How to Put Tissue Paper in a Gift Bag: Easy & Beautiful Hacks

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A quick gift wrapping guide for holidays, birthdays & more

Co-authored by Peggy Carlton and Devin McSween

Last Updated: December 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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Placing Tissue Paper on Top of the Gift

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Wrapping the Gift In Tissue Paper

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Choosing a Bag & Tissue Paper

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Gift bags and tissue paper are great alternatives to wrapping a present in wrapping paper. However, if you’re not sure how to properly put tissue paper in the bag to give your gift a fun and celebratory but polished look, we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll share 2 easy ways to add tissue paper to a gift bag, as well as tips for choosing a gift bag and tissue paper for the occasion. Keep reading to learn more!

How to Fill a Gift Bag with Tissue Paper

Lay 1-2 sheets of tissue paper on a flat surface. Pinch the center of the paper between your thumb and finger. Then, quickly lift up the paper and flip it over with the flick of your wrist. Stuff the tissue paper in the gift bag over your present. Fluff and straighten the tissue paper until it looks how you’d like.

Section 1 of 3:

Placing Tissue Paper on Top of the Gift

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1
Open 1 to 2 sheets of tissue paper and lay them on a flat surface. Carefully unfold 1 sheet of tissue paper and smooth it out on your table, counter, or floor. If you have a big gift bag or just want to add more pizazz, unfold another sheet of tissue paper and lay it flat on top of the first sheet. Then, rotate the second sheet of tissue paper at a 45° angle so it’s slightly off-center from the first sheet.
- Styling tip: Combine 2 different colors of tissue paper, or combine a solid color with a fun pattern or design. Using multiple colors or designs makes your gift even more festive!
- If the tissue paper isn’t double-sided, place the colored or patterned side face up on the flat surface. This ensures that the design is visible when you put the tissue paper in the bag.
- Feel free to add more than 2 layers of tissue paper! Adding additional layers (angling each layer slightly off-center from the one below it) gives the paper more volume and extra flair when you add it to the bag.
- Tissue paper is thin and prone to wrinkling and tearing, so unfold and smooth the paper slowly and carefully.
2
Grab the tissue paper in the center, lift it up, and flip it over. Pinch the middle of the tissue paper. If you have more than 1 layer, make sure you’re grabbing each piece of tissue paper. Quickly lift the tissue paper with a little flick of your wrist. Then, flip the tissue paper over in a swooping motion—it should now look like you’re holding a bouquet of flowers.^{[1]
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- The corners of the tissue paper should all be facing up and fanned out, giving the paper a fun, festive, and voluminous look.
- If you have multiple layers of tissue paper, twist the spot that you pinched a few times to help keep the tissue paper together.
- To add even more volume, swing the tissue paper to the left and right in a figure-8 motion. This helps fluff up the tissue paper.^{[2]
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3
Line the bottom and sides of the gift bag (optional). To fill out the bag even more, or just to add extra drama and flair, arrange a few layers of tissue paper inside the gift bag. Simply open 1 to 2 sheets of tissue paper and press them flat against the bottom and sides of the bag. If the paper pokes out of the top of the bag, that’s totally fine—it adds extra volume!
- If you’re using multiple colors or designs, alternate them to add some flair to your gift.
- After you’ve placed all the lining sheets into the bag, arrange the parts coming out of the top of the bag to your liking.
4
Put the gift(s) in the bag and place the tissue paper “bouquet” on top. If you lined the bag with tissue paper, carefully add the gift(s) so you don’t tear or wrinkle the tissue paper. Then, simply grab the tissue paper “bouquet” you just made and place it right on top of the gift(s). If the tissue paper loses a bit of volume, simply swing it back and forth to fluff it up again.^{[3]
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- Place the tissue paper in the bag carefully so you don’t tear or wrinkle it. This also helps give your gift a neater and more professional appearance.
5
Arrange the tissue paper to ensure the gift is completely covered. If you can still see the gift when you look inside the bag, carefully pull on the tissue paper to spread it out so the gift is completely hidden. Then, adjust the tissue paper and fluff it up until it looks how you’d like.^{[4]
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- If you can still see the gift or you want extra volume, make a second tissue paper “bouquet” and place it in the bag. Just add as many as you need until you get the look you want.
- Inspect the tissue paper and bag carefully. Make sure none of the paper looks wrinkled, torn, or placed in the bag haphazardly.
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Add your card and any extra embellishments, like a bow. Place the card inside the bag or tape it to the outside of the bag. Then, add any extra decorations to the bag that you’d like. For instance, you could:
- Stick a gift bow (or several) on the bag.
- Use ribbon to tie the handles of the bag together. Tie a simple knot or create a bow. Then, leave it hanging or curl the ends of the ribbon.
- Tie a gift tag to the handle of the bag. Simply add your name and the recipient's on it for easy identification. This comes in handy at showers and holiday events where there are many gifts.
  - Feel free to make your own gift tag, if you prefer!

Section 2 of 3:

Wrapping the Gift In Tissue Paper

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1
Wrap the present loosely in tissue paper. This helps keep the present hidden once you place it in the gift bag. Simply use your preferred color of tissue paper to wrap the gift—you don’t need to tape the tissue paper closed.
- If the gift is fragile, use multiple layers of tissue paper (or newspaper) to cushion the gift.
2
Lay 3 or 4 sheets of tissue paper on a flat surface. Carefully open and unfold 3 to 4 sheets of tissue paper on your table, a counter, or the floor. Layer the sheets on top of each other, angling each new sheet of paper at a 45° angle so each new layer is slightly off-center from the sheet below it.^{[5]
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- Use a single color or design, or combine multiple colors or designs. Just alternate the colors or designs so the tissue paper is evenly dispersed.
- If you have a smaller bag, you may want to use 1 to 2 sheets of paper. However, if you have a very big bag, you may need to use more pieces of tissue paper.
3
Set the gift in the center of the tissue paper and wrap the paper over it. Placing the gift in the middle of the tissue paper helps the paper look evenly distributed as it sits in the gift bag. Then, grab the corners of the tissue paper and bring them to the center, over the gift. Smooth the tissue paper along the sides of the gift to help keep the paper together.^{[6]
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- If the gift is long, place it diagonally on top of the tissue paper.
- Do this step gently to avoid tearing the paper and adding wrinkles.
4
Put the gift in the gift bag and adjust the tissue paper. Lift the gift from the bottom and set it inside the gift bag, being careful not to tear or wrinkle the tissue paper. Then, adjust the tissue paper poking out of the bag to your liking. Pull at the tissue paper to help spread it out, move it around, and give it a more fluffed-up appearance.
- Be careful not to overwork the paper, as it can start to look wrinkled and used if you pull and touch it too much.
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Add more tissue paper, if needed. If you think the bag could use some more volume and flair, or an extra pop of color, simply add some more tissue paper:^{[7]
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- Open a sheet of tissue paper, lay it on a flat surface, and smooth it down.
- Place your thumb and forefinger in the center of the tissue paper and lift it.
- Give a flick of your wrist and use your other hand to straighten out the tissue paper.
- Place it in the bag on top of the gift.
- Use additional colors and/or designs to add variety.
6
Add a card and any embellishments to the gift. Set your card in the bag with the gift, or tie a gift tag to the handle of the bag. Then, give your bag some extra pizazz with more decorations, if you’d like. For instance, add a gift bow or curled ribbons, or tie bows at the end of the handles.
- Extra decorations can really personalize a gift and make it very festive.
- Avoid adding too many embellishments to the bag, as they can take away from the tissue paper.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Choose a Gift Bag and Tissue Paper

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1
Select a bag that matches the occasion or theme. Whether you choose a solid-colored gift bag or one with elaborate patterns or designs, make sure it’s appropriate for the occasion. For instance, a bag with snowflakes on it is perfect for the winter holidays, while a confetti gift bag is a great idea for a birthday. If the celebration has a theme, consider choosing a color or design that matches it.
- Here are more ideas for specific gift-giving celebrations:
  - Birthday: Colorful solid colored bags or bags with birthday symbols (balloons, party hats, cake, confetti).
  - Christmas: Solid or patterned bags in red or green, or bags with designs featuring Santa Claus, trees, reindeer, snowmen, or ornaments.
  - Valentine’s Day: Solid or patterned bags in red or pink, or that feature love hearts.
  - Graduation: Solid or patterned bags in gold, silver, white, or black, or bags with designs featuring graduation caps or confetti.
  - Wedding: White bags or bags with elegant flower designs.
  - Baby shower: Solid or patterned bags in soft colors like pink, blue, green, or yellow. Or, bags featuring cutesy designs like teddy bears, animals, or bows.
- Another great idea is to match the bag to the gift you’re giving, like choosing a floral bag for a floral-themed gift. You can even
- If you’re stumped, simply choose a bag that you know your recipient will love! For instance, maybe their favorite color is blue, or they’re obsessed with elephants.
- You can make your own bag if you can’t find the right style in a store!
2
Choose tissue paper colors and patterns that complement the bag. White tissue paper is always a good idea, as it matches with every color, pattern, and design! If your bag is solid colored, choose the same colored tissue paper, a complementary color, or a fun pattern. If your bag is patterned, select a few solid colors that are in the design.
- For instance, if your gift bag is a solid blue, you might choose blue tissue paper, blue and white tissue paper, orange or yellow tissue paper, or blue striped tissue paper.

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Which of these methods looks the best?

Community Answer

It's up to you -- everyone has different personal preferences. The best look can also depend on the gift and bag.

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