-saving holiday sensory activity. They have light green feathery foliage that grows in a cone shape. When the leaves are rubbed or crushed, they smell like lemon. The tip of the lemon grass plant reminds me of the tuft of hair on Dr. Seuss’s storybook character “The Grinch.” That’s why they are paired in this paper bag craft and gift.

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Supplies To Collect

Collect the following supplies for this Grinchy green and yellow craft:

  • lemon cypress plant
  • paper lunch bags
  • green and yellow tempera paint
  • paint pot and brush
  • yellow and black construction paper
  • red and black markers
  • scissors and pencil
  • glue stick and tape
  • yarn and single hole punch
  • waterproof tablecloth

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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The Paper Bag Grinch Craft


To make this paper bag Grinch craft, start by pouring light green or neon green tempera paint into a paint pot.

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Next, set out the paint, paintbrush, and a paper bag on a table covered with a waterproof tablecloth.
Paint one side of the bag and let it dry. Paint the other three sides, allowing the paint to dry on each side before continuing. The drying process may take a few hours.

Note: An alternative is to stand the bag on the art table and place a few sheets of crumpled scrap paper inside. Paint a thin layer of tempera all over the bag and let it dry. Then remove the inserted paper.

When the painted lunch bag is dry, fold it into its original shape.

Then cut two large almond-shaped eyes from yellow construction paper and line the outside edges with a black marker.

Cut small circles from black sturdy paper and glue them to the yellow eyes.

Afterward, thoroughly add glue to the back of the crafted eyes with a glue stick, and affix the peepers to the bag in a slanted position.

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Next, use the black marker to draw a small nose and a deep curved mouth on the bag.

Then draw eyelashes around the eyes and give the paper bag face slanted eyebrows.

Cut a small rectangle from yellow construction paper and write the words “Merry Grinchmas” on it with a red marker.

Next, punch a hole in the edge of the paper greeting and tie on a section of yarn.

Finally, tape the yarn inside the tip of the bag and carefully set in a small potted lemon cypress plant.

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Variation of the Paper Bag Grinch Craft

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To simplify this festive craft, use a bright green crayon to color the bag instead of painting it. The green hue will not be as bright as the painted version but the craft will be just as delightful.

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This lemon cypress plant-filled paper bag Grinch craft would make a cute gift from a child to a parent or grandparent. Who will you give your Grinch craft to?

Merry Grinchmas!!!

More Christmas Art and Crafts

Click on the pictures below for more Christmas art and craft projects.

Washi Tape Christmas Pots
Sparkly Painted Christmas Trees
Christmas Sweater Sheep Craft
Octopus Bell Christmas Craft
Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments
Paper Airplane Christmas Craft
Christmas Turtle Craft
Elegant Angel Christmas Craft
Squish Painted Christmas Dove
Pretty Angel Christmas Craft
Christmas CD Craft
Monochromatic Christmas Trees

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[Read more…] about Paper Bag Grinch Craft

Filed Under: art, book theme, Christmas, crafts, preschool, science, sensory Tagged With: Christmas craft, Christmas tree, Dr. Seuss, gardening, paper bag crafts

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

December 22, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

How to make six different brown paper bag Christmas ornaments. An all-ages, beautiful recycled craft. Free templates are included.

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For so long I have admired art projects that involve brown paper bags or doilies. This Christmas I was determined to use both of these supplies to make paper bag Christmas ornaments. The resulting ornaments are simple but beautiful… a perfect combination.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Supplies to make vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments. Download the free templates for these six different designs.

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To craft these vintage-themed ornaments, gather the following easy-to-find supplies:

  • large brown paper grocery bag
  • white paper doilies
  • thin white ribbon
  • white pearl bead garland
  • adhesive white pearl beads
  • white pencil crayon
  • pencil
  • scissors
  • glue stick
  • glue gun

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Make these beautiful vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments with lace paper doily accents. Free templates are available to use.

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Making The Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

First, cut out a star, gingerbread girl, angel, heart, and each tree ornament from a large brown paper bag. Feel free to download the templates below to help with the designs.

Note: The three printables in this post are for individual and one-classroom use only.

Download this gingerbread girl and ornament template to make beautiful vintage-inspired brown paper bag Christmas ornaments.

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Gingerbread Girl And Ornament PrintableDownload

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Download this angel and ornament template to make beautiful vintage-inspired brown paper bag Christmas ornaments.

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Angel And Ornament PrintableDownload

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Download this star and heart template to make beautiful vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments.

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Star And Heart PrintableDownload

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With a white pencil crayon, outline the border of each paper bag shape.

Make these vintage-inspired brown paper bag Christmas ornaments. Download the free templates to make six different designs.

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Next, cut out shapes from white paper doilies to accent the paper ornaments. Snipping around the designs in the doilies will give you pretty lace pieces to work with.

Afterward, use a glue stick to affix them to the brown paper backgrounds.

Then cut thin white ribbon into 15 cm strips. Tie them in bows, and trim the ends to your desired length. Glue one bow to each ornament.

Next, cut white pearl bead garland into 8 cm strips. Use a glue gun to affix one strip to the back of each ornament in a loop shape.

Make these beautiful vintage-inspired paper bag Christmas ornaments with lace paper doily accents. Free templates are available to use.

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As a finishing touch, accent the ornaments with a few adhesive white pearl beads.

Make these six different brown paper bag Christmas ornaments with lace paper doily accents. Free templates are included.

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Now the ornaments are ready to be displayed on a Christmas tree. Aren’t they gorgeous?

How to make six different paper bag Christmas ornaments. An all-ages, beautiful recycled craft. Free templates are included.

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Paper Bag Gift Wrap

Another easy, festive craft activity with paper bags is to make decorated gift wrap. A blog post by “A Pretty Fix” titled “Four Simple Brown Paper Bag Gift Wrap Ideas” will give you lots of ideas to try.

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Related: Handprint Christmas Crafts

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[Read more…] about Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

Filed Under: art, Christmas, crafts, preschool Tagged With: Christmas craft, ornaments, paper bag crafts

Handprint Christmas Crafts

December 18, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Heart-tugging handprint Christmas crafts using paper bags as a base. Featured are heart, Christmas tree, reindeer, and fish ornament crafts.

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There has been a return in popularity of paper grocery bags, so why not use a few for handprint Christmas crafts? The bags are sturdy and give craft projects a vintage feel.

Here are a few festive, heart-tugging crafts that employ brown paper bags as a base.

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Handprint Heart Decorations

Cut hearts from paper grocery bags. Feel free to download this heart printable to use as a template.

Heart printable for art and craft projects.

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Heart TemplateDownload

This printable is for personal or one classroom use only.

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Set out bright red tempera paint and a paper heart. Invite your early learner to dip a hand in the paint and make a print on the heart.

Invitation to make a red handprint on a paper bag heart.

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Or, invite your little one to paint a hand and then make the print. This takes more time, but the result is often neater.

Invitation to paint a hand to make a print on a paper bag heart.

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After the handprint heart dries, hot glue on a red bow. Then add a looped ribbon to hang the craft.

Red handprint heart craft ready for hanging.

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Offer hearts and tempera paint in white and green colors for more craft projects.

Paper bag hearts with red, green, and white handprints.

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Tip: Adding a little white to ready-made red or green paint lightens and brightens the color.

Thin pearl bead garland makes a delicate lacing material for a heart embellished with a white handprint.

Bead garland laced white handprint heart craft.

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Related: Scissor Skill Gingerbread Man Craft

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Cut Handprint Christmas Crafts

Sometimes little ones swish their hands on the paper while making prints, and the resulting handprints can be a little messy. These can be cut out to make other Christmas crafts.

Offer sequins, metallic balls, and stars for your little learner to decorate a green handprint as a sparkly Christmas tree. Hot glue on a thin, glittery garland and a treetop star afterward.

Christmas tree handprint craft. Metallic balls, sequins, stars, and garland decorate the tree.

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Help your little one transform a red handprint into a friendly reindeer by adding wiggly eyes, pipe cleaner ears, snowflake antlers, and a pompom nose.

A red handprint turned into a friendly reindeer craft by adding snowflake antlers, wiggly eyes, pipe cleaner ears, and a pompom nose.

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Invite your early learner to turn a white handprint into an eye-catching fish ornament by gluing on sequins and adding a wiggly eye. A dusting of glitter can be applied for the finishing touch.

Handprint fish ornament embellished with sequins, glitter, and a wiggly eye.

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The sky is the limit when using paper grocery bags for handprint Christmas crafts. They make an eye-pleasing base for large or small projects. Your Christmas bits and baubles will come in handy to embellish the crafts.

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Handprint Christmas craft projects using paper bags as a base.

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[Read more…] about Handprint Christmas Crafts

Filed Under: art, Christmas, preschool Tagged With: Christmas craft, Christmas tree, handprint crafts, ornaments, paper bag crafts, printables

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