AN EASY & SUSTAINABLE GIFT WRAP IDEA

12.07.20

One fun fact about your resident Bee is that I love a good gift wrapping opportunity. Both my parents have always been really creative with how they wrap presents and I seem to have inherited a fondness for it. I’ve always loved beautiful wrapping paper and finding simple but impactful ways to make a gift look extra special.

Of course, gift wrap can be senselessly wasteful so I’ve been trying to be more mindful about the way I get my gift giving kicks without causing more harm than good.

Last year on my IG stories I shared how I’ve been reusing packing paper from my online orders to wrap gifts for the holidays. Those stories received lots of good feedback so I thought I’d share a closer look at how I’m wrapping gifts again this year.

Here’s a simple step by step look!



WHAT YOU NEED


  • COLLECTED PAPERS – From online orders & deliveries. Much of my collection is craft paper or newsprint. It need not be just the pretty papers you keep. I have a couple of paper bag totes I use to store the collection. Newspaper, flyers or magazine pages will also do nicely!
  • TAPE – We had some electrical tape lying around and I love how it looks, plus it’s easy to unstick and re-stick on paper.
  • KITCHEN TWINE – Any string will do but kitchen twine is usually 100% cotton and biodegradable.
  • SAVED RIBBON – I always save pretty ribbon!
  • SCISSORS – For snipping tape and string.
  • DRIED SPRIGS – I got a bunch from a local florist in the fall but you could dry your own clippings too.
  • YOUR GIFTS – In boxes as needed. I hang onto a variety of boxes in different sizes to use for gifts.


STEP 1

Choose your paper and wrap the gift. Use tape to secure paper. No worries if the paper is crinkled, that just adds some nice texture!



STEP 2


TO AVOID OVER/UNDER CUTTING THE STRING:

I usually measure about 4 times the longest length of the gift I’m wrapping with several inches extra. This works 99% of the time!



STEP 3

Wrap with ribbon or kitchen twine. Tie into a simple bow for easy opening or wrap around the middle of the gift a few times.



STEP 4

Stick in a few sprigs of dried flowers or foliage.

If you don’t have access to dried flowers, another option is to find a few images you like from old magazines and cut them out.



STEP 5


Add a card or sign your name right onto the paper.



Pull all your presents together and admire your handywork!



THANKS FOR READING!

I hope that gives you an idea or two for your own gift wrapping plans this year!

4 comments
12.07.20
DIY

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  1. Kirra says:

    Great gift wrapping tips and inspiration that reusing paper and ribbon can look great!

  2. Mary Grogan says:

    Very nice……….have always loved creative wrapping. A very good article with lots of good ideas.

  3. Sara Pietila says:

    This is so pretty! I’m going to use this idea for my kids teachers gifts this year! thanks!

  4. Nipa says:

    These are so pretty! I always save my ribbon but haven’t been very good about saving paper recently. Will have to do that more, this year! XO Nipa