Who doesn’t love a beautifully wrapped and beribboned present? But when it comes to creative wrapping, we often spend as much on the paper, ribbons and cards as we do on the presents.
Thinking out of the box about creative wrapping can help you save on expenses and make your gifts that much more unique and special. We offer some ideas.
Wrap it up
- Brown paper and brown paper bags make for affordable wrapping options and can be decorated with paint, stickers, pictures cut from recycled wrapping paper, glitter and more.
- Material makes for a lovely alternative. Use a scarf, bandannas, leftover material scraps, baby towels or blankets, or even tea towels. Fabric shopping bags will also come in handy later on.
- Left with bits of wrapping paper that just aren’t big enough to wrap anything? Cut them into strips and use them to wrap up presents.
- Giving something to a music lover? Use old sheet music as wrapping. Or try an old map for someone who likes travelling.
- Children’s art, pages from a colouring-in book or plain white paper decorated by your child all make for bright, personalised wrapping paper.
- Reuse containers lying around the house. Colourful boxes, glass jars, baskets or biscuit tins can all be used as wrapping alternatives. You could even try making a robot out of boxes and hiding your gift inside.
The finishing touch
Ribbon alternatives
At Christmas time, tinsel can double as ribbon. Other ribbon alternatives include:
- lace
- decorative sticky or masking tape
- raffia
- colourful elastic bands
- twine.
- edged long strips material.
Au naturel
Add something extra from nature. Shells, flowers or leaves are a good option and if you have time, press some flowers or leaves. Or add a pine cone for some festive flair.
A message from the heart
- Handmade tags and cards are cost effective and add a personal touch. Use coloured or plain cardboard and decorate with paint, stencils, cut-out shapes, glitter, stamps and more.
- Recycle old cards by cutting out pictures and turning them into tags, or by sticking them onto folded cardboard.
- Photos make ideal cards. Write on the back or stick it onto cardboard.
- Make 3D cards by cutting out pictures from wrapping paper and sticking it onto cardboard with double-sided tape. If you have another picture that is the same, cut out smaller parts, like a snowman’s hat, and stick on top of the first picture with more tape.
- Add decorations to your cards. Try using buttons, ribbons, snowflake shapes, beads, and bells or cut-out letters.
Tamlyn Vincent
