Looking for a way to
inexpensively package those hard to
wrap gifts yet give them the personal
touch of a Discount Diva? Or maybe you
are just tired of spending a lot of
money on special occasion wrapping paper
only to see it torn to shreds and discarded.
We have great wrapping alternatives
that are inexpensive, fun and, memorable.
Idea #1: Chinese
Takeout Containers
Think about Chinese Takeout containers!
Unused ones of course. Line the container
with pretty tissue paper and then load
them up with gifts. Put ribbons on the
outside and you have a uniquely wrapped
gift.
Or, if you want to be more creative,
use color markers to decorate the outside
of the containers. (We recommend Sharpies
as they work well on the coated paper
these takeout boxes are usually made
of.) The sky's the limit. See what you
have around the house...glitter glue,
construction paper and stencils, rubber
stamps....get the kids involved. Wouldn't
they love to give their friend a gift
in “wrapping” they made themselves?
These containers are also great for
small gifts like jewelry, decorative
soaps and other items that often don't
come with an easy to wrap box.
Variations of this can be done for any
occasion. If you just need a few containers,
you can ask your local restaurant, or
go to a restaurant supply store. However,
if you would like to stock up for all
year gift wrapping, or share with your
friends, you can buy them online for
about $32.00 for a case of 100. Just
go to any restaurant supply website
such as www.foodservicedirect.com
or www.cineshoppe.com.
Have fun!
(FYI: foodservicedirect.com requires
you to buy in bulk but it's cheaper
in the long run; Ciné Shoppe
lets you buy a few containers at a time.)
Idea #2: Beautiful
Scarves
Diva Pam looks year round for beautiful
scarves of various colors and sizes
and uses them to wrap scented soaps,
candles and similar gifts. She ties
them at the top with pretty satin ribbons
and colorful yarns. Bought for under
a dollar (most at 25 cents), these scarves
have been quite a hit. Lucky recipients
can wear them, use them as a dresser
scarf, or if they are transparent ones,
place them over the top of a lampshade
for a beautiful lamp accent.
Diva Missy uses a similar strategy for
wrapping, only she hunts for pretty
and colorful inexpensive baskets at
flea markets, thrift stores, and garage
sales. She has found these particularly
helpful when needing to wrap several
presents for the same recipient.
Colorful tissue paper can be used to
line the basket, all of the gifts can
be placed inside, and then the top of
the tissue can be secured with pretty
ribbons or yarn.
The basket can also represent a theme.
A baby or children's basket can hold
gifts for young ones, a basket suitable
for storage can be used for holding
housewarming gifts and the like. Baskets
are a great way to hold a collection
of smaller inexpensive gifts that somehow
in combination in a beautiful basket,
look far more expensive than they really
are.
