By Crafty Wrapper
When I was asked to write about my “Crafty Gift Wrapping Ways,” I must say my head got really, really big. I was super excited that someone thought it was worthwhile to write about. To me, a pretty package means much more than just what’s inside. No matter how big, small, expensive or inexpensive the gift is, a pretty package will certainly be noticed. It shows you cared enough to take the extra time to make it special from all the other gifts that will be received. Especially when all the other gifts show up in a gift bag with tissue paper hanging out of it.
Wrapping gifts is very simple and if you have all the proper supplies, it cost less than those gift bags anyway. The most important thing you will need to wrap a beautiful package is the box. A nice sturdy box that fits the size of the gift is important. “Where do I get a box from?” you might ask. Well, I myself have this little obsession about collecting boxes. Big boxes, little boxes, plain boxes, shipping boxes, it doesn’t matter. If I see a box lying around I’m going to ask for it. And with a little practice, you can even make your own box.
The next most important thing will be your paper. I buy wrapping paper when it is on clearance sale and keep handy by hanging on the wall in a closet. I also keep rolls of white and brown craft paper for those extra large packages. Look for paper that will have multi use for different occasions and for child or adult gifts.
Another option would be to use fabric. I once bought a set of sheets and pillows for a wedding gift. I use the flat sheet to wrap the pillows and made a bow out of the pillow case. No box or paper required.
Now that you have wrapped your gift, making sure that the ends are all neat and smooth, you can now embellish it. This will personalize the gift even more. I find adornments everywhere and put them in a storage bin next to my boxes and paper. Anything can be used to embellish your package. You can use toys from kids’ meals, dime store trinkets, even old jewelry. Anytime I go to a yard sale or thrift store, I look for these items because people are always getting rid of them. They practically give them away. I also use twine and ribbon instead of pre-made bows. I haven’t bought a bow in years.
When it comes to gift wrapping, use your imagination. You can give the gift without even wrapping it. A basket filled with useful household items makes a pretty and useful wedding gift. Roll towels and tie with ribbon, add the couples initial to a piece of paper and there you have it.
Super cute baby shower gifts can are especially fun to do. Usually some of the gifts you were going to give are small enough to use as the package embellishment. Pacifiers, booties or tub toys can be used to decorate your package. In the picture to the left, I used a pair of socks, stuffed them with tissue paper and taped them to the package. For a summer baby shower I used a pair of infant sunglasses and some summer toys to make it the cutest gift at the shower.
I think my favorite of all gifts that I have wrapped was an umbrella for a little 4 yr old girl. First of all it’s an umbrella, what little girl wouldn’t love twirling around with an 
umbrella. Second of all, it’s an umbrella. Have you ever tried to wrap an umbrella? Me either, until this day. Because it was for a child, I wanted it to be cute and fun to open. Not using a box this time, I wrapped the umbrella in craft paper. It looked awkward and ugly. After looking at it for a while, it came to me. I added yarn hair, barrettes for the eyes and paper lips. Voila, there “she” was. This gift was a big hit. The birthday girl could not wait to get her hands on it. She was thrilled and my grandbaby was so excited to give such a fun gift to his little friend.
Gift tags are not to be overlooked. I can’t tell you the last time I purchased a card or gift tag. With such a pretty package, you don’t want to add a store bought tag. You want one that matches your gift. I use my clip art program and make my own cards and tags to match my gift wrap and personalize each one.
I love Christmas. My favorite holiday for sure. I start wrapping gifts as soon as I buy them and lay them all over the house to display until I get my tree up. I especially love wrapping my grandkids gifts. They love it when they can find their gift simply by the wrapping. For my grandson named Nicholas, I drew a Santa face and glued cotton balls on his beard. I wrote on the package with a marker “Jolly Saint Nicholas”. For my 3 yr old grandson, I drew a Snowman on his gift. Because he couldn’t read his name yet, this was a way for him to find his gift under the tree when I told him “your present has the snowman on it”.
Just remember it’s the thought that counts. So if you take a little time to make the gift you give unique from all the other gifts, it will be mean so much more than a gift bag with tissue paper sticking out of it.
Happy Wrapping
About the Author:
Crafty Wrapper is a self employed married mom of four grown children and grandma to two boys. She is also a self proclaimed High Class Redneck. She loves shopping yard sales and thrift stores looking for hidden treasures, and then turning them into something unique. She loves wrapping gifts, decorating for weddings, and hosting parties, all on a Redneck budget. Christmas is her favorite Holiday. If you go to her house, don’t be surprised to find four or five Christmas Trees in her home.
Aww that’s so creative. I think my creativity never flows until I see post likes these. I think we are going to have to try doing this with the kids this year since they are older now that way they get to add their own flare to gifts.
Some super ideas here. I hate the thought of buying all that wrapping paper just to have it torn up and thrown away.
Those are great ideas! I will be showing this to my mother in law! Is it possible to be a High Class Redneck? LOL
These are so cute, and the umbrella-girl is so unique! I’m a box-collector too, no shame in that. thanks for the great ideas!
I love all these ideas! I am always trying to come up with something different too…plus reusing anything I can so not to use wrapping paper that ends up in the trash
I am the worst when it comes to wrapping! lol. These will come in handy! Thank you!
Sounds great! I hate the high cost of gift wrap.
These are all great suggestions! I love to wrap and I love buying wrapping and bows, but as I’ve gotten older it seems like I have less time for these things and I don’t put in as much effort as I used to. I need to get back to all that – it’s so much fun!
What fun ideas! Nothing like a perfectly wrapped gift! I hope there is more to come! 🙂
Love this article! One year, for my gf’s who always wanted a pieced picture with a quilt it it, I quilted several small blocks, strung a needle into each block with colored thread and framed them. I used an old cutter quilt to wrap each one, cutting the piece and finished the edges. Two gifts in one, they could keep both or frame the extra one and pass it along to their friends.
I’ve always loved Mrs. Barbara’s ideas. And her home is perfect at Christmas! I will keep some of these new ideas in mind along with the ones I knew when I’m preparing for the holidays. Great article!
Crafty Wrapper,
Wonderful, wonderful ideas. You are very crafty and creative. I am not. I think someone once said that those of us that chose the science field usually did so because we lacked in creativity. And they were right.
These are easy and simple suggestions that even I could do. Really nice post. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you all for the delightful compliments.
Pattypie, that might be the other way around. LOL
Amie, so glad you stoped by and commented. You are super sweet to comment about my house at Christmas.
I really love this post, wonderful ideas..
Just love that a little creativity and love (and patience?!) is really all it takes to make a present look very presenty ! 🙂
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You aren’t kidding about the cost of gift bags. Your post has inspired me to do that less this season and try and wrap as I buy like you suggest. I think I fall into the trap of having so many things to wrap at the last minute that it seems like a chore – but it doesn’t have to be.
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I loved especially your umbrella wrapping. It really is most fun to wrap for little ones, isn’t it?
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Lastly, love your bio! Your my kind of woman!
Wrapping as you buy really helps to keep it enjoyable. By waiting until Christmas Eve, it becomes just another item on my to do list.
I enjoyed wandering on your site. Lots of great information shared!
You have some cute ideas! I’m a bag and tissue paper kind of gal. I save gift bags and tissue paper from gifts given to me and my children and so it doesn’t cost me a penny! lol
Oh, I just LOVE these ideas. They are wonderful. I gave umbrellas for Christmas LAST year and I am really regretting that I didn’t make them into special umbrella dolls first! I may have to give another umbrella this year.
The other idea I am going to use is to wrap as I purchase and use the gifts as decorations for Christmas. What a great idea!
These are some of the cutest ideas ever. You know how to do it right. Your wrappings really add to the fun of the present.
Thanks for sharing your talents with us, you’ve given me the urge to jazz up the presents under the tree this year.
Thank you again for all the cool compliments. Re-reading my comment, I realized I confused Patty Pie with Pam. LOL. I was referring to Pam’s post #12 when I said probably the other way around. Sorry ladies.
And I wanted to mention a helpful hint. When it comes to giving kids toys, I always open the box and remove/cut all those ties holding it to the box and put in batteries if needed. You can usually slide it back into the same box OR find another box. (Add a little tissue paper to help keep it from move around inside the box if needed). This way, when the kids open their gift, they can immediately play with it. It saves a lot of disappointment, when they have this great toy, but someone has to stop and look for a pair of scissors or sometimes a screw driver to get the thing unlocked from the box and then you have to find batteries. This extra step will make Christmas morning a little more joyful.
Thanks Crafty Wrapper for the additional tips. I learned the hard way with the battery thing with my own kids so I don’t make that mistake anymore.
I’ve always fretted over wrapping presents, they never look outstanding. you have given me some great ideas. Thank you for the info. Vicki
I love being creative with the wrapping and the card, and then use the money that I would have spent on those 2 things to buy them a better gift!
i have never been very good at wrapping gifts – i always seem to be in too much of a hurry. i need to make time to take advantage of your ideas – thanks!
Thank you for the helpful suggestions. I really like my gifts to look beautiful and personalized when I wrap them. I found your ideas most helpful. Keep up the terrific blogging.
Good ideas. I have a lot of gifts to wrap for Christmas and I like them to look special. I guess I better get all my wrapping materials in one area and get going with what I have already bought. Thanks!
Thank you for the great ideas. I am the worlds worst wrapper and I need any help I can get lol
Oh I love the hand drawn wrapping paper! My girls would love to do something like that this year.
I purchased umbrella’s for my nieces, I looked at your pattern and I saved the big paper roll tubes from my neighbor and they fit perfect. To finish the top, I put a small rain hat one bright green, the other yellow) for the top. Hope you post some more ideas. Thanks.
Oh my goodness………….I have this box “thing” too. I cannot throw a box away. Every box, big or little, “will be just perfect” for something!
These are some really cute awesome ideas! I love them! I’m going to have to book mark this and come back for birthdays/holidays! 😀