How to Wrap A Gift If You Have Run Out of Wrapping Paper

I can remember being invited to a friends birthday party. We were in second grade together. I think I had a crush on him. My father took me to the toy store to pick out a gift and I was so proud of the toy truck I had chosen. I just knew that my little friend, Jeffrey, would love his gift. I could not wait to get home and wrap it up. I envisioned shiny paper and a big red bow. My gift would be the best gift out of all the gifts given on that special day.

There was only one problem. When I came home, my Mother said she did not have any wrapping paper. I was so angry. I was angry at my Mom for not being prepared and having that special paper ready to wrap up my unique gift for Jeff. I knew that if there was no paper then there certainly wasn't a big red bow to top it off. I wanted to cry. My gift seemed small now and I did not want to go to the birthday party anymore. My Mother, sensing my grief, reached into the pile of old newspapers and retrieved the Sunday comic section from the pile. She grabbed scissors, red construction paper and tape. She helped me to wrap the toy truck in the comic strip and cut out the shape of a red bow from the construction paper. We taped the bow to the top of the package and I neatly wrote "To: Jeffrey, From: Corey".

I was in awe. I stood back to look at the masterpiece that was created as if by magic. I knew no one else would have a present for Jeff that looked as great as mine. From that day forward, I realised that wrapping a unique gift can be more creative and original than store bought paper if only you put your mind to it.

If you have a Christmas gift, birthday gift, wedding present or any other item that needs to be wrapped nicely and in a pinch because you, too, forgot to get wrapping paper here are some very simple and creative ideas. Using household product to wrap gifts is a great way to repurpose and recycle items. It is one way to go green in your home.

Wrapping a gift in a brown paper bag is the ultimate way to recycle. The brown bag can be cut open and is usually big enough to wrap a decent sized gift. The great thing about wrapping with a brown paper bag is that it is so plain that you can dress it up any way you feel is appropriate. I have used ink stamps to decorate brown bag wrapping or you could just tie it up neatly with raffia strings.

Lay the bag on its side and cut out the smaller side panels of the bag with scissors. The small sides are the sides that help to dictate the folds of the bag. Once you remove those you can open the bag and flatten the brown bag paper. Wrap your gift neatly and tightly. Besides the suggestions above, you could use fabric scraps to wrap around the center of your gift for a sweet touch. A nice holiday wrap would be to tie a small cookie cutter or tree ornament to the outside of the package. Yarn wound around the package and tied into a bow is also a nice touch. Simple might just be the best: take glitter glue and write the name of the recipient in large letters on the package for an elegant touch.

Maps work wonders as an idea for wrapping a Christmas Gift, Father's Day Gift, a birthday gift for a little boy or something special for grandpa. They are any easy to use wrap because they are usually large and already flat. You can use the guides in the foldes of the map to measure the amount of paper needed to wrap your gift.

If you have a local map here is cute idea. Put a sticker on the outside of the package that states "you are here" with the gift receiver's name wriiten on it.

Maps also allude to the contents of the package which is exciting for the person who will open the gift. Is a GPS? Dad might ask on Father's Day. Little boys might wonder if they are about to receive a long wished for remote control car. I would wonder if tickets for some exotic vacation lay waiting inside for me. Whatever your gift may be, wrapping it in a map is just another great way to package a gift when there is no wrapping paper in sight and by using an item over again it is good for the environment.

Aluminum foil is a standard household item. You may be out of wrapping paper but chances are that you have a roll of foil in your kitchen drawers. Foil, like wrapping paper, rolls out nicely and is easy to measure when wrapping a gift. The advantage it has over traditional wrapping paper is that it does not need to be taped. Just by squeezing up the edges you have secured the contents of your gift.

Foil adds shine and sparkle to your holiday wrapping. It can be dressed up nicely with ribbon, fresh or silk flowers, stickers, scrap book cut outs, raffia, yarn, or cut strips of fabric. Foli wrap sold purposely for gift wrapping is much more expensive than household foil. Save a little money this holiday season and wrap in style by wrapping in foil.

Not only do the comic strips from the Sunday Paper work well in a pinch, the entire newspaper can be used as wrapping paper. The news print of the paper can give your wrapped gifts a classic, professional and exciting look. When short on traditional wrapping paper, newspaper is a smart choice as re-purposing the paper is good for the environment.

The classic style of the newspaper will make a good wrap for a holiday wrap or to wrap a birthday present especially if used in combination with other common household products. Wrap strips of newsprint around a gift that you have already wrapped with aluminum foil and then tie with a big bright ribbon for an elegant gift giving approach. Cut shapes like stars from your newspaper and adhere to a package that has been previously wrapped in a recycled paper bag and you have a charming and eclectic package. There are no set limits when using newspaper as gift wrap.

Using a scarf is one of my favorite ways to wrap a gift. The great thing about using material around the home is that it is limitless. A scarf may not be handy so try wrapping a gift in a pretty hand towel or linen napkin, a fun printed bandanna works well and so does left over fabric from a sewing project. Try a pillowcase or cut up an old sheet to wrap larger items.

Fabric like an old scarf can be tied around the gift in an elegant manner. Use a rubber band to pull a knot over the top of the gift. Pull the loose ends through the rubber band and roll and twist them to tuck them under the rubber band and make a cute little flower shaped knob on your gift.

For another cute wrapping idea with a scarf, place your gift in the center of the scarf. Take two opposite corners of the scarf and tie them over the gift. Take the other two opposite corners and tie those over the ends that you just tied. Voila! Your gift is wrapped as easily as tying your shoe.