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  1. Midwest Living
  2. Holidays & Entertaining
  3. Christmas
  4. Easy Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

Easy Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated October 03, 2020
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Holiday gift wrap
Credit: David Land

Dress up your packages with fresh ideas for paper, ribbon, tags and other decorations.

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Homemade tassels

Holiday gift wrap
Credit: David Land

Transform plain Kraft paper into pretty tassels for your gift wrap, wrapping the tassel's "waistband" in DIY gold-leaf Kraft paper or any contrasting colored paper. Read more about using gold-leaf Kraft paper in holiday decorating projects.

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Chalkboard tags

Chalkboard tags

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.

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Sticker style

Sticker style

Cover your package with kraft paper, then wrap with white raffia. Embellish with purchased scrapbook stickers in any shape you like.

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Easy tag update

Easy tag update

Decorative and functional, a festive cookie cutter upgrades a simple gift tag.

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Quilt-style gift wrap

Gift wrap and tags

Modern geometric motifs join with traditional quilting patterns and fabric for high-style, hand-pieced Christmas decor. Use stamps to create custom wrapping paper; turn precut paper coasters into ornaments or tags with a single stamp of ink and an embroidery floss loop. More information on quilt-style projects.

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That's a wrap

That’s a wrap

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.

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Wood chip tags

Wood chip tags

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.

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Make a stacked-loop bow

Make a stacked-loop bow

Finish off any present with a pretty homemade stacked-loop bow. See step-by-step instructions in our slideshow or in a short video.

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Cinnamon accents

Cinnamon accents

To create this easy wrap-especially appropriate for food gifts-just use washi tape and string to tie cinnamon sticks to your package.

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Rock, paper, scissors

Rock, paper, scissors

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. Read more about how to marbleize your paper. The finishing touch? Use a pigma micron pen to write on predrilled stones (LakeHouseBeachGlass, Etsy.com).

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Sweet idea

Sweet idea

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.

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Natural colors

Natural colors

Burlap and feathers are unconventional trimmings on beautiful packages. TIp: Wrap gifts early and use them as holiday decor!

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Out-of-the-woods snowman

Out-of-the-woods snowman

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.

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Print package

Print package

Wrap packages with plain kraft paper and decorate with velvet ribbon, gold twine and tissue paper printed with old-fashioned typewriter type.

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Felt and pompoms

DIY gift wrap

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.

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Vintage-feel wrap

Vintage-feel wrap

Vintage-look papers, brown ribbon, buttons and lace make great handcrafted packages.

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Charmed, I'm sure

Charmed, I'm sure

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.

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Recycled wrap

Recycled wrap

Use newspapers to wrap packages, then mix black, white and red ribbons for stylish bows.

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Patterned tree

Patterned tree

Create a unique tree on your package with washi tape and strips of patterned paper.

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Feathered friends

Feathered friends

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.

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Paper strings

Paper strings

String tiny paper cutouts of Christmas trees and stars on metallic thread to give Christmas packages a special tie-up.

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Top with a doily

DIY gift wrap

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.

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Let it snow

Let it snow

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.

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Fuzzy accents

Fuzzy accents

Wool balls and different styles of yarn give charm even to packages wrapped in plain white paper.

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Winter scene

Winter scene

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.

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With bells on

With bells on

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!

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Stylish accents

DIY gift wrap

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.

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Wallpaper wrap

Wallpaper wrap

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.

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Kid-inspired wrapping

Kid-inspired wrapping

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.

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Draw a pattern

DIY gift wrap

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.

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Recycled tags

Recycled tags

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.

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Pine cones on top

Pine cones on top

A wide burlap ribbon, pine cones and tinsel add both natural touches and sparkle to this present wrapped in kraft paper.

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String and stitches

DIY gift wrap

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.

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Jeweled boxes

Jeweled boxes

Vintage jewel-encrusted brooches and belt buckles slipped over ribbons sparkle on these gifts.

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Spice stamp gift wrap

Spice stamp gift wrap

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.

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Sprig of greens

Sprig of greens

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.

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Woven ribbons

Woven ribbons

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.

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Wrap with maps

Wrap with maps

Old or unused maps make creative wrapping paper-especially for a travel-related gift!

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 38 Homemade tassels
    2 of 38 Chalkboard tags
    3 of 38 Sticker style
    4 of 38 Easy tag update
    5 of 38 Quilt-style gift wrap
    6 of 38 That's a wrap
    7 of 38 Wood chip tags
    8 of 38 Make a stacked-loop bow
    9 of 38 Cinnamon accents
    10 of 38 Rock, paper, scissors
    11 of 38 Sweet idea
    12 of 38 Natural colors
    13 of 38 Out-of-the-woods snowman
    14 of 38 Print package
    15 of 38 Felt and pompoms
    16 of 38 Vintage-feel wrap
    17 of 38 Charmed, I'm sure
    18 of 38 Recycled wrap
    19 of 38 Patterned tree
    20 of 38 Feathered friends
    21 of 38 Paper strings
    22 of 38 Top with a doily
    23 of 38 Let it snow
    24 of 38 Fuzzy accents
    25 of 38 Winter scene
    26 of 38 With bells on
    27 of 38 Stylish accents
    28 of 38 Wallpaper wrap
    29 of 38 Kid-inspired wrapping
    30 of 38 Draw a pattern
    31 of 38 Recycled tags
    32 of 38 Pine cones on top
    33 of 38 String and stitches
    34 of 38 Jeweled boxes
    35 of 38 Spice stamp gift wrap
    36 of 38 Sprig of greens
    37 of 38 Woven ribbons
    38 of 38 Wrap with maps

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