Unique and Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

Unqiue & Attractive Gift Wrapping Ideas

Gift wrapping is a skill we all should acquire. Most of us will at one time or another give presents to our loved ones, friends and family.

An attractively wrapped present is like the beautiful icing on the birthday cakes. The first impression and the packaging counts a lot.

(Photo by: Irum Shahid)

It is that first impression that makes the anticipation of opening the gift more exciting and enjoyable. An inexpensive gift that is beautifully wrapped will elevate the value of the gift, make it look beautiful and unforgettable.

If the wrapping is not attractive, no matter how expensive and beautiful the present is inside, it will not be the first few to be unwrapped.

The unattractive gift wrapping will lessen the value of the the gift, making it less desirable. (Watch this space for more gift wrapping ideas)

Here are some unique and environmentally friendly tips for gift wrapping:

1. Purchase a jewelry box and put your gifts for example: necklaces, rings, hairpins, hairbands and bracelets in the box and tie the jewelry box with the hair ribbon and make it into a bow. This way, all the items are gifts including the bow and the box.

(Photo by: Sanja Gjenero)

2. Wrap your birthday base ball bat and gloves for your little boy in the baseball jersey and tie it with a matching towel. You can use the sewing machine to sew on the Happy Birthday words on the towel.

3. Do bottle paintings and attached paper butterflies or birds on it with laces or paper dollies as the gift wrap.

4. Put your freshly baked colorful cookies in hand painted cookie jars. Tie ribbons around the jars lid area.

5. Keep cute shopping bags in different shapes and use your collection of paper scraps to do a collage. Or use colorful markers, paints and stamps to design your own gift bags using recycled brown paper bags.

6. Fabric bags or satin bags are really unique and personal. It is special because you can make it your self! Sew two pieces of same size fabric together. String in the lace or metallic strings or put together a few thick sewing threads and tie into a butterfly ribbon. You can make a pouch by using a bigger sized fabrics. Put in lots of goodies like stationary sets, pearl necklaces, semi-precious gems, bracelets, cuff-links and aromatherapy oils. If you have transparent fabric bags, you can also put in scented dried flowers or potpurri.

7. Sunday comics and news prints (they must be still in good condition) can be your recycled wrapping paper too! Just add in a big stain or lace ribbon. Ribbon that has metallic gold or silver trimmings will make interesting wrappings.

8. Get your kids to draw and color the wrapping paper made of recycled materials! Kids have lots of creativity and imagination. If the gift is for another kid, it will be an instant hit and identification.

9. When you go to the park for picnics or long walks, do take some time to collect interesting leaves and flowers for example: maples, pine cones, morning glory flowers, any wild flowers that have fallen to the ground. Make sure they are not the poisonous kind. Dry them and keep in thick unused directories, phone books etc. You can use dry pressed flowers, figs, cones and leaves as the embellishments for the gift wrapping. You can spray paint them to match the color of the wrapping paper.

10. Try reusing all the color scrap papers. Use craft scissors to cut out shapes or words. Use cellophane paper or color transparent plastic sheets and wrap these colorful paper scraps together with the gift inside. Use recycled tag and tie a bow using ribbons.

The effort and imagination in a personally designed gift wrappings can be as appealing as the gift within. A package decorated with recycled materials will help ease the environment of lost resources, it is also a reminder of the beauty of God's creation and also helps you with a bigger budget for the gift!

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