Paper Crafts Paper Craft Projects

6 Ways to Make Your Own Unique Wrapping Paper

By
Rita Shehan
Rita Shehan Head Shot
Rita Shehan
Rita Shehan is a crafting expert and writer focusing on paper crafts. She shares over a decade of paper crafts experience, including quilling, origami, scrapbooking, paper flower creations, and designing invitations. Rita is also the founder of the website EasyPaperCrafts.com.
Learn more about The Spruce Crafts' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/28/22
Hands of woman wrapping Christmas presents
Westend61 / Getty Images

If you want to make a gift stand out, there is no better way than to wrap it with paper that has been altered in some way with your personal touch. Sure, it's easier to go to the store, buy some premade wrapping paper, and wrap the present. But here are a few reasons why it's great to go the extra step of personalizing your own paper:

  • No one else will give the gift recipient a present that looks like yours. You are telling the person getting the present that they are special. They are worth the time and effort you took to make the gift as pretty on the outside as the thought you put into buying the gift itself.
  • Making your own gift wrap is a chance to save money and help the environment by recycling or repurposing products. You could use altered versions of newspaper, freezer paper, or even leftover gift wrap in a creative way that is eco-friendly and less wasteful.
  • Making your own gift wrap is great for last-minute presents. Use whatever craft supplies you have and repurpose them in imaginative ways. You will be amazed at how creative you can be under pressure.
  • Last but not least, it is fun! If you love to get creative, this craft is fast, and easy, and the design ideas are limitless.

Take a look at these examples that might inspire you to get creative with the gifts you plan to wrap and give to the special people in your life.

0:47

Watch Now: 3 Kid-Friendly Ways to DIY Wrapping Paper

  • 01 of 06

    DIY Stenciled Gift Wrap

    diy stenciled gift wrap
    Gallo Images/Getty Images

    Bring ordinary wrapping paper to life with craft paints and some free stencils. Use plain paper and make it look fancy when you add some creative designs. You can use metallic stencil paint, as shown in the photo, to change your project from boring to extraordinary.

  • 02 of 06

    Make Your Own Professional Looking Gift Bags

    diy gift bags

    A Beautiful Mess

    Who says that pretty gift bags are only available at the store? These bags were designed by A Beautiful Mess and are made using ordinary craft paper, paint, ribbon, glue, and a hole puncher. The results are dazzling. The bag looks professionally made when done.

  • 03 of 06

    Presents That Look Like Fruit

    gift wrap that looks like fruit

    The House That Lars Built

    These wrapped presents are one of the most innovative wrapping options around. You cannot go wrong with this unique papercraft. In this tutorial from The House That Lars Built, learn how to make a wrapped box designed to look like a fruit. Fruits include strawberry, kiwi, pineapple, orange, and watermelon. Brittany Watson Jepsen provides links to free printable fruit downloads and easy-to-follow inspirational photos.

  • 04 of 06

    Washi Tape Gift Wrap

    washi tape gift wrap

    Shari's Berries/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

    These beautifully wrapped gifts exemplify what can be done when you are in a hurry. The three pictured examples are covered with ordinary papers that most crafters have on hand (brown kraft paper and white freezer or meat wrapping paper).

    Decorate the wrapped present with washi tape. You are likely already familiar with washi tape if you have a papercraft collection. Add a silk flower and printed tag, and you have a beautifully wrapped gift that looks like you took a lot of time and effort to make look unique.

    Continue to 5 of 6 below
  • 05 of 06

    Five Ways to Wrap a Gift

    5 unique ways to wrap a simple present

    The Little Design Corner

    Clare Le Roy's inspirational blog post in The Little Design Corner shows you how to make an ordinary kraft paper-wrapped package look extraordinary. She features five examples demonstrating how easy it is to make a beautifully wrapped gift with simple embellishments like twine, plain stickers, washi tape, or clothespins. These techniques don't take much time but add a beautiful and trendy look to your gifts.

  • 06 of 06

    Hand Drawn Wrapping Paper

    flower gift wrap

    Beth O'Briant/Flickr/CC BY 2.0

    This gift-wrapping tip is an example of a quick, easy, eco-friendly gift wrap. Wrap your gift with some white food wrap or mailing paper that you have on hand.

    Does the gift recipient have a hobby, or are they a fan of something specific? Here's where you can let your creative juices flow. In this example, you can draw some adorable flowers with a marker on the gift wrap paper. Punch out some colorful paper circles plus two butterflies and glue on the flowers. Add a pretty ribbon, and voila! You have a uniquely wrapped gift that tells the recipient they are special!