Reader hack: uses for leftover giftwrap
Perhaps you have found storing wrapping paper for a year awkward or have just a little that you are trying to use up. I've repurposed wrapping numerous ways. Here are a few of my favorite wrapping paper hacks:
- Tablecloth: Depending upon the design, you've got yourself an easy clean up cover for your dining table.
- Tablecloth (part 2): Or, turn it around and display the white side. This serves the same purpose as a tablecloth with some added fun. Draw, color, or paint on the white table covering for some family fun.
- Origami: If you have just a bit of wrapping paper left, cut squares and make some festive paper cranes.
- A makeshift sword, light saber, or schwartz: As a kid, I preferred the latter, a reference to Space Balls the movie. Children, and kids at heart, can have at least five minutes of fun before destroying the cardboard tube.
- Wrapping paper: December and January birthdays along with New Year's Eve party hosts have resigned themselves to receiving gifts wrapped with evergreens and snowmen.
What uses have you found for leftover wrapping paper?
6 Responses to “Reader hack: uses for leftover giftwrap”
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:40 pm
This post cracked me up. See, I work for a giftwrap manufacturer and I think every day, “wow…I have a paycheck because we produce trash.” Is it unethical? I don’t feel bad about it, but it certainly is ironic.
That being said, as much as my livlihood depends on people continuing to buy this stuff, I can’t bear to just trash it myself.
These are some great suggestions. Another use for the cardboard cores…donate to a daycare center/elementary/primary/preschool. They are always doing crafts with them. For the paper, I have also used it to wrap packages white-side-out to mail. I don’t know if the usps “minds” but they’ve never returned one and the heavier stuff is great for covering boxes that are already covered in shipping labels or are printed on.
Great post.
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Make envelopes! There’s a tutorial here, but I just use a regular old envelope to make mine. It’s lovely to use a pretty envelope to send a note. The paper inside doesn’t even have to be that special when the outside is so chic!
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:39 pm
I have to disagree with #5. My birthday is December 25, and no one is allowed to wrap my birthday gifts in Christmas paper. Birthdays and Christmas are 2 distinct events, and it shows a degree of thoughtlessness to wrap a birthday gift in Christmas paper. It can be hard enough to have a birthday at the busiest time of year without people treating it like an afterthought.
I do like the other ideas, though.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Anny Marie,
I suspect you get a lot of sympathy, but as another Christmas baby I just want to mention that we don’t all feel that way. Although I try to make sure the gifts I give are nicely presented, I’ve never thought twice about how the gifts I receive were wrapped – except to be amused when the bow looks like it cost more than what’s inside.
If somebody saved money wrapping my gift, I would just assume that it left them a little more money to spend on actual gifts rather than wrapping paper that will end up in the trash.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:52 pm
I use the prettier leftovers in a picture frame.. Instant, cheap art!
September 18th, 2010 at 9:08 am
I like to save and cut out nice designs to use in decoupage.
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