Daughters of Promise November/December 2014 | Page 45

by Brittany Shult | Photo by Lorida Burkholder

do-it-yourself

Christmas Gift Wrap
BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED

Christmas gifts are so
much fun to give and receive. Oftentimes, however,
wrapping paper and ribbon can be expensive to
purchase. There are many creative and simple ideas
that can be used to wrap gifts using items found in
your home. No more rushing into crowded stores for
last minute gift wrap!

INSTEAD OF TRADITIONAL BOWS, use scraps of lace,

yarn, rick-rack, or even baling twine. Incorporate
pinecones, sprigs of holly or pine, old Christmas
ornaments, pom-poms or dried flowers. You won’t
even miss the big bow!

INSTEAD OF WRAPPING PAPER, use newspapers

(the comics section makes for fun gift wrap), brown
paper bags, old maps, or a section of fabric.

QUICKY GIFT WRAP #1: Take a section of wax paper

and sprinkle any kind of dried herbs or spices across
it. Be sure that there aren’t any herbs on the edges of
the paper, that way the edges will seal properly when
ironed. Take another section of wax paper and lay it
on top of the first, being careful that the edges are
lined up together. Use a warm iron and iron over the
top of the wax paper. The wax will melt and cause
the paper to cling together. Because of the herbs
there will be some bubbles where the paper doesn’t
completely stick together.

QUICKY GIFT WRAP #2: Take a brown paper bag

(or brown craft paper) and carefully pull apart the
seams until you have a flat piece of paper. Use a
clean pencil eraser stamped on an ink pad and make
random polka dots on the paper.
Have fun using your imagination to spruce up your
holiday gift wrapping this year!

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