Unique Gift Wrap Ideas

Gift Wrap-ER

There are so many tasks during the holidays, the one of wrapping your gifts can be quite time consuming.  It is also one of the easiest on the list of To Do's to put off until the last minute.  Here are some quirky ideas for gift wrap techniques.

For the gift card recipient - Have you received any of the junk mail in the pretty colored window envelopes?  It is very simple to make your own unique and personalized gift card holder from these envelopes. 

How to:  Cut the envelope in half, horizontally.  Make sure it is sized for the gift card and cut off any lettering that may be printed along the top portion of the envelope, front and back.  If there is print on the front or back bottom half of the envelope, you may not be able to use it.  However, there may be a word or picture that you can incorporate into the design of the gift card card.

Fold the envelope in half vertically so it will open like a card with the window side facing what will be the inside of your cardholder.

The back of the envelope becomes your blank canvas to make a homemade card for your loved one.  Decorate with markers, crayons, stickers, glitter or absolutely anything you want.  No two will be alike.  Make sure to put your "logo" on the back of the card, everyone always looks to see who made the card.

Seal the top of the inside of the opened card so the card does not fall out.  Use a festive sticker if there is room.  Scotch tape, glue stick or rubber cement will also work.  Just make sure the gift card does not get damaged or marked. 

For the unsuspecting expectant grandparents - If you are pregnant and waiting to surprise everyone during this special time of year try this, the gift wrap is actually the gift.  You probably have at least one package of birth control pills.  They can be wrapped with a matching bow tied around them (no gift wrap needed) along with a little note to your parents with the news that they are going to be grandparents.  A friend of mine also had the idea that this could be the gift for your boyfriend or husband as an April Fool's prank.  Hilarious.

For the coffee lover - If you need a box for a non-porous item use a plastic coffee container that has been rinsed and dried completely.  The aroma will still be in the can as the gift is opened, who doesn't love the smell of coffee?  Wrap using foil or material so you do not have to struggle with the paper on a round object.

For the totally crafty gift wrapper - Make your own gift wrap.  Depending on the size of the gift, scrapbooking paper will work.  You can add your own personal flair to it with your decorating skills.  This is also a nice way to wrap a gift for the scrapbooker in your life.

For the last minute gift wrapper - Use the gift as the wrapping!  This cannot work with every gift but with towels or other materials and some ribbon…it is done before you know it.

For the frugal gift wrapper - There is nothing like the old standby of a gift wrapped in newspaper pages of comics, sports or other interests.  Keep an eye out for full page, in color stories on hometown sports teams, many times these are inserts on thicker than standard newspaper paper.  Use coordinating ribbon and the gift looks fabulous to that sports fanatic in your life.