It was 1976 and I remember my brother, Bobby, teaching me how to wrap Christmas presents while we sat on my Mom and Dad’s bed. He showed me how to fold the ends with those little triangles. I think I actually remember him yelling at me for using too much paper, ha ha. He wanted them perfect, where I just wanted to get to the pretty bow part.
Then I got older, and I started to act a little like him and I really got into the whole wrapping thing. I did that for a couple years, and then the kiddos came, so everything changed again. I saved time and used lots of gift bags and pre-made bows.
Today, I like to be a little more creative and think up fun ways to wrap the gifts with ideas that don’t involve too much money, energy, or time. So, here we go…check these out.
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Aren’t they pretty?
This is such an easy DIY Christmas Gift Wrap idea…it also has so much more meaning {I think} than wrapping paper that just gets ripped off, and scrunched up into the garbage.
I used plain white gift boxes and I drew little notes on the boxes with a black permanent marker. On my husband’s I wrote a Christmas memory. On my daughter’s I wrote about all the things she does to make us proud. You could play with this any way you wish. You can personalize them to the gift receiver. The whole idea is to make that person feel good. That’s what gifts are for, right?
After I wrote something, I used pretty flannel ribbon to tie around the box, but you could use any ribbon you desire. Pre-made bows would look cute, too.
Wrapping, or “not wrapping” your gifts this way has many advantages such as:
- Saves Time
- Saves Money
- Saves the Earth
- No Paper Clean Up
- It’s More Personal
- People Will Think You are a Genius
Merry Christmas!
Tags: affordable gift wrap, cheap gift wrap, Christmas gift wrapping ideas, DIY gift wrap, DIY wrapping paper, easy gift wrap, flannel gift wrap, gift wrap ideas Posted by

Love Love Love this idea. You are just too darn clever (well, I know you said you had help from Bobby), but this is such a clever and pretty twist on gift wrapping. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Carol. I like that…twist. Good word for it!!
So clever and fun Julie!! This may be the way to go for me this year – love it. Pinned! xo
You clever Redhead! I love the idea of writing individual messages on the packages. I am tired of the matchy-matchy paper.
Whoot whoot!! Happy dance!!!
this is so adorable…why haven’t i thought of that before…thanks.
If youdon’t have white boxes or they are too flimsy, white freezer paper would cover any box. Really a cute idea!
Nice!!!
Too late for this year but will be ready next Christmas. Great idea once again. Love your site. Enjoying balmy winter weather this week in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hey Julie:
Where did you find plain white boxes? I would love to do this and don’t think I want to try the other guests suggestion of wrapping boxes in white paper. Just seems to be more work, Must be getting older and lazy.
The idea of writing your personal message is brilliant.
Cheers, Bette
They sell them usually anywhere they sell gift boxes. Try the dollar store and then Walmart or Target. Have fun 🙂
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