You Can Wrap Gifts With That?
Don’t buy new gift wrap and boxes this year, repurpose your stuff instead! From old paper maps to tea tins, sometimes you must think outside of the box. Whether you’re trying to be environmentally friendly, save money, or get a thrill out of thrifts, here’s a list of creative hacks for wrapping your gifts.
1. Cereal Boxes
The next time you finish a box of cereal don’t throw it out, consider it a free gift box, a thank you for paying the inflation price for your breakfast. Cereal boxes make great gift boxes as is or you can cut and fold them into shape for smaller items.
2. Old Clothes
We’re all guilty of holding on to clothes we don’t wear anymore. Why not turn that skirt you wore one time or that sweater with the hole in it into adorable gift wrap? Dress your presents up in fashion–– wrap them in full garments or cut the fabric into the ideal size you want. Use every scrap by tying a bow with the ribbon from the garment’s hanger loops.
3. Pillow Cases
Old pillow cases look like Santa’s sack without even trying. Upcycle your unused pillow cases and use them as gift bags. If your creative juices are flowing, decorate them with fabric paint or stitch them with embroidery or other embellishments.
4. Newspaper
Read all about it!–– Newspaper makes the best free gift wrap around. Not only will your parcels look adorably vintage, they’ll offer the recipient a good read. Using newspaper as wrapping paper is a good way to recycle with interactive packaging.
5. Magazines
Just like newspapers, magazines make news-worthy gift wrap. Your gift will stand out in style wrapped in the pages of a fashion magazine. You can add a personal touch by choosing pages that resemble the recipient or colorful prints that compliment each other.
6. Maps
Nowadays, you probably use your phone to get you places and that stack of maps at home aren’t useful to you anymore. It’s time to change direction and put your paper maps to use again! Maps not only look cool but they’re also made from durable paper, perfect for wrapping gifts.
7. Bakery Boxes
If you’re guilty of buying donuts or croissants sometimes then you know what boxes we’re talking about. Those cardboard boxes with the plastic window that lets you have a peak at the tasty treats inside–– those boxes are ideal to reuse for gifts, edible or not.
8. Tablecloths
You once decorated your table with it so why not use that old tablecloth as decorative gift wrap? You can easily upcycle tablecloths as wrapping paper cut to various sizes. One tablecloth has the potential to wrap multiple gifts for a cohesive look under the tree.
9. Tea Towels
Chances are you have an abundance of tea towels you don’t use taking up space in a drawer. With an array of fabrics and patterns, tea towels are aesthetically pleasing and ideal for wrapping small gifts.
10. Coffee & Tea Tins
Coffee or tea tins are often decorative as they come, especially if you indulge in the premium stuff. These little tins are designed to be reused and make attractive packages for small gifts.
11. Food Containers
After you munch the last Pringle or lick the ice cream tub clean, don’t toss the containers, clean them out instead! Pringles tubes, ice cream tubs, yogurt tubs, and peanut containers are all perfect examples of reusable packing. Use your empty food containers instead of buying new boxes.
12. Shipping Boxes
Mentioning shipping boxes is more of a gentle reminder than a revolutionary idea. The sole purpose of a shipping box is to transport items so it’s a no-brainer to reuse it for a new gift. Shipping boxes are free packages that can be used again and again.
13. Natural Embellishments
You can still decorate your gift parcels without buying new or wasteful embellishments. Let nature be your decorations. Natural treasures like pine cones, cinnamon sticks, and dried fruit make beautiful and festive accents to any gift package.
14. Paint Chip Gift Tags
You’ll get a thrill using paint chips as gift tags because they’re free, durable, and perfectly sized. Don’t waste your money on gift tags when you can simply make them from paint chips in a rainbow of colorful tints.
15. Upcycled “Ribbons”
Complete your parcels with a bow made from upcycled materials. You can make ribbons out of old ties, beaded necklaces, shoelaces, or strips of fabric. For an artistic touch, tie your gifts with materials in mix-and-match patterns.
16. Calendar Envelopes
You old calendars are outdated but using them for envelopes turns them into something new. Calendars are typically made from quality paper with attractive imagery and are easy to cut and fold into envelopes. What could be sweeter than inserting your handmade cards into quirky DIY envelopes?
17. Potato Stamps
So you’ve wrapped your gifts in upcycled paper but there’s something missing. Add a personal flair to your wrapping paper by stamping your own pattern from potato stamps. You can transform spuds into stamps by splitting them, carving a design into each half, and dipping them in paint.
18. Shopping Bags
Whether they’re paper bags or fabric totes bags, reuse your shopping bags as gist bags. You’ll save money and the environment by reusing your shopping bags that are perfectly intact and are practically new.
19. Bandanas
Our hair looks cute with a bandana so your gifts will look pretty charming wrapped in a bandana too. Bandanas make durable gift wrap with an attractive pattern and they come in a plethora of colors. They’re cheap and cheerful, ideal for wrapping presents with a playful display.
User Felixed on en.wikipedia on Wikimedia
20. Condiment Jars
Condiment jars are the arguably the world’s best repurposed vessels. Jars like sauce jars and jam jars can be cleaned and reused multiple times for various reasons. Glass jars are perfect packages for little gifts from sweet treats to beauty products, and everything in between.
