Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman
Bark Gift Bag
- 5 February 2014
- click to send Christine a smile
![Cut a strip of bark into a rectangle. Cut a strip of bark into a rectangle.](/images/2014/02/cut-a-strip-of-bark-into-a-rectangle-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Cut a strip of bark into a rectangle.
![Mark a second sheet of bark to exactly match the first Mark a second sheet of bark to exactly match the first](/images/2014/02/mark-a-second-sheet-of-bark-to-exactly-match-the-first-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Mark a second sheet of bark to exactly match the first
These pieces that you cut away will be used as the side panels when you assemble the bag
![Cut a second rectangle Cut a second rectangle](/images/2014/02/cut-a-second-rectangle-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Cut a second rectangle
![Draw a small window in the rectangle Draw a small window in the rectangle](/images/2014/02/draw-a-small-window-in-the-rectangle-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Draw a small window in the rectangle for the handle
![Cut the window out with a sharp knife Cut the window out with a sharp knife](/images/2014/02/cut-the-window-out-with-a-sharp-knife-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Cut the window out with a sharp knife
![Lift the bark away. Lift the bark away.](/images/2014/02/lift-the-bark-away-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Lift the bark away.
![Draw a window on the second sheet Draw a window on the second sheet](/images/2014/02/draw-a-window-on-the-second-sheet-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Place the two rectangles on top of each other. Smooth side facing in. Draw a window on the second sheet to exactly match the first
![Cut the second window out. Cut the second window out.](/images/2014/02/cut-the-second-window-out-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Cut the second window out...
![And lift it away And lift it away](/images/2014/02/and-lift-it-away-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
... and lift it away
![Mark and cut a bottom piece of bark Mark and cut a bottom piece of bark](/images/2014/02/mark-and-cut-a-bottom-piece-of-bark-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Mark and cut a bottom piece of bark. As wide as the two side panels that you cut away to create the rectangles
My gift bag splits ope in the middle for the flowers and twigs but you can assemble the bag without cutting it open. Just glue all the pieces as is
![Cut the rectangles and side pieces in half Cut the rectangles and side pieces in half](/images/2014/02/cut-the-rectangles-and-side-pieces-in-half-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
To split the bag simply cut the rectangles and side pieces in half.
Assembling the bag:
![Glue the first half rectangle to the bottom piece Glue the first half rectangle to the bottom piece](/images/2014/02/glue-the-first-half-rectangle-to-the-bottom-piece-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the first half rectangle to the bottom piece
![Glue the first bottom side piece to the base. Glue the first bottom side piece to the base.](/images/2014/02/glue-the-first-bottom-side-piece-to-the-base-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the first bottom side piece to the base.
![Overlap the sides neatly Overlap the sides neatly](/images/2014/02/overlap-the-sides-neatly-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Overlap the sides neatly
![Glue the other bottom side piece to the base Glue the other bottom side piece to the base](/images/2014/02/glue-the-other-bottom-side-piece-to-the-base-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the other bottom side piece to the base
![And glue the leftover piece completing the bottom of the bag And glue the leftover piece completing the bottom of the bag](/images/2014/02/and-glue-the-leftover-piece-completing-the-bottom-of-the-bag-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
And glue the leftover piece completing the bottom of the bag
![Set the bag flat to stand upright Set the bag flat to stand upright](/images/2014/02/set-the-bag-flat-to-stand-upright-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Set the bag flat on the base to stand upright
![Glue the first side piece to the top half Glue the first side piece to the top half](/images/2014/02/glue-the-first-side-piece-to-the-top-half-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the first side piece to the top half
![Glue the other side to the top half Glue the other side to the top half](/images/2014/02/glue-the-other-side-to-the-top-half-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the other side to the top half
![Glue the other top half Glue the other top half](/images/2014/02/glue-the-other-top-half-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the other top half
![Ready to fill the gap Ready to fill the gap](/images/2014/02/ready-to-fill-the-gap-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Ready to fill the gap
Twig gap:
![I used four bamboo sticks as temporary spacers I used four bamboo sticks as temporary spacers](/images/2014/02/i-used-four-bamboo-sticks-as-temporary-spacers-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
I used four bamboo sticks as temporary spacers
![Glue the spacers in the four corners opf the bottom of the bag Glue the spacers in the four corners opf the bottom of the bag](/images/2014/02/glue-the-spacers-in-the-four-corners-opf-the-bottom-of-the-bag-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the spacers in the four corners opf the bottom of the bag
![These will neatly keep the two pieces apart while you design These will neatly keep the two pieces apart while you design](/images/2014/02/these-will-neatly-keep-the-two-pieces-apart-while-you-design-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
These will neatly keep the two pieces apart while you design
![Glue the top half on to the bamboo spacers Glue the top half on to the bamboo spacers](/images/2014/02/glue-the-top-half-on-to-the-bamboo-spacers-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue the top half on to the bamboo spacers
![Glue in hazel twigs Glue in hazel twigs](/images/2014/02/glue-in-hazel-twigs-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Glue in hazel twigs. Make sure each twig makes contact with both the top and the bottom of the bark bag
![Add twigs to all four sides Add twigs to all four sides](/images/2014/02/add-twigs-to-all-four-sides-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Add twigs to all four sides
![Drape a few twigs to hang outside the bag shape Drape a few twigs to hang outside the bag shape](/images/2014/02/drape-a-few-twigs-to-hang-outside-the-bag-shape-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Drape a few twigs to hang outside the bag shape
![Carefully remove all four bamboo spacers Carefully remove all four bamboo spacers](/images/2014/02/carefully-remove-all-four-bamboo-spacers-l.jpg?inside=600x600)
Carefully remove all four bamboo spacers
![Bark bag ready to design with Bark bag ready to design with](/images/2014/02/bark-bag-ready-to-design-with-p.jpg?inside=600x600)
Bark bag ready to design with
Sign up for my weekly newsletter
Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.
Related Designs
This is my article that I wrote for the Mother's Day Design Issue of Canadian Florist Magazine
Easy to assemble fall leaf and tissue paper gift bag
Sometimes you find such a beautiful plant that you just can't bring yourself to cut it. This design explores using the entire plant, pot and all, in a design
Craft a bark sleigh that will last for weeks.
...ok not really that fancy- it’s made from paper pulp. A cardboard box Yule log… really. In the spirit of 2020- I am inspired by the endless stream of cardboard boxes being...
Roll birch bark into a double spiral to cradle some perfect flowers to admire all winter.