Handmade Gift Wrapping Paper

Have you ever made your own handmade gift wrapping paper or handmade gift bags? Let's face it, there's always something going on that requires some type of gift-giving, and we all enjoy giving.

Take a moment to think about the gifts you've purchased recently. Do you recall the cost of all that wrapping paper? Tissue? Gift bags? Ribbon? Tags? Add the price of the gift and you may find you've spent more on one or two gifts than you might spend on groceries for an entire week.

No one wants to give a gift that looks cheap or chintzy. At the same time, we're all looking for a better way of doing things. When it comes to finding just the right gift box to hold our precious gift, we need to think outside the box-no pun intended.

Stay ahead of the game

• Know which occasions will require gifts.
• Shop early.
• Keep on the lookout for boxes and other items in your home that will lend themselves well as wrapping paper or gift boxes.
• Never pass up a bargain when it comes to wrapping paper, gift bags, or ribbon.
• Find an out-of-the-way place to keep empty boxes and extra ribbon.

Boxes that work well as gift boxes:

• Shoe boxes
• Checkbook boxes
• Round cardboard oatmeal containers
• Cardboard rolls from store-bought wrapping paper or from tin foil, etc. (great for posters and artwork)
• Cereal and or other food boxes

Gift wrap that's perfect for every occasion

• Print out an 8 x 10 photo of your husband helping your son tie his first tie, then use the photo to wrap a checkbook box that holds a Father's Day gift from your son. What's inside? A tie, of course.
• Old music sheets are the perfect size to wrap a CD (use old cassette or 8-track tape to fancy up the gift).
• Newsprint (butt ends from the newsprint rolls can be obtained) is great wrapping paper for children. The sheets are huge and kids have a great time adding handprints or footprints to the newsprint or decorating the paper in their own unique way. Have plenty of paint, markers, and crayons on hand for this project.
• Gift wrap for a bath item can be as simple as a personalized towel. The towel is part of the gift and will hint at what's inside.
• Another great idea is to use a purse or container (also part of the gift) and then hide the second part of the gift inside. A ribbon will add a festive touch.

Hints

• Cereal boxes (or any food staple box) can be turned inside out and decorated, and used as a gift box.
• T-shirts and dress shirts fit inside a large cereal box nicely.
• Ties can be folded into a checkbook box perfectly.
• Boxes are wonderful for children. Simply unglue one side, turn the box inside out and flatten, let the child decorate the box, glue back together (decorated side out), insert gift, tie a ribbon around the box, and you're done.

Remember, no matter what the gift, you can make handmade gift wrapping paper easily and quickly. All you have to do is think outside the box.