This year, why not take a page from your own lesson plan and wrap up those gifts with easy artwork that you create yourself? Here are some suggestions for making quick work of gift wrapping:
Take-out Cartons
If you plan to give small trinkets, stock up on miniature “Chinese food cartons.” They’re cute, versatile and will delight students or family members; plus they’re readily available at crafts stores. Forego the ribbons and bows, but attach a small “fortune” in your own handwriting to each gift. It will be remembered.
Jingle Bells
Stock up on small jingle bells in holiday colors and tie several onto your wrapped packages to create a joyful noise. The gifts will be received with squeals of delight!
Personalized Artwork
Personalize your gifts with your own drawings: Use watercolor paints, crayons or markers to create your own childlike impressions and be bold about using your imagination to unleash your “inner artist.” Or add hand-colored cards to simple wrappings for an artistic finish.
Bubble Wrap
Make Bubble Wrap Art and call it a wrap for unusually-shaped or breakable gifts. We love this idea because it makes such simple work out of wrapping. There’s no need for bows! Spray bright color on the bubble wrap and let it dry completely; then just cut it to the size you need when you’re ready to wrap.
Simple and Rustic
Go rustic for a simple, country holiday look. Use plain white paper with natural twine rather than fancy ribbon and bows. Add bow tie pasta just for fun! Alternatively, wrap gifts in brown mailing paper and use narrow white satin or velvet ribbon to tie it up.
Word Cloud
Cover a plain piece of paper with words or create a word cloud; then reproduce the graphic on colored copy paper for unique wrapping paper. Use trendy neon colors or stick with pastels; just make sure your words are large enough and dark enough to be read clearly! Top it with contrasting ribbon.
Take inspiration from the world around you. Collect small twigs from the yard or purchase cinnamon and spice-scented pine cones to adorn your packages. Collect canning jars and covers and fill them with hard candies, jelly beans or spiced tea mix. Who needs wrapping when the gift itself is such a treat?
