Christmas crafts

Reusing Left Over Wrapping Paper

If you have wrapping paper left over from Christmas Day, or partial rolls of gift wrap that aren’t big enough to save, then try some of these recycling ideas for reusing gift wrap.

Bows
- Make beautiful loopy Wrapping Paper Bows with nothing more than small strips of paper, invisible tape and a small square of cardboard.

Beads
- Make paper beads by cutting triangles of gift wrap paper, about six inches long and 5/8 inch wide at the widest point.  Wrap around toothpicks, using a smear of white glue on the thin tip to stick down.  Slide bead off the toothpick, let dry and thread on elastic cord to make a bracelet or necklace.

Wrapping Paper Ornaments
Recycle cardboard scraps and bright gift wrap designs by combining them into Wrapping Paper Christmas Ornaments like the penguin theme decorations shown here.

Coasters
- Make festive coasters by gluing wrapping paper to circles of cardboard or juice can lids; apply several coats of decoupage medium or white glue thinned with water, or laminate with self-adhesive clear plastic.

Packing Material
- Shred wrapping paper and use in place of bubble wrap or styrofoam packing peanuts.

Bookmarks
- Give to the kids to make bookmarks or book covers.

Paper Crafts
- Use for scribbling paper, origami, paper crafts or collages.

Scrapbooking or Gift Tags
- Use the prettiest wrapping paper as background material for scrapbooking or cut small rectangles of wrapping paper to add to gift tags.

Make a Decorative Box for Christmas Ornaments
- Cover a shoebox with wrapping paper to make a decorative storage container for Christmas ornaments.

Sewing Patterns
- Use wrapping paper to make sewing patterns; draw the pattern pieces on the blank side and cut out.

Reuse for Gift Wrapping
- Reuse wrapping paper taken from large gifts to wrap smaller gifts; if necessary, place the paper on the ironing board, spritz with a little water and iron on a low setting to remove any wrinkles.