Clever and Useful Ways of
DIY Gift Wrapping
So, you’ve picked out the perfect gift. What are you going to
do? Just throw it in a paper bag and
hand it over? While it might be the easiest way to deliver a gift, taking the
extra time to make the packaging match the present can really add that extra wow-factor
to your gift.
Gift wrapping and packaging can also be a fun DIY craft
project. Spark your creativity with this checklist for discovering interesting
and unique ways to wrap a gift with your own special flair:
Know your Audience
Just like gift buying, gift wrapping should reflect the person
you are gifting to, as well as yourself. Creating a theme for your present is a vital
part of the wrapping process.
Get to know your subject’s likes to find the best possible
wrapping paper. For a child’s gift, you
might want to use the comics section of the newspaper or pages from a coloring
book. A fan of Disney is sure to enjoy something with their favorite
princesses on top.
Stationery stores are filled with a wealth of ideas. Stamps are
a great way to put some personality into boring plain paper. You can turn a brown grocery bag into something special
with colorful stamps. There’s sure to be plenty of options of stamps, like
animals, transportation and flowers.
Stickers of all shapes and sizes can also usually be found in
stationery stores. There will be several more options for stickers, so that may
be the way to go for the person with more specialized tastes.
Another way to turn boring wrapping paper into something unique
is by using chalkboard markers. Dark
paper can transform into an artistic canvas. This is a great option if you feel
confident in your penmanship or artistic ability. You can search online to find
a plethora of artistic designs for chalkboard markers.
Repurposing Materials
The best gift wrapping material may already be in your home
without even knowing it. At times, the things we take for granted can be
repurposed into smart gifting.
While you may be
inclined to toss mason jars and wine bottles into the recycling bin, they can
actually be used to store smaller gifts, such as candy or baked goods. Your
kitchen might be filled with things that seem like trash but can be put to
perfect use.
An oven mitt is another such item that can be used as a gift
bag if the present is the right size. The
wrapping becomes like a bonus gift. It’s especially perfect if your gift is
related to cooking.
Other materials that can be repurposed into great gift
containers include flower pots, hat and shoe boxes and tins.
With a Bow on Top
The best-wrapped gifts come with a little something special on
top. Sure, you can be boring and buy a 50-cent ribbon at the store and just
stick it on, but where’s the fun in that?
A newspaper ribbon
can be cut in any number of ways. The internet is a great resource for finding
tutorials on gift-wrapping ideas. Origami would also surely look pleasant on top of your present,
whether it’s a classic crane, tulip or whatever your busy fingers can fold.
While these methods take a bit of creativity, it is ultimately worth it.
On the other hand, if your artistic skills are lacking, there
are still other cool toppings. Candy, plastic flowers and playing cards are
among the other creative toppers you can include.
Remember, when it comes to wrapping your present, let your
imagination and creativity take over; you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Marcela De Vivo
is a freelance writer in Los Angeles who writes about a variety of topics,
including marketing, health and technology. As a very creative individual, she
loves finding new ways to make her gifts truly stand out with unique
gift-wrapping ideas.
Looking Ahead:
♥ If you participate in Wordless Wednesday be sure to stop back here this afternoon anytime after 12 PM US EST, and link up! I love to see what you all have to share each week :)
♥ Thursday is my designated day of the week where I will reveal some things about myself that you may not know by just reading my blog alone, in my post titled "The Girl Behind the Blog". Last week I shared my tendency to get lost, and I was very surprised to find that there are others out there just like me!
♥ And last but not least, if you love blog parties like I do, I also host a NO RULES Weekend Blog Party beginning Thursday afternoons. This is a fun one, because you can share anything you like! I want to shout out a GIANT THANK YOU to all of last week's participants! You help to make the party a huge success!
♥ And in between I always have some other fun things to share!
