While Christmas is still months away, it is always gift-giving season. Birthday parties, baby & bridal showers, teacher gifts and more… there is always a reason to have wrapping paper on hand.
But what if you don’t? You could drop 4 bucks on a new roll. Or, consider these frugal gift wrapping alternatives:
- Give leftover wall paper or shelf paper new purpose as unique gift wrap. Even leftover blue prints would make an interesting wrap.
- A page of beautiful graphics or photos from a high quality magazine is the perfect size to wrap a CD, DVD, or other small item.
- The old tried and true Sunday comics make for some colorful gift wrap.
- Old road maps just take up space in your glove compartment. Use them to wrap a gift for a graduate!
- For a bridal shower, use a new kitchen or bath towel to wrap the main gift. Garnish with a bow and tie on a kitchen utensil.
- Creative containers are perfect for gifts: tins, baskets, flower pots, oatmeal canisters, paint or coffee cans are just a few ideas.
- Cut open a brown paper grocery bag and decorate with stamps, or even just a pretty ribbon.
- Food storage boxes can double duty as gift boxes, especially cereal. It adds a fun element of surprise for the recipient, too!
- Out of tape? Use a glue stick. It costs less, dries fast, and looks smooth!
For more frugal ways, visit Life As Mom.
Bed, bath and Beyond bridal wish list used to be printed on purple paper (still may?). One list I received had about 75 sheets. So I took each sheet and cut them up for crinkle paper, wrapping (strategically placing their name all over the box), a card, and even paper flowers to decorate the lid. It was the most talked about gift there, and it was all free:)
I like to buy a small laundry basket to place the gift in, rather than a large gift sack….the cost is nearly the same!!! It kind of depends on what the gift is, of course, but you can just stuff tissue paper in around it, and plus, it’s useful for recipient.
i am a HUGE fan of the funny section in the paper. with how many papers i usually get each week, i always have PLENTY of gift wrap! LOL
for christmas i always buy rolls of paper on deep clearance after christmas for the next year.
These are great tips. Another idea could be to use colored copy paper for small gifts. It’s easy to write on and decorate.
Great tips.
Another tip would be to print out black and white photos on regular paper and wrap your package with the paper. Just use your regular laser printer. This worked for me last Christmas, I choose old baby photos of our family for each package and they didn’t want to open the gift in fear of tearing the pictures. 😀 If you wanted to add some fun for the kids, have them color a shirt or hat in the photos after you have wrapped the package.
Imagine the perfect wrap for a fellow couponer, just print out coupons on the paper and wrap. Cute!
I really like using the funnies, or the sports page for the big sports fan.
I have to admit I LOVE to Wrap!
I like to use left over foil it is already all crinkled up and ads a nice look when you tie the package with a shinny ribbon. I have also have use fabric remnants and tie off with ribbon remnants, twine or hot glue left over buttons. Another idea is to save the tissue paper that comes in your gift bags and flatten it out again to wrap your gift, same as the foil all of the wrinkles and crinkles add a nice look. I have wrapped a gift in used tissue paper and then made tissue paper roses as my bow on top. I just love to wrap gifts! I save fake flowers too as they make nice bows.