Easy Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas
Chalkboard tags [1]
Trendy chalkboard tags add a personal touch to any gift. Use purchased chalkboard tags, cut tag shapes out of chalkboard paper, or create your own paper with chalkboard spray paint. Write message with chalk or a white chalk pen.
Sticker style [4]
Cover your package with kraft paper, then wrap with white raffia. Embellish with purchased scrapbook stickers in any shape you like.
Easy tag update [7]
Decorative and functional, a festive cookie cutter upgrades a simple gift tag.
That’s a wrap [10]
When you’re short on wrapping time, turn to one of the most versatile items in any crafter’s tool box: baker’s twine. Multiple layers of the peppermint-striped string add a handmade feel to any gift.
Wood chip tags [13]
Use purchased wood chips or cut your own (if you cut your own, wait at least two weeks before painting). Drill a hole in the top. Decorate either with paint (we used painter's tape and stickers to help with lines and lettering), or simply write on the wood with a Sharpie.
Cinnamon accents [21]
To create this easy wrap—especially appropriate for food gifts—just use washi tape and string to tie cinnamon sticks to your package.
Rock, paper, scissors [24]
The coolest wrapping papers are ones you make yourself. For a spattered effect, flick diluted chalk or craft paint with a toothbrush onto kraft paper. To marbleize your paper, follow "Marbled Effect" instructions at the link below. The finishing touch? Use a pigma micron pen to write on predrilled stones (LakeHouseBeachGlass, Etsy.com).
Sweet idea [28]
Folded cupcake liners, plain paper and twine go together for a simple but striking wrap, especially for kitchen-related gifts. Use a mini liner for the top.
Natural colors [31]
Burlap and feathers are unconventional trimmings on beautiful packages. TIp: Wrap gifts early and use them as holiday decor!
Out-of-the-woods snowman [34]
This wood snowman present topper can get a second life as a Christmas tree decoration once the gift is opened.
Glue three wood slices together to form a body. Cut out a green felt hat and a scarf and glue onto the snowman. Glue a sprig of greenery and artificial berries to the hat and the scarf. Attach two stick arms and then paint a thin layer of glue on the body and sprinkle glitter on it. Shake off the excess.
Print package [37]
Wrap packages with plain kraft paper and decorate with velvet ribbon, gold twine and tissue paper printed with old-fashioned typewriter type.
Felt and pompoms [40]
To add color to a package wrapped in kraft paper, hot-glue a series of felt triangles to the front. (Cut triangles from a red felt sheet.) Wrap a coordinating ribbon around the sides without the triangles. Finish with a pom-pom on top.
Vintage-feel wrap [43]
Vintage-look papers, brown ribbon, buttons and lace make great handcrafted packages.
Charmed, I'm sure [46]
For a charming homemade gift tag, cut a doily piece to fit a portion of a white tag and glue to the tag. Glue or tie a red button to the doily. Thread a key-shaped charm onto baker's twine. Fold twine in half and tie onto tag, making sure the key is in front.
Recycled wrap [49]
Use newspapers to wrap packages, then mix black, white and red ribbons for stylish bows.
Patterned tree [52]
Create a unique tree on your package with washi tape and strips of patterned paper.
Feathered friends [55]
These cute gift tags double as ornaments after the presents are opened. Cut out tags from cardstock. Cut out birds from glitter paper and glue them, glitter side up, on the top half of a tag. Draw eyes, legs and feet with a black pen and draw dots with a white gel pen for snow. Punch a hole, add string and tie to your presents.
Paper strings [58]
String tiny paper cutouts of Christmas trees and stars on metallic thread to give Christmas packages a special tie-up.
Top with a doily [61]
Instead of using a traditional bow, top a present with a small doily. Cover the gift in brown kraft paper, then tie on the doily with festive ribbon.
Let it snow [64]
Sweeten a plain gift tag with a few embellishments. Cut a doily piece to fit a portion of the tag and glue the doily to the tag. Punch or cut a snowflake from red cardstock and adhere the snowflake to the tag. Fold baker's twine in half and tie onto the tag.
Fuzzy accents [67]
Wool balls and different styles of yarn give charm even to packages wrapped in plain white paper.
Winter scene [70]
Create a winter wonderland on top of a wrapped package. Use a few dots of hot glue to attach mini packages and bottlebrush trees. Glue metallic beads to the trees for extra sparkle.
With bells on [73]
Jingle bells glued and tied on these packages add a finishing touch to pretty papers and ribbons. Let your creations decorate the mantel until Christmas morning!
Stylish accents [76]
Accent a gift with decorative ribbons. For added embellishment, use embroidery thread and a needle to create a cross-stitch and/or running stitch design. Make the bow out of a cardboard paper towel tube. Flatten the tube lengthwise, then cut it into five pieces of equal width. Hot-glue ends together to form a bow.
Wallpaper wrap [79]
Looking for something a little different, or have leftover papers in the house? Think outside the box for wrapping paper. Wallpaper, art paper, even shelving liner can all become pretty Christmas wrap.
Kid-inspired wrapping [82]
Any kid at heart will tell you that the wrapping often is just as much fun as the gift. Get children involved in holiday gift-giving by offering them plain wrapping paper to decorate. Their drawings, cutouts, stamps, glued-on pom-poms and scrawled letters promise personal touches no wrapping-paper company can match.
Draw a pattern [85]
Take a fine-tip permanent marker to kraft paper (before wrapping your gift), and draw a fun freehand pattern, such as loose figure eights that don't have to be perfect. Layer on ribbons to one side so they don't hide too much artwork. If you like, first adorn ribbons with decorative stitching.
Recycled tags [88]
Dress up a package with tags recycled from pretty holiday cards. Use a tag punch to create the shape, then trim with chenille stem or other embellishments. Punch a hole near the top, and if you like, finish with a metal eyelet.
Pine cones on top [91]
A wide burlap ribbon, pine cones and tinsel add both natural touches and sparkle to this present wrapped in kraft paper.
String and stitches [94]
To create this pretty gift, wrap holiday-theme yarn, string or cording five or six times around your package. Cut or punch out three felt circles to layer on top of the yarn. If you have the time, stitch simple holiday shapes, like stars or trees, on the felt circles before hot-gluing them on.
Jeweled boxes [97]
Vintage jewel-encrusted brooches and belt buckles slipped over ribbons sparkle on these gifts.
Spice stamp gift wrap [100]
Handmade paper purchased at an art store and sheer tulle tied as ribbon give gifts a texture that's hard to resist. Add a personal gift tag and unique spice stamp. To make the stamp, sand one side of a star anise, dip it in glittery ink and press it on the tag.
Sprig of greens [103]
Tuck a greenery twig under a ribbon for a fresh look just before you give a package (or use artificial greens for long-lasting appeal). Wire small ornaments to the sprouts to look like a miniature Christmas tree.
Woven ribbons [106]
Use different styles of coordinating ribbon to create a lovely woven effect. Tape on three vertical ribbons, then weave through two horizontal ribbons and tape on the back. Instead of a tag, use a scrapbook letter to signify the gift recipient's first name.
Wrap with maps [109]
Old or unused maps make creative wrapping paper—especially for a travel-related gift!
More holiday decorating ideas [112]
Click below for more great holiday decorating tips and ideas.