Paper Bag Flower Garland (Using a Trader Joe’s Bag)

I’m joining a few friends to share a flower craft. And since we just received about 18 inches of snow, I needed to use what I had on hand. It just so happens that I love a craft that uses something you already have. This one starts with a simple paper bag from Trader Joe’s and turns into the sweetest little flower garland. It takes just a few supplies and doesn’t require perfection, which might be my favorite part.

The flowers are made from strips of the paper bag, and the centers are just watercolor circles. It’s simple, a little nostalgic, like something I would have made with my kids on a snow day when they were little.

What You’ll Need

A Trader Joe’s paper bag
Watercolor paper or heavy white cardstock
Watercolors (I used warm gold tones)
Paintbrushes
A circle punch (about 1½”)
Scissors
Stapler
Glue stick
Green twine (I have this little crate of 24 different colors of twine)

Step 1: Paint the Centers

Start by painting loose watercolor circles on white paper. Don’t overthink them — just simple swirls, dots, or even a little crosshatch pattern. I stayed in warm gold tones, but you could use any color and mix it up.

Let the paper dry completely, then use a punch or scissors to cut out a circle for the flower centers.

Step 2: Cut the Paper Bag Strips

Cut the Trader Joe’s bag into strips about 1/2 inch wide. Some of mine include the red and brown lettering of the graphics, which adds a little interest. Others are just plain brown — I like mixing both.

Each flower uses 4 strips that are about 11″ long.

Step 3: Form the Flower

Layer the strips in a starburst pattern, overlapping them in the center. Staple right through the middle to secure them.

Then gently loop each strip upward and hold the ends closer to the center, forming petals. The paper bag has just enough structure to hold its shape. Then staple in the center to secure the shape.

Once your petals are formed, glue one of the painted watercolor circles over the stapled center.

Step 4: Make It a Garland

To turn the flowers into a garland by threading green twine through them. Space them evenly and let the twine drape naturally. I used bright spring green to represent a vine or stem.

It’s sweet, hung across a kitchen window or draped on my modern black-and-white Enzo Mari Apple Pear poster.

I love that this uses something that would normally be recycled. There’s something satisfying about turning a grocery bag into something you want to keep, at least for a little while.

It’s simple, imperfect, and easy — which might be exactly what we all need right now.

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