By the time you've got the shopping completely done, it may be tempting to just throw the presents in a gift bag — but we promise that these creative options for holiday wrapping are infinitely more fun.
Try your hand at creating a more beautiful package this year. Inspired by these 10 ideas from wonderful bloggers, you'll feel like a total wrap star.
Images (clockwise from top left) via thislittlestreet.com; dannyseomag/Instagram; annesage.com; thepleatedpoppy.com; thefrugalhomemaker.com; abeautifulmess.com; wayfair.com
Seasonal Greenery
Add a little life to any gift by tucking sprigs of holly, extra pine branches, or berries like Abby from Just a Girl and Her Blog did. It adds a festive touch to a simple wrapping job. While you can take a few snips from your own Christmas tree, you can also get artificial pieces from a craft store to ensure they won't wilt on ya.
Color Splash
Office supplies steal the gift wrap spotlight when stuck on simple craft paper. We love how unfussy this idea is, from Charity from I Heart Cleveland for Wayfair.com. Once you do the initial wrapping, have the kids go nuts with the neon stickers.
Built-In Activity
Gift wrap that becomes an actual activity — genius. Rachel from Lines Across used white craft paper with a few crayons taped on top with washi tape, to create an interactive gift. It may buy you a few extra minutes of sleep before your kids force you out of bed to open presents on Christmas morning.
Taped Up
Not feeling like tying ribbons this year? Ditch them and stick to tape instead (pun intended). Use electrical tape in creative configurations and patterns, like eco-craft guru Danny Seo did. The same idea also works with glitter, fabric, or washi tape!
More from CafeMom: 10 Gorgeous Holiday Gifts Kids Can Make Themselves
DIY Gift Tags
Beautiful, downloadable gift tags from Audrey at This Little Street are so sweet (and FREE!) with clever phrases like "Santa must like you." Gift tags are like a cute cake topper — it just completes the entire look. Thick colored paper works just as well for tags too!
Florals & Monograms
In a clever twist on the gift bag, Melanie Stephens for The Jungalow added a sculptural arrangement of dried flowers to the top of each gift bag and painted on the first letter of the recipient's first name. Once the gift is unwrapped, the dried flowers can be tucked into a bud vase as a decor all year long.
Themed Wrap
We never met a theme we didn't just love, and the same applies to gift wrap. Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy combined a buffalo check pattern with a wood grain wrapping. If you like this look, we've sourced similar wrapping paper: Woodgrain Treeless Gift Wrap ($4.99 for 10' x 30", containerstore.com) and Buffalo Plaid Gift Wrap ($8.99 for 12' x 30", containerstore.com). It's a good look for the outdoorsy man in your life.
Beautiful Bottles
If you cringe when you see wine bottles in those metallic cellophane bags, awesomely chic Anne Sage and Spoon Fork Bacon have a wine bottle wrapping DIY that will make each bottle feel extra special. Luxe ribbons and glittery gift tags only add to the wow factor. We can't wait to try this one ourselves.
More from CafeMom: Vintage-Inspired Holiday Home Tour From DIY Enthusiast Rachel Denbow (PHOTOS)
Scent-sational Packaging
Christmas is all about the sights and smells, and why shouldn’t that extend to your presents? Christina at The Frugal Homemaker DIY-ed cinnamon-scented ornaments to add to the tops of presents. Once the gifts are unwrapped, you can save this clever add-on as an ornament for your tree next year.
Glorified Gift Card
Giving gift cards doesn't have to be boring! The women from A Beautiful Mess show us a few fun ways to take them from dull to dazzling. It turns out it's all about how they're delivered, like this gift card box attached to a cute plastic animal — adorable!
More from CafeMom: 12 Lovely DIY Gifts Anyone Would Adore
