by Laurie Childree

Created on: November 20, 2008   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

Finding creative gift wrapping ideas is becoming more important with increasing costs and decreasing incomes. Saving money is rather important to everyone now but we still want to give gifts for special occasions. While we don't want the wrapping to be more expensive than the gift we don't want to hand them their gifts in the bag from the store either. There are a number of ways to be creative with gift wrapping and not spend a fortune to make the gifts look appealing when we are giving them.

Do you scrapbook? Smaller items can be wrapped in custom made scrap booking pages. That's right fold the card stock around the gift to get the creases so that the decorations on the page aren't bent and them place your stickers and designs on them. You make the scrap book page reflect what is in the gift.

When you give things in those clothing shaped gift boxes you can decorate the boxes with pictures. The boxes you got those household appliances in can used to place presents in they can be wrapped rather easily. The newspaper can be taken apart and used to wrap larger boxes. A roll of fabric for bows can be purchased rather inexpensively and used to make bows on even the larger presents.

Aluminum foil can be used to wrap gifts too. While it may sound strange when you need shiny wrapping paper for smaller items check you kitchen and use the aluminum foil. Then take out your stickers and place them on the outside of the wrap. You can also use a glue gun to glue fabric on the outside of the gift that is being wrapped.

When you buy individual items that can be grouped together to give as gifts you can purchase a basket to place them all in. Save those tissue papers that come in the things you purchase throughout the year to line the basket with. You can put it in the bottom of the basket and place the items in it and crinkle it between them to cushion them. Then take a clear plastic bag and place the basket in it. Now use some yarn to tie it off and cut the excess material away.

Items such as sweaters can be rolled in the wrapping paper and tied with yarn to keep the packaging closed. Books are a common gift to those that are working on to their continued education (a rather useful gift as well.) These can be "wrapped" in briefcases if the person you are giving the gift to is a business major close to graduation.

There are a million creative gift wrapping ideas that can be used to give gifts with. When time is taken in choosing a gift the wrapping while it doesn't have to be extravagant should be thoughtful and in most cases neat.

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