Thinking Outside the Box With Gift Wrap

When you put time and effort into picking out the perfect gifts for your loved ones, why rush the wrapping? You choose a roll of paper at random and slap on a bow that (kind of) matches. Your hurried attempt results in gifts that are poorly outfitted and are a misrepresentation of the treasure that's inside.

If you put thought into it, wrapping your gifts can be the most fun aspect of gift giving. It allows you to set your creativity free and think outside the box. Here are some ideas that can turn your gifts into stylish, presentation-worthy pieces of art.

Go green

Going green is big these days, and gift-wrap should not be excluded from the trend. You can repurpose items in your home to make unique wrapping paper. Any paper-like material can easily be converted to wrapping paper:

• Newspapers (the Sunday comics are especially fun)
• Flour sacks
• Grocery sacks
• Sheet music

Newspaper and flour sacks are unexpected and funky ways to dress your gifts. Grocery sacks can be decorated with rubber stamps or markers, making a great craft project for children. Old sheet music can be used as is, or antiqued with a tea stain for an Old World feel.

Going green with your gift-wrap is good for the environment and your pocketbook. Plus, when you repurpose paper items to use for wrapping, your trendy gifts are sure to make an impression.

Creative containers

There are always some gifts that seem impossible to package. Oddly shaped or awkwardly sized items usually get stuffed into some kind of gift bag as a last resort. There's nothing wrong with gift bags, but they don't show the recipient of your gift that you made much effort in the presentation. If you think beyond the bounds of pre-fab gift boxes and gift bags, you might just find the perfect container to house your gift.

If you have a fussy gift to wrap, keep your eye peeled for a box or item that it would fit in. For example, you can make your own traditional Christmas crackers out of toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Simply slide your gift in the roll, wrap decorative paper around the base and then tie off the ends with ribbon. Wah-lah! Who would have thought toilet paper could be so beautiful?

CD cases are also great for small, hard-to-wrap gifts. You can slide gift cards, money or even jewelry in the case. Then, add a custom touch by decorating the cover of the CD case with photos, the recipient's name or any fun design you choose. Your clever gift-wrapping will have your gift recipient singing along to a gracious tune.

Tag it

Gift tags are essential to remember which gift goes to whom. The stick-on labels you can buy at the store are OK, but can make your gift look more like a delivery from the mailman than Santa's sleigh. If you make your own gift tag, you can create something special that does more than merely designate whom the recipient is.

Making gift tags doesn't have to be an elaborate process. Glue a picture of the receiver on cardstock for a fun tag that doesn't require a label. Or, place a poem or quote on one side of the tag. It's the extra touches that make people take notice of the effort you put toward the gift.

Finishing touches

One of the easiest ways to customize your gift-wrap is with little add-ons that complete the package. You can tuck in just about any small object you want to turn your generic gift into something special. Here are some items that make great gift toppers:

• Pinecones
• Silk flowers
• Ornaments
• Sprigs of greenery
• Bells
• Packages of candy

You can make your gift-wrap customized to the recipient's tastes with simple add-ons. When you take that little bit of extra effort, your gift can be transformed from a bland package to a grand presentation.

Think outside the box when you are wrapping your gifts this year. It will show your recipients that you care enough to put that extra effort into making it a merry Christmas.