Maybe you can judge a gift by its wrapping. From creating your own printed paper (with something you already have in the kitchen) to thinking outside the box, these gift wrapping ideas make beautiful packages that you and your minis will love. Plus, we've sourced the dreamiest wrapping paper, tags, and ribbons to make wrapping a breeze.
Photography
header image by Anna Palma
Wrap Trinkets in Surprise Ball
There are few things more delightful than watching a child’s face full of glee and awe, as they unravel layer after layer of colorful paper to discover hidden treasures just for them. While you can buy all kinds of beautiful pre-made surprise balls, designer Erin Jang shows us how to make your own to wrap up tiny trinkets, candies, and even jokes.
This simple, classic introduction to printmaking is a lovely way to create wrapping paper or cards with your minis. Because art from her little Picasso is all she really wants for Christmas. Even better, you probably already have everything you need to get started.
Plain craft paper makes the perfect canvas for hand-drawn decorations. Top with a red grosgrain bow and don't be afraid to sweeten the deal with actual treats. Try this for gifting a Christmas mug.
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Think Outside The Box: Use a Basket to Wrap a Gift
The Olly Ella basket is an unexpected package and a present in itself! Wrap related gifts, like doll clothes, musical instruments, or puzzles in tissue and tuck into a rattan basket.
You can also add interest with cute but functional items like cookie cutters or holiday poppers. We love wrapping up cooking gear in simple craft paper and topping with holiday cookie cutters.
A garland doubles as adornment and an actual decoration.Use a solid color paper and top with a star garland that kids can use later to decorate their room - just in time for New Year's Eve. We love Meri Meri's glittering garlands.
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Keep It Playful: Create a Road With a Wrapped Gift
Think of the package as your first chance to engage the recipient and design accordingly! Add a strip of black paper to a wrapped present, add a dashed line with a white pencil and add wooden cars with blue painting tape.
Candylab Toyscreates wooden toy vehicles for every kid – from donut and taco trucks to school buses and old school utility vehicles
Spoiler Alert: Leave a Gift Unwrapped
When a gift is too cute to wrap, resist the urge and let it shine! Stuffed animals can "hold" a gift card envelope, vans or trucks can ferry a small box of trinkets, and a doll can hold a wrapped box of accessories or clothes.
Graphic designer Erin Jang answered our question, "What if gift wrap was worth saving?" with these frame-worthy portraits from the scrap bin that make holiday gifts more meaningful. The pictures can be sweet and simple (marker scribbled on cut construction paper) or more involved (a collage of different papers and found materials). No matter what, that handmade touch–a creative portrait made by the kids with love–will make the gift something to be treasured, even before it’s opened.
It's Easy Being Green: Get Inspiration From Nature
Jeweler Jessica Yee created these botanical-wrapped gifts for her Hanukkah gifts in Mallorca. She wrapped presents in a roll of eco-friendly recycled butcher paper and tucked all these little branches from the forest around her house in a pretty cream ribbon to make each gift feel special. You can adapt this idea to wherever you are if you look for greenery that dries well. An evergreen branch with an attached pine cone, a trimming from your Christmas tree, bittersweet berries, or eucalyptus clippings are all good options. Or use a dried material like wheat, thistle, yarrow, starflower, or canary grass.
Another eco-friendly way to wrap a present is to use scarves or handkerchiefs. Jessica was inspired by the Japanese tradition of Furoshiki (which roughly translates to "wrapping") and found that bandanas seem to be the perfect size - you can find vintage options in so many different colors and prints. .
The Handmade Charlotte created this DIY gift tags and how to get your little ones excited about holiday crafts. They're colorful, use recycled materials, and are shockingly low-mess due to the "smoosh" style they've perfected. We love how it looks just like elevated, abstract art and thought it would be a really fun technique to use during the holiday season so that kids can help out and add a fun custom touch to your gifts.
Merrilee Liddiard, author of “PLAYFUL: Fun Things to Make With and For Kids” and founder of @mer_mag shared this DIY gift topper to make your with major Scandi vibes. How special would this be added to a Christmas book?
You've probably seen similar honeycomb decoration hanging up at party or displayed on a birthday party table. Here's a hack: Since honeycombs come packed flat they're just as fun taped to a package, just like a permanently popped open pop-up card. Kids can hang it up in their room or on a bookcase long after the wrapping paper gets thrown away. Try evergreen trees, mushrooms, nutcrackers, ballet dancers, or rainbows.
You don't have to stick with classic red and green or blue and yellow for the holidays. We love to use a classic holiday color and pair with another that feels a bit off like this green a magenta palette or try mint green and a red-orange or blue paired with sunset shades for Hanukkah.
Put Your Stamp On It
Stamps are another great way to make something feel personal and home-made. From festive trees to kids' initials and cheeky emojis, there are stamps for every vibe. We love Yellow Owl for kid-approved stamps - including a poop emoji guaranteed to get a smile out of even the most over-it teen.
Did you know you could match our exclusive Mr. Boddington's Studio x Maison Me holiday pajamas with wrapping paper in the exact same print? The "This Town Is A Gem" Holiday Gift Wrap comes in a roll of three sheets, just enough to wrap up their Christmas Eve pajamas. The best part? The PJs come in sizes for babies, kids, and adults so you can match each other too.
