| rpose of a present is to make the recipient feel | | | | 12. Fold a gift box from holiday cards. |
| treasured, and with a little special care in the gift wrap, | | | | 13. Wrap a gift in a drawing or painting that your |
| you can do just that. | | | | children have made. |
| Here are 24 creative gift wrap ideas. | | | | 14. Use natural elements from your backyard to adorn |
| 1. Wrap your gifts with another gift. For example, you | | | | gifts. Pine boughs or pine cones, dried grasses, and |
| might wrap a gift with a bright new silk scarf. Wrap a | | | | dried leaves are all charming choices. |
| gift for a gourmet with a pretty printed kitchen towel. | | | | 15. Purchase plain paper and ask your children to |
| Wrap a gift for a child in a fun and colorful new T shirt, | | | | decorate the wrapped item or gift bag with drawings |
| and a gift for a baby in a receiving blanket. Tie a gift | | | | and special messages. |
| for a man with a new necktie. Finish a gift for a | | | | 16. Browse flea markets, garage sales, or dollar stores |
| woman with a new necklace. | | | | for inexpensive and unique boxes, bags, and bows. |
| 2. Strive to use wrap that coordinates with the gift. For | | | | You can even decoupage an old cigar box with |
| example, use fun scrapbooking paper for a crafter | | | | photos or memorabilia and create a gift box that is a |
| and copies of old maps for a traveler. | | | | gift in itself. |
| 3. Print your favorite family photos of the year onto | | | | 17. Use stamps, stencils and stickers to dress up plain |
| plain white paper and use for wrapping small treasures. | | | | white or brown paper. |
| 4. Use fabric scraps and ribbon. Each time you are in a | | | | 18. If you have young children, ask them to make |
| discount store, stop by the fabric clearance section. | | | | handprints on plain white or brown gift wrap before |
| You can often find elegant and unique supplies at a | | | | wrapping presents for their grandparents. |
| deep discount. | | | | 19. Create a scavenger hunt to lead them on a search |
| 5. Cut shapes or monograms from cardstock or old | | | | for their gift. My kids love to find their presents through |
| holiday greeting cards and hang from ribbon, jute or | | | | a series of clues, and it builds such lively anticipation for |
| yarn. | | | | the present itself. |
| 6. Make your own gift wrap with waxed paper and | | | | 20. Find an inexpensive purse or handbag at a discount |
| the embellishments of your choice. First, cover your | | | | store and package a range of gifts inside. You might |
| ironing board with a cloth. Take a sheet of waxed | | | | even include a new wallet with a gift card or two. |
| paper and lay it flat on the cloth. Adorn the paper with | | | | 21. Purchase inexpensive balsa wood boxes at craft |
| flower petals, confetti, dried leaves, anything you like | | | | or hobby stores. Paint them and adorn with stickers, |
| that is relatively flat. Now put another piece of waxed | | | | rhinestones, and beads. The gift box becomes a one |
| paper on top. Place another cloth on top of the waxed | | | | of a kind treasure box. This is especially appreciated |
| paper and run a hot iron over the top. The heat from | | | | among young children, who love new keepsake boxes. |
| your iron will seal the edges together. | | | | 22. Tie an old fashioned rattle on a gift for a baby. |
| 7. Recycle gift wrap from previous years. | | | | 23. Use cloth diapers for a baby gift and attach with |
| 8. Sew simple fabric gift bags that can be reused year | | | | jumbo diaper pins. |
| after year. | | | | 24. Create a gift basket. Fill the basket with colorful |
| 9. Adorn the gift with silk flowers or small charms. The | | | | crumpled paper, tinsel, raffia or straw. Assemble small |
| scrapbooking industry has made available so many | | | | gift items inside into an attractive display. Top it all of |
| amazing little embellishments that are perfect for | | | | with colorful, decorative cellophane. The cellophane |
| adorning gifts. | | | | should be at least twice as wide as the diameter of |
| 10. Use rubber stamps to stamp the name or | | | | the basket. Place the basket in the middle of the |
| monogram of the recipient (or a special holiday | | | | cellophane and gather the excess at the top, tying it |
| message). | | | | with a shiny ribbon. |
| 11. Use a particular section of the newspaper as gift | | | | With a little extra time and attention, you can make a |
| wrap. Whether it is the comics or the sports page, this | | | | memorable gift even more so by choosing materials |
| is an easy, inexpensive way to add a personal touch, | | | | and gift wrap that suits the personality and style of the |
| especially when combined with one of these other | | | | recipient. |
| techniques. | | | | |