Repurposed wraps: "second careers" for a variety of items

Artdog Images of Interest 

Do you believe in second chances? Second acts? Second careers? How about onsite recycling?  Today I have a lineup of repurposed items you might want to reconsider for their gift-wrapping value. You might be surprised and delighted with some creative ways to re-use things that it's possible you have already lying around.

And anyway, it's almost Christmas! Who has time to go out for wrapping supplies, when there are options available at our fingertips--if only we have the creativity to see them!

Wrap it in . . . 
In Thursday's post I shared the idea of using fabric scraps in place of wrapping paper (among other ideas), but those aren't the only non-traditional wraps you can utilize.

Remember printed-paper newspapers? Well, some of us old fossils still like to read that form of news. Among their dozens of other secondary uses, they can make attractive, economical gift wrap.

Here's another blast from the past: paper maps! Yes, we used to rely on them to get us places. Now they can enjoy a second life as gift-wrap. Designer Bryan Patrick Flynn offers an example here, and suggests we might choose a map of a specific place the gift-recipient knows and loves.

Designer Denise Sharp recycled these old film tins for gift-enclosures, and gave them a special look with a well-chosen ribbon. Here's a creative challenge: what old baskets, boxes, tins, or jars do you have lying around? Could they be exactly the creative wrap-up you were looking for?

Top it off with . . . 
Accents and flourishes make all the difference when your goal is a stylish presentation. Ribbons, bows, and other tie-ons can make even ordinary butcher paper or kraft paper stylish. Here are a few recycled creative toppers to brighten up your holiday gifts.

Is your old Scrabble set a few tiles shy of a full box? Recycle the rest as eye-catching gift box name tags, as suggested here by designer Bryan Patrick Flynn, then hint to your family that you need a new Scrabble game! Don't want to break up your perfectly good, complete set? Scrabble tiles are also for sale as craft items, though that kind of defeats the "onsite recycling" idea!

Here's another creative idea from Bryan Patrick Flynn: use paint chips as colorful gift-box tags. Cut them into shapes, strips, or use as they are, with printed or permanent-marker names added. 

It might seem like a "well, duh!" once we mention it, but if you've done much gift-wrapping you probably have lots of little scraps of cool-looking wrapping paper left over. Recycle them as eye-catching accents, if there's not enough left to cover the whole box. This example comes from designer Morgan Levine.

In the right creative hands, all sorts of odd bits and bobs can become attractive tie-ons to set off a gift package. These are old pieces of artificial greenery and cinnamon sticks, from Handmade Holidays,. You might also consider the potential in old toys, cut-outs from Christmas cards received in past years, old Christmas ornaments, or pinecones from old holiday wreaths.

I hope this series on creative gift-wrapping ideas has helped stoke your creative fires and brightened your holiday a little. Yes, I know it's another whole week till Christmas--but after seeing a good idea, making it happen takes time. I hope I've offered up these ideas in time for you to actually try some. Happy wrapping!

IMAGES: Many thanks to the Honolulu Advertiser, for the illustration of several ways newspapers make creative gift-wrap. Thanks also to HGTV, whose "Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas" collection continues to inspire. And a big thank-you to designers Bryan Patrick Flynn, Denise Sharp, and Morgan Levine, as well!

5 slick tips to make your own wrapping paper

The Artdog Images of Interest

It's December (I know. Already!) Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, The Winter Solstice, Brumalia, Yule, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Boxing Day, or anything else, it's likely you're wrapping presents in December. So this year, on the first three Saturdays of December, the Artdog's offering some creative gift-wrapping solutions.

1. Designer Marian Parsons used stamping to create this wrapping paper--but this only scratches the surface of the possibilities with kraft paper, butcher paper, newsprint, etc., and stamps. In this case Parsons used a wood block stamp and white paint, but those are more like guidelines. Your imagination is the limit.

The ideas in this post involve, as you see, some personal craft capabilities, and require some advance planning. That's why I'm running it first. Gives you more time to plan, and execute said plans.

2. Here's another brilliant idea from Marian Parsons: making decorations with stencils. Use butcher paper for this, so the paper won't pucker. Parsons uses diluted acrylic paint. You'll probably want to make some test runs on scraps of butcher paper before you take on a big piece, to get your mixture just right. Otherwise your stenciling efforts could get really smeary (voice of experience, here).

Don't hog the glory. Most of these ideas are easy enough that kids can do them. If you're going to make a mess anyway--and if you have the odd child rattling around the house--by all means, deal them in! (Even if they're not odd, they'll probably enjoy it).

3. Speaking of children, here's a project that's actually designed for them. First, wrap your boxes in plain blue construction paper.The uniform round circles are made from a pencil eraser, dipped in diluted white craft paint then stamped onto make the design--snowflakes, a snowman's body. Then add permanent-marker arms, eyes and mouth, and a wedge of orange paper glued on for a nose, and a snowman appears. Of course, it's okay for adults to do this project, too. Thank designer Morgan Levine for this one!

4. Here's another ultra-kid friendly idea from Marian Parsons: Potato prints! Never heard of them? It's not only easy, it's a lot of fun. Parsons offers step-by-step instructions for this project here. You've never had such brilliant wrapping paper! Give it a try--even if you don't have any kids around. Big people can excel at this, too.

5. Here's another stamping project, only this time you're using a wine cork, cut to make the oval shape of a Christmas light. Might want to make several, perhaps one for each color. Wrap your boxes in butcher paper or sheets of unprinted newsprint. Then brush the paint onto the cork stamp(s) and alternate colors in a row (maybe you could "cheat" and add a pencil line to follow). After they dry, go back and darken or draw in the line with a permanent marker. This genius idea is from Morgan Levine.

As you can see, these five ideas all require gathering things up in advance, and planning a work-space that can withstand a little wet paint. But with some advance planning and acquisitions, I think you'll find these are fun and easy creative ways to make wrapping paper that will most definitely impress. Have fun!

IMAGES: I must confess, all of these images and ideas were really easy to find--they're from a gallery of 50 Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas presented on HGTV's website. Many thanks for all the great ideas, and for rounding up all the bright-eyed designers!