7 Gift Wrapping Ideas You'll Want to Steal

Country Living

Your gift-wrapping will be as sweet as the package inside with these brilliant ideas from Country Living's favorite online shops, store-bought kits, and clever crafters.

Plus:Make your own keepsake with these DIY ornament ideas »

1. Peppermint Package

Peppermint Package
Peppermint Package


Cushion your presents with candy! Replace boring Styrofoam with swirls of minty goodness, then wrap your gifts in the red-and-white color combination for an eye-catching display.


2. Mix Tape



Graphic designer Joy D. Cho dresses up Kraft paper with festive masking tape, alternating horizontal and vertical strips to mimic ribbon. A snowflake fashioned from frayed candy cane colored paper straws becomes the crowning glory.

3. Ready-to-Wear


Infuse new life into a thrift-store shirt and brooch. Not only is the result eco-friendly, but, as gift wrap designer Jenn Playford points out, when you remove the brooch and unpin the shirt, you've got three gifts in one.

4. Name Game


There's no need for gift tags with Personalized Gift Wrap from Namemaker.com. Customize your wrapping paper to display classic holiday greetings or a loved one's name. And the festive paper options-from stripes to polka dots to Santas-will have you whistling carols before you're done wrapping the gift. ($19; namemaker.com)


Psst: We have 5 more fun gift-wrapping ideas here! »


5. Musical



Karen Bartolomei of Grapevine Invitations repurposed "Jingle Bells" sheet music to create a whimsical package with festive cheer. She enlarged the music on a copier, and then printed it onto thick paper. A satin bow and jumble of-what else?-jingle bells provide the finishing touches.

6. Stick to It


Tired of red ribbon? Fancy That's Decorative Packaging Tape is a fun alternative, available in multiple colors and graphic patterns such as scrolls, polka dot, and paisley. ($15 per roll; fancythatonline.net)

7. Artistic



Got a box of crayons? Then you can replicate printmaker/graphic designer Adrienne Wong's abstract print. The designer channeled her inner grade-schooler by sandwiching colorful wax shavings between layers of tissue paper (three on the top and three on the bottom) and ironing them until the wax melted. After wrapping, she adorned the gift with an asymmetrically placed satin ribbon and a cluster of tissue dahlias.

Get more ideas for the holidays from CountryLiving.com:


Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.