DIY Paper Bag Witch Boots
Paper lunch sacks are upcycled into perfectly primitive, lightly stuffed witch boots with the help of paint and a few embellishments. Full tutorial below, along with my free printable!
Did you know you can take a plain old paper bag and turn it into something decorative for your home?! I'll bet if I hadn't told you these vintage style witch boots started as brown lunch sacks, you would never have known!
Crafting with paper bags is a favorite way to create seasonal decor on a shoestring! I've made a wreath, garland, witch hat and more from paper bags, look for the links for those tutorials below! But first, let's make some witchy boots!
How to make paper bag witch boots
You can really customize these witch boots however you want, to suit your decorating style. Mine have a vintage, primitive vibe. Here are the basic supplies you'll need to complete this project.
As always, shop local for the best prices. I'm sharing Amazon links for your convenience. This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure policy can be found here.
Supplies:
- paper lunch sacks
- printable template (free for subscribers)
- hot glue
- polyester fiberfill
- scissors, pencil
- black paint (I used this chalk paint)
- foam craft brush
- ground cinnamon
- trims*
*more on these below
Directions
Below you'll find all the steps to make the paper bag witch boots. Be sure to read the description below for more details on each step. This tutorial makes a pair of boots connected by ribbon "stockings".
Step 1: Cut out paper bag boots
Once you've printed the free witch boot template ( subscribers, look for the link to my Printables Library in every email I send), trace it onto a paper bag and cut out. You'll want to end up with 4 boot pieces.
Step 2: Add stuffing
Hot glue a small bit of stuffing to one boot from each pair.
Step 3: Attach hanging ribbon
If you're wanting your boot pair to hang, now is the time to hot glue the end of your stocking (I used a wide piece of canvas/twill ribbon) to the top of boot. I also hot glued a small piece of black striped twill ribbon for the look of a sock sticking out of the boot.
Step 4: Glue top boot in place
Carefully hot glue the top paper boot in place, working in small sections. Don't worry about small bits of stuffing that stick out, just remove those with scissors.
At this stage, I recommend making the second boot, following the same instructions as above. Once both boots are completed, continue with the following steps.
Step 5: Paint boots black
Use a foam brush to paint one side of the witch boot, pouncing the brush to get into all the crevices.
Step 6: Add cinnamon
If you're wanting your DIY witch boots to have a vintage or primitive look, sprinkle the wet paint with a little bit of ground cinnamon. To help speed drying, I used my heat gun. You could also use a blow dry, just keep the heat moving, and don't leave it in once place or you might scorch the project. Once the paint is dry, use your finger or a brush to brush off excess cinnamon and work it into the paint a little bit. Then repeat on the other side with painting the boots and adding cinnamon.
Embellish the witch boots
If you love simple, you can stop now. I love all the fun little details so I added a few simple embellishments that really made these boots look vintage and witchy!
Embellishment Ideas:
- coffee stain some cheesecloth, dry in low oven and then tear into strips
- hot glue pearl bead "buttons"
- add lace trim to the top boot edges
- add a rusty bell
- if you're handy with a needle, you could stitch some laces down the side
These handcrafted witch boots have that tattered, vintage look that I'm currently loving! I haven't decorated for Halloween yet, but simply hung these from my dresser to take some pictures. Just wait until I pull out the matching paper bag witch hat!
And if you're handy with a sewing machine, try making a vintage style witch boot from canvas drop cloth! I printed the template a little larger and extended the top for this one!
This farmhouse style canvas witch boot is available in my online shop, DIY Beautify Mercantile!
Remember, if you're a subscriber to my newsletter, you have immediate free access to all my printables! Look for the link in any of my emails. If you're not a subscriber yet, you can SIGN UP HERE.
Love this project? Check out these paper bag Fall and Halloween crafts:
I love this. I can even see them on St. Pat's Day as elves' boots with a small bell hanging off the toe, but I think I missed something. I cannot find the template download. Please point me in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The template is available in my Printables Resource Library, the link is provided in every newsletter I send out, free for subscribers!
DeleteAlways such BRILLIANT ideas Cindy! Your project always look like they just walked right out of a high end home decor store!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to join us over at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party/
Followed and Pinned!
Creatively, Beth
What a sweet, kind compliment Beth, thank you so much!
DeleteUnbelievably sweet! These are the cutest witche's boots I've ever laid eyes on. Love how a simple paper bag can be this instead... darling!
ReplyDeleteLove this upcycle of simple lunch bags, Cindy! Thanks for sharing this week! Creatively, Beth
ReplyDeleteI would love to make these and I just subscribed but I can’t seem to find the free template.
ReplyDeleteI would love to make these and I just subscribed but I can’t seem to find the free template.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining my community! The link will be in tomorrow's newsletter 😀
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