Wrapping Paper... Is there another way?

misskb

Hi all... first post!

I'm trying to save some serious dosh this Christmas, as well as give my friends and family something special, and so I'm making my own baskets - literally, as I'm hand making cosmetics and bath bits!

So I've been tracking down the best places to get stuff - I'll do a post on it when I've got some definative figures!! - and suddenly it occurs to me that the most expensive thing is probably going to be the wrapping paper.

Does anyone have any nice ideas for making wrapping paper at home?

I don't have kids so I can't use them to just throw paint at stuff (i.e. to have the "cute" factor!), so I'm hoping someone might have some bright ideas! Of course this doesn't just have to be Christmas paper, but any sort of wrapping paper!

Any ideas...?

Softstuff

I wrap all my presents in brown parcel paper (do this for appearance rather than moneysaving!), then tie them with nice ribbon or make my own bows. It looks a bit different, most people seem to like it.

jamtart6

yep i thought of brown ribbon with string with a luggage label - looks very organic!!

otherwise I've seen presents wrapped in newspaper - looks tres chic but watch out for ink on presents if they are clothes etc!

Badger_Lady

I don't like Christmas wrapping paper because I think it looks tacky and soulless, so:

I usually make decorated boxes to put smaller things in - make the boxes out of old cereal boxes, paint the outside and put pretty ribbon / decorations on them, but keep the lid openable (so recipients can choose to reuse). The effect is even better if you put a layer of papier-mache on the outside before painting, but depends how much time you're willing to spend!

I get the ribbons / decorations from off-cuts and ends in fabric shops and market stalls (soooooo much cheaper than buying Christmas ribbon!), so the overall cost is very small.

The other thing I've done is to use sellophane and metallic netting, which is cheap but gives a much more expensive look if you just wrap the item and tie it at the top with a bit of ribbon. I'm not sure where you buy it here, though - I normally pick it up in France (because that's where I normally see the family for Christmas!).

Surely standard Christmas wrapping paper can be dead cheap as well, though? If you go to a temporary Christmas discount shop or PoundLand they often sell large rolls for £1 or less..?

GreyPilgrim

I like to confuse shopkeepers by buying wrapping paper and asking them to wrap it for me.

danielle24

The cheapest and most environmentally friendly way to wrap presents is to use newspaper or magazines. Often, I've collected all the Christmas ads you find and use those to wrap the present or cut out the words "Christmas", "Special", "Merry Xmas" etc and stuck them to the newspaper or even butcher's paper. And make sure you recycle all the paper after the event!

moodykerry

Asda and tesco are both doing value wrapping paper for 16p. Red or silver with small xmasy pics on them. They are 2m. Thought it might help

Sallys_Savings

When my children were younger we used left over wallpaper/lining paper and decorated it themselves with potato stamps or just drawings.

I use brown wrapping paper the majority of the time but have different ways of finishing it off.

Sometimes for labels I use tree baubles (brought in the sales for pennies obviously ) and write the christmas greeting on with cd pen. I coordinate a coloured ribbon with the bauble and tie with a bow. (I was lucky enough to buy a bundle from a car boot a couple of years ago and the ribbons lasted ages so keep your eye out)

I also wrap with twine and use the brown luggage labels and add a little extra where you tie...i.e. cinnamon sticks/dried orange slice/rosehip/dried chillis/fresh greenery etc.

jbbonce

poundstretcher/instore do brightly coloured rolls of craft paper for 99p. because it is for arts and crafts it is a lot stronger than wrapping paper of the same price is.
You could wrap the presents in craft paper and then jazz it up with ribbons, bows, buttons, dried flowers, leaves, pinecones etc.

Paulie'sGirl

I saw a program a few years back where the presenter photocopied sheet music onto A3 paper.

Not sure how much cheaper that would work out, maybe 20p a sheet? But it would be quite unusual

HopeElizzy

Environmently I think brown paper is the way to go....... apparantly we're not
allowed to put ordinary xmas wrapping paper into our recycling box.