I am the world’s worst gift wrapper. I see beautifully wrapped gifts all over the internet, and then I look at my sad little gifts wrapped in paper I picked up at Target. You would think that someone who thrives in creativity, such as myself, would be super excited to wrap a whole room full of gifts. Instead, I see it as a chore, and I’m pretty sure my wrapping reflects that – this is the first year that I’ve actually tied a ribbon around the gifts! I’m telling you, my gift wrap leaves A LOT to be desired.
As I was taping and cutting and folding last week, I began to think of ways that I could make this easier on myself. I decided that a few big rolls of brown kraft paper would be the way to go, since I could be creative in the way I embellished each package. That seems more crafty and fun to me than the boring way that I traditionally wrap gifts.
I sought out some creative gift wrap options using brown kraft paper, and here are five of my favorites:
1. Felt Embellishments – I can’t decide which of these embellishments I like more, the holly topper, the scarf wrap or the Santa stache. By Lisa Storms of the Fiskars craft team.
2. Christmas Tree Silhouette – Leave it to Martha to come up with such an ingenious and simple embellishment. By Martha Stewart.
3. Toothpick Flag – Toothpick + Fabric Scrap + Kraft Paper = Awesome. By Sally Shim.
4. Hand Drawn Design – Talk about quick and easy! This designer recommends using a pencil to first draw your doodle if you are too nervous to just go for it with a silver pen. By Kate at Mini-Eco.
5. Raid Your Craft Supplies – Jessica used felt, glue, yarn, thread and pom poms to create these embellishments. She says they are so easy that even your kids can help wrap. By Jessica at Two Shades of Pink.
How are your wrapping skills? Are you already a wrapping pro or could you put some of these ideas to use? Personally, I’m feeling a little bit better about the rest of the gifts I need to tackle!
Cute finds! I did a similar post last week. I’m trying to make it my mission to wrap all (adult) gifts in brown paper and craft it up this year. We’ll see how I do considering I’m Queen Procrastinator!
I totally buy target paper too. These look adorable though, but I’m not sure I could pull off all these cute embellishments like you did. They are beautiful! Maybe I can start during the year so it’s not such a challenge for me!
Oh, I totally didn’t do this. Mine are super boring! This is what I *wish* I could do. Maybe next year. LOL
Lol i love it. We’ll get it together eventually. My priority this year was to have my shopping done around thanksgiving and have the gifts wrapped, not for bonus points or anything but just so I didn’t have to shop the malls with a 1 year old at this time of year. So I’m just proud that we accomplished that, and now we’ve really just been enjoying stress free.
I am with you! I actually do my best to do these beautiful fancy wrapped gifts, coordinating paper and prints and tags and it when it’s done it just looks..bad. My aunt has determined that she is going green and wrapping all her presents in newspapers, and if I didn’t have 7 rolls of Target paper, I’d probably be with her on that one! She has a point, she pays $200/ year for the daily paper, she is going to get her money’s worth!
Love that! Wrapping paper is so expensive, so that saves that expense AND uses what she already has. Smart!
I have done the brown kraft paper for a couple of years now, and love it! I am so very bad at making packages pretty and most important—I don’t have the time right now. In order to teach my kids (now 5 and 6) that they can be involved in the process of helping give away gifts….and not just receiving, I get out some crayons and ask them to decorate the presents after I have wrapped them. (To be honest it also gets me out of having to think of ways to make it look attractive too). It makes for some very interesting packages, but that’s the fun of Christmas with kids! Have fun wrapping and a merry Christmas. 🙂
GREAT idea! Love that.
I have done this method before in a very creative way. Martha really does take the cake at coming up with ideas for the holidays. She is one I admire as well.
I don’t seem to have the gift wrapping knack either. I usually count on fancy ribbon to save the day, even though I’ll never win the bow-making prize. This year, my favorite ribbon-substitute was tulle. You can buy 25 yards of it and it will become your best friend. Even a plain ole knot looks like a bow when you use 6-inch wide tulle.
I love your choices. Love kraft paper.
Those packages are delightful. I only use gift bags and tissue paper. I have quite a collection for every occasion. Merry Christmas!
I have Target paper too, but it looks like brown Kraft paper with Christmas designs printed on it, to give it an almost handmade look. This year I used yarn in place of ribbon/string and bows. I love the effect!