Make your holiday presents stand out from the crowd this year with playful, pretty, and creative gift wrapping ideas and methods. You’d be surprised how everyday crafting materials can beautify plain packaging, and recipients will appreciate the personalized touch. The one issue is they may have a hard time opening these festively adorned gifts. It’s a wrap!
Black and White Doodles (exclusive to The Good Stuff!)
Keep it simple with white wrapping paper (printer paper would work for smaller trinkets) doodled on with black Sharpie. You can draw Christmas trees, curly cues, and stars as shown, or mix it up with various holiday and geometric motifs. If you don’t mind a bit of marker seeping through to the packaging underneath, doodle after you’ve wrapped the gift so you can plan the placement.
Materials
- White wrapping paper
- Tape
- Black Sharpie pen
Instructions
- Wrap your gift in two layers of white wrapping paper. (If it’s not a rectangular or square shape, put it in a box first.)
- Freehand doodle onto the white paper, drawing Christmas motifs such as a tree, or random designs like stars and curly cues.
- If you like, write the recipient’s name and/or a message directly onto the package.
Yarn Wrapping (exclusive to The Good Stuff!)
This is a perfect wrapping method for knitters with a large yarn stash to bust through. Start with a solidly colored paper base (brown kraft paper always does the trick) and wrap with strands of colorful yarn. Vary the widths of each color, and use tape to secure the beginnings and ends on the bottom of the package.
Ornament Cluster Topper
Source: Homey Oh My
Ornaments aren’t just for hanging from a tree. Dangle them from a package for a festive gift topper that’s a gift in and of itself. These multicolor disco ball ornaments are a great accent for polka dot paper and striped ribbon, but you can use any combination of color and pattern that you like.
Mini Wreath Wrapping
Source: Craftberry Bush
Greenery is a chic and elegant gift topper. Simple kraft paper and burlap ribbon are an appropriately understated base for a little homemade wreath that the recipient can hang on their wall after the gift has been opened.
Snowflake Cutout
Source: Confetti Sunshine
Give a bit of white Christmas to someone by topping their gift with a snowflake cutout. Simply tuck the snowflake under ribbon along with a trinket like a candy cane or cinnamon stick.
Glitter Boxes
Source: For the Makers
Tis the season for sparkle! Give the gift of some holiday bling by dipping boxes in glitter so they’ll be just as fabulous as their contents. Top them off with a bit of twine and sprig of evergreen.
Embroidered Wrapping
Source: Lines Across
Stitching a message into kraft paper creates an unexpected and festive look. Finish it off with ribbon and a touch of greenery, and mirroring painted letters if you like. Just beware that this is a time-consuming way to prettify a present- so save it for that friend who will appreciate it!
Boxwood and Pinecone Toppers
Source: Homey Oh My
Natural and easy to create, these boxwood and pinecone gift toppers are a beautiful addition to geometric wrapping paper. SImply slip the boxwood under string, and glue the pinecone on top.
Chalkboard Puzzle Pieces
Source: Domestically Blissful
This is a playful way to jazz up a brown paper package. Coat puzzle pieces with chalkboard paint and write messages and/or the recipients name onto them, then slide under string.
Tissue Paper Bows
Source: Lily Allsorts
These fabulous bows are nothing more than folded tissue paper, secured in the middle with strips of cardboard (or ribbon). Since tissue paper comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, the design possibilities are endless.
Wooden Beads
Source: Spark and Chemistry
Big old wooden baubles are a stylish way to personalize a present. Spell out a sentiment or name on wooden beads and string them onto twine. Embellish with little pinecones or other accessories. Use them to accompany any gift wrap you like, or newspaper as shown.
Gold Leaf Wrap
Source: It’s Pretty Nice
Transform a simple black wrapping job by embellishing it with a gold painted leaf. The metallic shimmer transforms fall’s remnants into perfect holiday accessories.
Navajo Wrapping Paper
Source: Flower Land by Sara Max
No wrapping paper handy? Make your own navajo-inspired variety by coloring on white paper. Start by drawing parallel lines with a ruler, then fill in the between areas with geometric motifs. Pick your palette thoughtfully but don’t be afraid to break out of the usual holiday hues with pastels.
Sparkly Gem Adornment
Source: Flax and Twine
Add a little sparkle to your packaging with craft gems. Simply glue them to yarn and wrap it around the edge of one gift. A sprig of red berries adds eye catching contrast.
Coloring Book Wrapping Paper
Source: Say Yes
Kids will love coloring in the black outlines of holiday motifs on this wrapping paper, making each package unique. You could create your own paper starting with a white base and black pen, or use the free printable.
Chalkboard Wrapping Paper
Source: Going Home To Roost
OK, it only looks like chalkboard, but the effect of white craft marker on black paper is just as cool. Not all pens work equally well so test them first (or check out the blogger’s helpful reviews). Then write messages and Christmasy doodles on the packaging.
Pom Pom Twig
Source: Rue Rococo
Mixing mediums is a sure way to add visual interest. This clever package topper is a real twig adorned with little red pompoms. Stick it on an understated white package for a pop of holiday spirit.
Jingle Bell Wrap
Source: Sweet Paul
A little jingle goes a long way. Wrap a gift in festive red and white bakers twine, then adhere a jingle bell to each of the four ends.
Fingerprint Reindeer Wrapping
Source: Splash of Something
Cover a package in lots of little rudolphs. To make, stamp fingerprints onto kraft paper with colorful paints, draw on antlers and a face with black pen, and give them a fuzzy red pompom nose. Kids will love creating (or receiving) this packaging, and it’s almost too cute to open.
Splatter Wrap
Source: Go Forth
Channel your inner Pollock to create simply chic packing. Just flick white paint onto craft paper, standing a few feet away while you do so. Work on large pieces of wrapping paper at a time, rolling it up for storage after a few hours. When it’s ready to use, finish off the wrapping with string and a touch of greenery.
Interactive Gift Wrap For Kids
Source: LInes Across
These clever packaging ideas will help little ones pass the time before present opening. Make a mini race car track route, a tree to be decorated with stickers, or plane white packaging ready to be crayoned. You may have to remind kids to actually unwrap them!
Button Wrapping
Source: Love, Life, and Babies
Wrap a bunch of buttons in different sizes and colors around a plane paper base. You could cover the package all over, as shown, or just do a couple buttons on one end. Crafty recipients will appreciate a new collection of buttons.
Pipe Cleaner Embellishment
Source: Oh Happy Day
Braided and twisted pipe cleaners add a pop of texture and color to packaging. Slip a gift tag in as you weave, and wrap them around the middle of a gift.
Fabric Wrapping
Source: Sugar Lander
Skip the paper and wrap a gift in pretty fabric. Tying it means you won’t need ribbon or tape. You can use any beautifully patterned fabric or scarf, or stamp your own design.
Mini Tree Toppers
Source: Shrimp Salad Circus
Add some dimension to your gift giving with a little winter wonderland. Simply decorate a mini tree with bakers twine and red beads, then use it to top a present.
Felt Flower Toppers
Source: My Design Dump
These eye-catching felt flowers are way cooler than your average bow. Make your own with folded felt circles, and string them onto a string or thick ribbon. An all white is classy, but you could use any color you like to match your packaging theme.
Newspaper Wrapping
Source: Matchbook Magazine
Yesterday’s news can become today’s fabulous gift wrap with doilies, bakers twine, lace, greenery… you name it. Black and white looks lovely with a touch of kraft paper brown, or a pop of festive green.
Dipping Confetti
Source: Wantist via Tokketok
It’s a party in a box- or in this case, on a box. To create this eye catching wrapping upgrade, make your own confetti (you could buy your own, too) in varying sizes. Cover a portion of the packaged present in double-sided tape and dip away.
Lace and Ribbon Wrap
Source: Living in Simplicity
Add some elegance to your present with a layer of lace underneath a wide ribbon and bow. Perfect for the girly girl you’ll be gifting this year.
Perler Bead Toppers
Source: Craft and Creativity
Harken back to your youth with these crafty gift toppers made out of perler beads. Simply arrange your design of choosing (ornament, snowflake, heart, etc.) on the pegboard, iron thoroughly, and glue the resulting bauble to the top of a package.
Multicolored Twine Knots
Source: Oh Package!
Just a few strands of colorful twine will instantly brighten up your gift giving. Wrap single strands around a box and tie them on top, leaving long ends.
This holiday season, make your gifts just as delightful on the outside as they are on the inside. You can be as ambitious as you like with stamps, paint and construction, or keep it simple with surprising upgrades to everyday materials like newspaper and yarn. Either way, eye catching adornments ensure your packages won’t get lost in the shuffle. But if you’re not in the mood to DIY, then try out these time-saving gift wrapping ideas instead.
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