Stash Busting Gift Idea

Today I’m sharing a stash busting gift idea. These little packages of goodness would make a great host gift, birthday gift, Mother’s Day gift or Christmas Gift. Depending on what you fill it with, it could be used for any occasion!

If you’re anything like me and collect paper bags in all sizes and patterns this project is a great way to put them to use.

One of my crafty goals for 2026 is to dig into my stash and use some of the great products I’ve had sitting around for years. That doesn’t mean that I won’t be buying any new products – because let’s face it buying new products is part of the fun as a paper crafter. However, I will be combining new products with things from my stash and sharing ways that you can do the same. It’s all about buying what I love and using what I have.

These are the supplies I grabbed from my stash to use. 

• One double sided piece of pattern paper (Floral Impressions), some scraps and fussy cut images from the same paper pack.
• Scraps of any other coordinating pattern paper and card stock.
• Three different sized paper bags that work together.
• Coordinating ribbon, embellishments and anything else from your stash. Things to look for: stickers, buttons, die cut pieces, ephemera – anything at all that matches.
• Any stamps, inks and dies you may want to use to embellish.

Note: this is not my original idea.  Treasure Books on Youtube inspired me in her video on ways to use paper bags.

Project 1

I turned some of the supplies in the photo above into this package full of goodies.

Inside I have a decorated note pad, a handmade card (made using the scraps) and a couple tags. But you could tuck in extra ephemera, a pen, some photos, a flat sweet treat, page flags (for a reader) – anything on the flatter side.

Here’s a photo of the note pad (it tucks into the largest paper bag). If you don’t have a 5″ x 8″ notepad, I share an alternate idea in the video linked below.

And these are the card and tags. It feels so good to put items from your stash to use. I know it doesn’t really make a dent but the more stash busting projects you make, the more it will.

To see how it all comes together and a closer look at a couple other ideas, check out the video below.

Project 2

This version uses a more muted colour palette. The dsp is from the Peaceful Garden paper pack. For this one I used a paper bag, glassine bag and then made a pocket.

There are so many possibilities with this little packaging idea! I hope that you give it a try.

Until next time,

Shopping List

Click on any of the images below to shop my Canadian online store or to find out more information about any of these products. In addition to these items I used the Elements of Text stamp set and Pocket Thoughts Dies (both retired) and several other items from my stash.