DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

Christmas, and unique DIY gift packaging.

Favor Florets Tutorial from Camille Styles
 So unique and ADORABLE!!  I love the colors.  I cannot wait to try this. 

Printable Gift Wrap and Gift Tags from Domestifluff
I love printables!  This is a lovely blog all about crafts, food, DIY and more!

Shirt and Tie Gift Boxes from Papercrave
I know Father's Day has passed, but I am going to find a reason to make and use these!  And now I am going to head back to Papercrave to get lost in all of their spectacularness!

Wrapping without Paper - Upcycled Christmas

After years of spending big bucks on wrapping presents, I’ve decided to put a wrap on this needless expense. This year I’m getting creative, green, and frugal when wrapping presents for loved ones. Besides, I’d rather keep the pretty paper in the forest, on the trees.

Here are 11 frugal (and green) alternatives to wrapping presents without gift wrap:

1. Roll it in Reusable Shopping Bags

Many readers have mentioned they are wrapping their gifts in reusable shopping bags this year. The readers are smart. Reusable shopping bags reduce the number of plastic bags released into our environment and provide an awesome alternative to gift wrap. Give a gift and give it in a reusable bag [like this one from UpCycled].

2. Swaddle it in Baby Blankets

If you’ve got a new parent on your gift list, try swaddling holiday baby presents in a receiving blanket. Very creative, and very helpful to new moms and dads.

3. Can it in Cookie Tins

Who doesn’t have a few cookie tins laying around the house? Get gifty this year by placing presents in a simple can. Vintage cookie tins make especially nifty gifties.

4. Put a Lid on it with Jars

Give a homemade gift in a jar. If you’re not into giving food then place toys or other smaller items in a jar, then put a lid on it.

5. Drape it in Fabric

Use leftover sewing notions to drape gifts in fabric. Add some ribbon and you’re good to give.

6. Bag it in Reused Gift Bags

Re-gift those gift bags and see if you get yours back next year. Snicker.

7. Tie it in a Scarf

Giving a warm winter hat with a pair of gloves? Tie it in a scarf to complete the set!

8. Crate it in a Jewel Box

If you’re giving something small, try placing it in an old ring box. So pretty.

9. Dress it in Wallpaper

Use your wallpaper scraps to dress up holiday gifts.

10. Wrap it in Used Gift Paper

Get some crinkled gift paper and wrinkle it some more. The extra folds and wrinkles give it an intentionally disheveled feel.

11. Pack it in Painted Postal Parcel Paper

Go postal with some simple brown postage paper and add some painted stripes. Get the kids to draw designs with markers, paints, or crayons.

For stripes, I often paint random and uneven lines to give it the homemade look. If you’re into perfection, here’s how to paint perfect stripes.

There are so many ways to put a wrap on gift paper. Got any other gift wrapping ways to add to this list?

Upcycle Craft: Denim Pom Poms

Craft: Denim Pom Poms

Give me a D!
Give me an E!
Give me a N!
Give me an I!
Give me an M!
What does that spell? Denim!

I had an old pair of worn out jeans to play with and decided to make some pom poms with them. I really like how you can see the wrong side of the denim. I think it gives the pom poms some added depth and texture. I deiced to use them to adorn a gift. They're the perfect replacement for a bow.

Supplies:
piece of denim 4" x 12"
String - I used twine
Scissors

1. Cut denim on black lines like the picture above. This will give you one continuous piece of denim string. I recommend making the width just a little less than 1/4 inch and about 3 yards in length.

2. Wrap the denim string around three of your fingers. Keeping the loops intact, slide it off your hand.

3. Tie a piece of string around the center as tight as you can. You don't want your pom pom falling apart. Cut the loops (refer to picture).

4. Fan out edges. Trim pom pom if necessary. The more you trim it, the fuller it will look.

Your pom pom should now look something like this.

I have another tutorial for how to make pom poms with photos if that's more helpful. Click here, if you want to see it.

Upcycled Packaging - Gift Wrap

holiday packaging ideas

my etsy pick of the day today (a set of hand by hand photo postcards by nestausa) is wrapped so nicely, i just had to do a post on it as inspiration for wrapping gifts this year. i'm so fond of kraft paper and the idea of punching holes on the side like that with twine and embellishing it with a lovely seal really appeals to me.

  

I thought I'd share a few of my family DIY projects for the holidays as we head into the home stretch this year.

Wrap all of your gifts in "upcycled" DIY Holiday giftwrapping

Step 1: Cut the paper shopping bag open and remove the handles. Remove the flap formed by the bottom of the bag so that you have 1 large sheet of brown paper.
Tip: Use the cotton setting and iron the wrinkles out of your bag.

Step 2: Wrap your present using your shopping bag, just as you would normally wrap a present. You can add a strip of newspaper or an old map around the present. Another option is to use stamps or a little glitter to spruce up your brown bag.

                                

Step 3: Cut a strip of fabric from your recycled sweater/T-shirt. Tie this strip of fabric around your present. Don't fret if you don't have an old sweater lying around; take a look around your house for items you might be able to use to embellish your gifts. Old brooches or buttons work great as "bows." Be creative! 

Step 4: Using a craft punch, punch a gift tag out of old cereal boxes (or whatever cardboard material you might have around the house). You can paint or glitter over the writing on the tag but I personally loved the original recycled look.


                            

Step 5: Place the present under your tree until Christmas (or Hanukkah) morning!