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Creating a home + life you love

Christmas· Craft Ideas· DIY· Dollar Store Projects· Free Stuff· Gift Wrap· How To Decorate· How To Save Money· Scrapbook Paper Projects· Thrifty Finds· Thrifty Living

Pretty {and FREE} Gift Wrap

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Each year I watch at least two large garbage sacks of gift wraps, ribbons, tissue and bows head for the garage to mostly be thrown out.  I save every bag, flatten and reuse the tissue, but there is still so much leftover.  Not to mention what good quality gift wrap can cost for a pile of presents.  So in an attempt to see if I could create pretty gift wrap from found objects in my home, or free items while I am out running errands, here are a couple ideas I came up with.
 
 
I used brown kraft paper (can be found at the Dollar Store or WalMart) to wrap one gift, and it would have looked really pretty with twine or raffia around it.  But I realized something.  By taking a very basic item and adding an over the top flourish to it, it looks pretty high-end and unique don’t you think?  I pulled some trims and fancies from my sewing bins and found some inexpensive lace that I have had for-ev-ah.  Not only would this look gorgeous under a Christmas tree, but what about birthday’s, Mother’s Day…we can be creative and thrifty when we wrap all year.

 
Next I wrapped a book in some newspaper I picked up while leaving the library last week.  Again, really basic wrap with a pretty ribbon and little silk flower hot-glued on.  The ribbons, lace and flower could all be used again for crafting, and the kraft paper could be used to color on.  My kids LOVE it when I tape a large piece of kraft paper or butcher paper to the kitchen table.  They color on it for days!
Some other items that you can wrap gifts in that are free or can be used again are:
  • fabric
  • a fun cereal box with yarn and crayons tied around it for a child’s gift
  • burlap and pretty ric-rac
  • book pages taped together to form a small sheet of gift wrap
  • spray paint a coffee can and place a plant or cellophane wrapped goodie inside with ribbons on the top
  • scrap book paper for small boxes
  • a square cut from an unwanted sweater , hot glued in place and baker’s twine wrapped around it
 
I hope this has inspired you to make the outside of your gift just as creative and thoughtful as the contents on the inside.  And, if you can make something gorgeous on the cheap {or free} you are awesome.  As always, thank you for reading, I appreciate you so much.  Hugs from me to you 🙂
 
xoxo, Tanya



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Friday

Sunday, http://itssoverycheri.com/2012/10/14/its-party-time-linky/

Sisters Of The Wild West, Just Us Four, Nifty Thrifty Things
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Monday
Making The World Cuter Monday , Be Colorful, DIY Home Sweet Home,Covered in Grace, Between Naps On The Porch, Craft O Maniac, The Southern Institute, Keeping It Simple, Skip To My Lou,
Brassy Apple, Delectable Home, C.R.A.F.T, Get Outta My Head Please, Krafty Kat (button below)
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/07/cuter-monday/, The Dedicated House, Alderberry Hill (button below), Kampen Lane Designs (button below), My Favorite Finds, http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/08/making-the-world-cuter-2/, Just Dawnelle, Mad In Crafts

Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia,Sugar Bee Crafts, A Diamond In The Stuff, Home Stories A to Z, Reasons To Skip Housework, Domestically Speaking, How To Nest For Less, Organize & DecorateEverything, Ladybug Blessings, Cherished Bliss, The DIY Dreamer,The Sasse Life, The Winthrop Chronicles (button below), Cozy Little House, Homework (button below), Organizing Home Life, Today’s Creative Blog, House On The Way, The Inspired Room, TheNY Melrose Family

Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style, Someday Crafts, Ginger Snap Crafts, Clean & Scentsible, The Trendy Treehouse, Uncommon Designs, Southern Lovely, Lil’ Luna (button below)
Family Home and Life, Practically Functional, Vintage Gwen, Rae Gun Ramblings, The CSI Project, I Gotta Create, Tales Of A Trophy Wife, Pincushion Creations, Adorned From Above, The Style Sisters, http://www.howdy-honey.com/2012/11/wanderlust-wednesday-3-christmas-signs.html, http://simplykierste.com/

Thursday
Delightful Order,The Shabby Creek Cottage Somewhat Simple
Embracing Change, House Of Hepworths, 52 Mantels, Thrifty Decorating, Not Just A Housewife, Beyond The Picket Fence, AKA Design, Crafty Scrappy Happy,Christina’s Adventures, The 36th Avenue,Johnny In A Dress
, Hubby Made Me, Lil Pink Pocket, Two Yellow Birds Decor, One Artsy Mama, Saving 4 Six

Totally Transformed Tuesday


Liz Marie BlogI Heart Nap Time

Lil\'Luna









mop it up mondays



homework
UndertheTableandDreaming


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Comments

  12. What great, unique ways to wrap gifts. I love the bit of lace around the brown package. That gift would tempt me to open it and then I would save that lovely lace. What a great reminder that we don't have to rush out and buy store bought wrapping paper.

    Reply

  24. So pretty!! Though it makes me a teeny bit sad to wrap something like that, then watch someone throw all the wrappings away, while the frugal crafter inside of me is screaming "This could be used again!!"

    Reply

  27. Seriously SO so so beautiful Tanya! I adore your gift wrap! 🙂 Thank you sharing!
    Jaime from Crafty Scrappy Happy
    ps I am pinning to our Happy Hour Link Party Feature Board!

    Reply

  28. Beautiful Creative Wrapping Ideas… last Christmas I cut up the brown paper Grocery Bags and used them as Gift Wrap tied with colorful Yarn and the G-Kids Loved it. Saves so much $$$ and allows Creativity to surge as you start to look with Fresh Eyes at those everyday items around you that can be Transformed into Christmas Magic!

    Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert… Dawn… The

    Reply

  30. You are so talented!! We hope you will come back this week! Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop. This weeks party starts at 12:01AM on Wednesday and runs through Sunday night. Have a great week.
    Debi, Joye and Myrna (The Busy Bee's), Linda (Two Succulent Sisters)

    Reply

  35. SO pretty Tanya! I love the lace. 🙂

    Thanks so much for linking up last week at The Humble Brag!!
    The Silhouette Cameo giveaway is still going strong and you can get MORE ENTRIES by signing up for link party email reminders, sharing the giveaway on FB with your readers, and linking up again. Hope to see you there tomorrow.

    Reply

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