Step One

On the Slate OlyFun, draft a rectangle 19″ wide by 38″ long for the bag body, a 2″ by 4″ rectangle for the gift tag back, and two 19″ long by 3″ wide rectangles for the handles. On the silver Aluminor back, draft a 2″ by 4″ for the gift tag front. Cut the rectangles out with fabric scissors.

Step Two

From the Metallic OlyFun, cut 5-10 strips, 1/2″ by fabric width, per color. If you’re making more than one gift bag, cut more strips.

Step Three

Load the sewing machine with grey thread. Place a Metallic OlyFun strip across the Slate rectangle, at an angle. Straight stitch down the long edge of one strip, across the side it overlaps, up opposite long edge, and across the other side. Backstitch at the start and stop. Repeat this for all the strips, altering the angles and overlapping to create an asymmetrical design. Leave Slate OlyFun showing. Use the same technique to sew strips onto the Slate OlyFun handle rectangles.

When you have completed sewing all the strips you want to add, flip the rectangles over and cut any overextended strips flush with the rectangle. Set the scraps aside.

Step Four

For the gift tag, sew a red, gold, and rose gold strip to the front of the silver Aluminor rectangle.

Step Five

Line up the small Slate rectangle to the back of the Aluminor gift tag. Baste stitch 1/4″ around the edges.

Step Six

Sew 4 strips of metallic OlyFun around the gift tag edges. One long side should have a piece about 10″ long, sewn to the end. This will be used to hang the tag from the bag strap later.

Step Seven

Back to the bag! Fold the large rectangle in half, front sides facing, matching the short ends together. Straight stitch up both sides, leaving the top open.

Step Eight

Fold the opening back 1″ for a hem. Pin in place if desired. Straight stitch around the hem.

Step Nine

Now to box the bottom, so it’s wide enough to hold gifts and stand up. Hand press one corner out, so the bottom fold lines up with the side seam, making a triangle. Measure 3″ from the corner, down the seam. Draw a perpendicular line across that measurement. The line will be 6″ long. Pin fabric in place if needed. Straight stitch across the line. Repeat for the other corner. Cut off excess thread. When finished, turn the bag inside out. Press the corners out into the boxed shape.

Step Ten

To make the bag even more sturdy, on the outside, top stitch 1/8″ from the edge of the boxed bottom seams. Hand press the bag bottom, to form a rectangle. Top stitch again 1/8″ from the edge of those folds. Hand press the bag sides, straight up from those bottom corners. Top stitch again 1/8″ from the edge of those folds. You can straight pin these fold before sewing, if that makes you more comfortable. I didn’t pin before sewing.

Step Eleven

Time to make straps. You can do these two different ways. You can can make traditional straps by folding one strap in half front facing, stitch along the raw edge, turn it inside out, and topstitch two long sides.

Or, you can use the easy cheating method. Fold the long sides into the middle decorative sides out, overlapping the edges about 1/4″. Pin in place if desired. Straight stitch down the overlapped edges. This is faster and doesn’t crumple the metallic OlyFun. Instead of straight stitching, you can zig zag stitch. The fabric won’t fray, so the raw edge doesn’t matter.

Step Twelve

Pin the straps 1″ inside the bag, 2″ from each side. One strap for the front, and the other for the back. Straight stitch around the overlapped rectangles.

Step Thirteen

Loop the gift tag long strap around one bag handle, overlapping back onto the gift tag. Pin the loop in place on the gift tag, at the length you want. Straight stitch loop in place. Cut any excess fabric.

Step Fourteen

Use a fabric marker to write who the present is for. I didn’t write anything, since I’m using this bag for myself, vs. actually gifting it.