dressing up brown paper bag packages
Thursday, December 17, 2015
I have always wrapped gifts with whatever I have on hand, which is typically brown paper bags, tissue paper, or occasionally Sunday's comics. Sometimes I'll even draw my own designs on paper. For Christmas, I love the classic look of brown paper packages dressed up with fun pom poms, bakers twine, or jute.
I love that we are not adding to the waste by using typical wrapping paper and are reusing an item that we have used already. The packages aren't perfect, you can see folds, wrinkles, and even little holes. I love it, but it may not be your thing so you can just use kraft paper if you wish.
Pom Poms
This year I bought this pom pom maker. After years of using a fork or cardboard, it is a total game changer. I can now make the biggest, fluffiest pom poms to dress up presents. I had the best intentions of making pom pom garland, but maybe next year.
Make sure to read the instructions fully before beginning, it's really easy once you understand how it works. Or you can do what I did and just figure it out by doing it wrong a couple times. Whatever works.
Tips on making the best pom poms:
1. The best way to make big, fluffy pom poms is to wrap as much yarn as possible like in the photos above and below.
2. Get sharp scissors to get through the thick yarn
3. Make sure to tie a tight knot around the pom pom to hold the yarn together well. I have a few that are falling apart, because I tied it too loose.
(This will all make sense once you read through the directions and make your pom pom)
Washi Tape
This year I found this washi tape combo at Target. I got it specifically for wrapping my Christmas gifts. The gold adds the perfect touch of elegance to the rugged paper.
Name Tags
For these presents I cut out extra brown paper and cut them into a name tag and used a hole punch to string the yarn through. Simple.
Sometimes I use a different color paper, usually a thick, white cardstock. Sometimes I will get an ornament specific to the person I'm gifting to, like a letter.
You can tell above that I didn't wrap the yarn as thick with this pom pom, but it's still cute! I love the fun colors, and I think my little niece will too. They're fun and you can reuse them again and again.
I love the look of all of the presents under the tree. I love the similarity of the brown paper, but that that each one is a little different. I'll take photos of the rest of our Christmas decorations and share with you soon!
How do you wrap your presents? Do you reuse brown paper bags too?
I'm Katelyn, a creative who finds beauty in the little things. I like the windows open and vases filled with flowers. I photograph and write about the mostly small but sometimes big adventures we find in our daily lives.
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