12 Ways to Upgrade Your Gift-Wrapping Using Office Supplies

Jeff Harris

Put the kids to work crafting great-looking gifts with just a few office supplies!

Start Slideshow

1 of 13

Mondrian

Jeff Harris

Align a few sticky notes (cut some in half), then add blacktape lines to cover the intersections.

Tip: Our secret moneysaver is bulletin-board paper! We got a 4x50-foot roll for $16 on Amazon. Use it to do the basic wrapping ahead of time (be sure to label the backs), then let your children get creative!

2 of 13

Mandalas

Jeff Harris

Arrange adhesive flags in a circle, then add a layer of flags in a contrasting color on top of them.

Homemade Holiday Wrapping Paper

3 of 13

Mod Tree

Jeff Harris

Trim notes into triangles, fringe the edges, and layer on top of one another. Top with a foil star.

4 of 13

Little Gifts

Jeff Harris

Place a few notes on your package, then layer on black-tape ribbon and bows.

5 of 13

Great Garland

Jeff Harris

Draw a few curves of “string” across the gift, then dot the stickers along them.

Tip: Have your child use dots in one or two color families for a pro look—or don’t, for a wilder feel!

6 of 13

Ribbon Run

Jeff Harris

Cut hole reinforcements in half, then arrange them in a line down your gift.

Countdown to Christmas: Crafts, Food, and DIY Gifts

7 of 13

Confetti

Jeff Harris

Place stickers in a random pattern, starting in one corner.

8 of 13

Snowflake

Jeff Harris

Begin in the center and build out a symmetrical pattern using dots and reinforcements.

9 of 13

Fireworks

Jeff Harris

Cut labels into strips, then crisscross them into starburst shapes.

Tip: Your child can draw anything she likes (think: the recipient’s portrait or a winter scene) to adorn a special present. The artwork is half the gift!

8 Easy Christmas Ornaments

10 of 13

Santa’s Belt

Jeff Harris

Wrap your present with a strip of black paper or tape, then stick on a label with the center cut out.

11 of 13

Citrus Slices

Jeff Harris

Draw circles and spokes on labels, then cut them out and place on your present.

12 of 13

Starry Sky

Jeff Harris

Draw patterns onto labels, Zentangle-style, then cut them corner to corner to get triangles. Arrange into stars.

13 of 13

Meet Jean

ArtfulParent.com

Jean Van’t Hul is the founder of the blog ArtfulParent.com, full of arts-and-crafts activities for kids. She has written two books, The Artful Parent and The Artful Year, and lives in Asheville, NC, with her family.

Replay gallery

Account

12 Ways to Upgrade Your Gift-Wrapping Using Office Supplies

1 of 13

Mondrian

1 of 13

2 of 13

Mandalas

2 of 13

3 of 13

Mod Tree

3 of 13

4 of 13

Little Gifts

4 of 13

5 of 13

Great Garland

5 of 13

6 of 13

Ribbon Run

6 of 13

7 of 13

Confetti

7 of 13

8 of 13

Snowflake

8 of 13

9 of 13

Fireworks

9 of 13

10 of 13

Santa’s Belt

10 of 13

11 of 13

Citrus Slices

11 of 13

12 of 13

Starry Sky

12 of 13

13 of 13

Meet Jean

13 of 13

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery