Turn your holiday gifts into works of art with some easy gift-wrapping ideas.

Sometimes the most odious thing about the holidays is the present wrapping–it just seems like a such a chore. You work really hard buying (or making) all those presents and then there’s more work. Have a little fun with it by using one of these easy gift-wrapping ideas. From fun to elegant and many involve repurposing stuff you already have on hand–these are gift-wrapping game changers!

10 Gift-Wrapping Ideas for the Holidays

1. Repurposed Paper Bags – Cut open brown paper bags, turn them over so the plain side is facing up, and decorate with holiday-themed stamps. Wrap up your packages and tie with string for a vintage wrapping look.
2. Metallic Painted Tissue Paper – Repurpose tissue paper from holiday gifts past, but bring it back to life by painting it with gold or silver paint. Many home improvement stores carry the Martha Stewart line of specialty finishes that features several different metallic options.
3. Old Road Maps – Turn old paper maps (who uses them anymore anyway!) into fun wrapping paper this season.
4. Brown Paper Packages – You can buy rolls of brown wrapping paper that can be customized a billion ways. One of the simplest is to use gold and silver pens to draw stars or snowflakes on your packages. Tie them up with pretty red and white bakers’ twine.
5. Origami Wrap – Wrap packages in white paper. Cut shapes out another layer of colored paper and double wrap your packages for an easy but pretty effect.
6. Chalkboard Wrapping Paper – If you haven’t seen it before, Chalkboard wrapping paper is a thing. It’s super easy to customize your packages with just some simple white paint markers. You can find it online and at some craft stores.
7. Washi Tape – Decorate plain white or brown paper with colorful patterned washi tape. Washi tape is Japanese masking tape, but it comes in all sorts of colors and patterns and is available online or at craft stores.
8. Duct Tape Gift Bags – By the same token, turn practical duct tape into gift bags. Here is an easy tutorial.
9. Repurposed Magazine Bows – Top your packages with pretty repurposed bows made from the pages of old magazines. Here’s a how-to.
10. Burlap, Black Ribbon and Gold Spray Painted Pine Cones – Turn everyday burlap into an elegant package by adding black velveteen ribbon and gold painted pine cones. It looks impressive, but it’s actually pretty easy to pull off. Burlap is available at most fabric stores.

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Image: Christmas Gift via Shutterstock

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Step up your game with these ah-mazing Christmas gift wrapping ideas.

I’ve gotten into this terrible habit of putting so much thought into my Christmas gifts that I gas out when it comes time to wrap them. Seriously, it’s like my fam rips the wrapping paper off so quickly not because they’re excited about their gift, but because of how awful it looks.

Well, no more. Here are 16 gift wrapping ideas to help you kick things up a notch (or in my case, seven):

1. Make gift boxes from cereal boxes

By making gift boxes out of your empty cereal boxes, not only will you save some serious coin, but you’ll be able to get your recycle on.

2. Color code your gifts

If you’re anything like me, when you’re shopping for your Christmas gift fixins, for whatever reason gift tags always seem to slip your mind. Assign each of your family members and friends their own wrapping paper color or design and skip the tags all together. (You know, just don’t forget which color belongs to who.)

3. Wrap a two-toned gift

Whether you’re wrapping a box that’s wider than your wrapping paper or are running low on gift wrap in general, who says gifts can only be wrapped in one paper? Use two different styles of wrapping paper for a snazzy two-toned effect. And if you cover the seam with ribbon, it’ll look like you did it on purpose. (Wink wink. Nudge nudge.)

4. Use holiday-themed tote bags

“Wrap” your gifts in reusable tote bags. There are so many adorable Christmas-themed totes, you just might go overboard.

5. Create a gift pouch

This gift pouch tutorial from One Kings Lane is perfect for those tiny gifts that are impossible to wrap. (The page also includes a tutorial on how to wrap super awkward gifts you’ll lurv.)

6. Use double-sided tape

Not only does double-sided tape save oodles of time, but no matter the gift wrapping ideas you decide on, it’ll make your gifts look ah-mazing.

7. Make your own Christmas crackers

Attach one to each of your gifts for that extra special finishing touch:

Image: duitang.com

8. Decorate coffee cans

As far as artsy fartsy gift wrapping ideas go, this one takes the (coffee) cake: Repurpose coffee cans by using them to “wrap” awkwardly shaped gifts. Paint them gold, red or green, go to town with Christmas stencils, or wrap funky fabric around them. The sky’s the limit.

Image: MarthaStewart.com

9. Who says gifts need to be square?

Wrap that special someone’s gift like an itty bitty Christmas tree! Get the DIY here.

10. Make adorable bows from old magazines

Or paper bags. Or old newspapers. Or fabric scraps. Get the DIY here.

11. Wrap in fabric

Chic, no?

Image: evermine

Image: Handmade Charlotte

12. Accessorize a larger gift with a mini-gift

Attach a small gift to the ribbon of a larger gift, such as cookie cutters or a sentimental trinket.

Image: RealSimple.com

13. If corners aren’t your thang, don’t wrap the sides of the box

Pack your gifts in crisp, white boxes, then wrap them in a simple band of paper (or fabric) and finish off with matching ribbon. Minimal yet bold.

14. Go rustic

Kraft paper. Twine. Mistletoe. Bam.

15. Make a box tower

Especially useful for delivering gifts to someone, stack their (perfectly wrapped) presents from largest to smallest, then wrap a wide ribbon around them (like so). Top off with a fabulous, cascading bow.

16. Host a holiday wrapping party

Have each of your friends pop by with one roll of gift wrap each (and the gifts they need to wrap, of course). Swap wrapping paper and techniques so all of your gifts looks spectacular.

What are your favorite gift wrapping ideas?

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