If you envision the most perfect Christmas morning picture in your head, chances are beautifully wrapped packages and bows peeking from beneath gilded tree branches are part of that vision. But did you know that bows, wrapping paper and ribbon are, for the most part, not recyclable? Due to components of foil, glitter and plastics, majority of our holiday gift trimmings end up in a land fill instead of a recycling center! Just think of the Christmas wrap aftermath that fills your trash bins after the holiday and times that by the hundreds of millions of households that also celebrate the gift giving tradition and you can see why this is a major problem! The amount of holiday waste that comes from gift packaging alone is astounding (in all the wrong ways)!

So what can we do to be more eco- friendly and make a real difference? The best thing to do is to use only paper wrap and bows such as brown kraft paper or white butcher paper. The next best thing that you can do is carefully unwrap your gifts this year and then reuse and upcycle your holiday wrapping paper. To help inspire you, here are 25 fun DIY upcycle projects to get you started!

25 Ways To Upcycle Christmas Gift Wrap

Notebook Or Book Covers

I don’t know about you, but growing up we were always required to cover our school textbooks at the beginning of the school year. If your children are required to do this, or if you just want to make your bookshelf staples or notebooks pretty, consider saving your gift wrap to create book covers.

Photo Credit: www.eighteen25.com

Cover Storage Boxes Or Cannisters

A few years back, I bought pretty paper to cover old formula cans and show boxes to place all of my crafts in… I would have saved lots of money and been much friendlier to the Earth if I had used old wrapping paper! Simply measure out and cut the amount needed and then use Mod Podge to stick/glue to paper to the boxes and containers! You can also add layers of Mod Podge on the outside of the paper once it is glued into place to harden and preserve the paper similar to that of a lacquer.

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Photo Backdrops

For large pieces of gift wrap, simply roll nicely and store for next year’s holiday photos! When the time comes, simply tape to your wall with wall friendly tape, set the timer on your camera, and jump into the frame with your family!

Bookshelf Or Drawer Liners

Spruce up old bookcases or kitchen and bathroom drawers with some pretty liner paper. For this one I would be sure to stay away from gift wrap with glitter to ensure that glitter doesn’t end up on everything that you own! Simply measure out and cut the necessary paper, spray the backside with spray adhesive, and smooth into place!

Photo Credit: www.jewelsathome.com

Gift Or Storage Shred

I tend to do this often with our used gift wrap that is torn or in small pieces and unusable for much else. Simply run the paper through a clean paper shredder and then collect all the shred. Use this the next holiday season for gift bags and boxes or use it for packing away all of your breakable holiday decor!

Spruce Up A Doll House

Have you ever seen those cute vintage looking doll house with the adorable wall papers? I have always wanted to craft a doll house for my girls, but since they are not into dolls I will just have to live vicariously though someone else! Use bits of used wrapping paper and Mod Podge the paper to the walls, roof, doors, furniture of the doll house to create a truly special heirloom piece!

Photo Credit: www.thesweetersideofmommyhood.com

Make A Decorative Tray

Make a fancy coffee table tray or serving tray without shelling out the big bucks! These would even be perfect for hostess gifts! Buy inexpensive trays (think dollar store or Target) and cover the flat surface with a beautiful portion of used gift wrap! Use Mod Podge to adhere the paper in place and, once dried, add another few layers to the outside of the paper to protect and harden it.

Photo Credit: www.365daysofcrafts.nikimeiners.com

Frame For Seasonal Décor

You seriously can not get any easier of a décor DIY than this. Pick up some Ikeas or Dollar Store frames, cut out the appropriate dimensions from your gift wrap, and slide the paper into place within your frame! These make beautiful, yet easy to switch up, season décor pieces!

Photo Credit: www.lhfineartconsultant.com

Make Wrapping Paper Beads

I don’t know about you, but I remember in grade school making paper beads often. You children can have fun using some of their leftover gift wrap to make paper bead necklaces! An added bonus: this gets those little fingers working on fine motor skills and sparks creativity!

Photo Credit: www.compostandcava.com

Envelope Liners

I have always had a thing for envelope liners and I must say, using old gift wrap for this purpose is a genius idea! Simply get the appropriate sized envelope liner template traced onto cardboard or thick paper and then cut out several liners for use in next season’s holiday cards!

Photo Credit: www.katrinacrouch.blogspot.com

Napkin Rings

Decoupage used gift wrap onto cardstock or laminate your used gift wrap and then cut out strips to be used for napkin rings! Staple or tape the ends of the strips together to hold the rings in place. Yet another way to be extra prepared for the holidays next year!

Paper Cone Christmas Tree

This gorgeous Christmas décor tutorial from crafts-for-all-seasons was too good not to share. Not only can you use both the gift wrap as well as the wrapping paper cardboard tube for this project; but this DIY can also be something that you work together with family members on giving some good old fashioned bonding time!

Photo Credit: www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com

Wrapping Paper Tape

This DIY will allow you to make the cutest decorative tapes straight from your used gift wrap and tissue paper! You will no longer need to spend money on tape and will have some of the cutest packages around!

Photo Credit: www.thegunnysack.com

Reuse

This may go without saying… but I’m going to say it anyways! Reuse that gift wrap! Carefully fold those used pieces into manageable sized squares and store them away for use next year. This is one of the easiest ways you can be eco-friendly with your gift wrap this year!

Scrapbook Paper

If you are a scrapbooker many wrapping paper scraps can be turned into scrapbook art! Use as background papers or cut shapes and letters out of the paper to document your holiday season! Children will also love scrapbooking their Christmas as well and this can start a fun new family tradition!

Christmas Ornaments

Turn beautiful wrap into tree ornaments by either decoupaging small square sized pieces to clear craft ornaments or cutting the gift wrap into confetti sized pieces and inserting it inside the clear craft ornaments!

Photo Credit: www.schneiderpeeps.com

Turn Into A Gift Bag

Have any good quality shopping bags lying around? Glue appropriately sized pieces of wrapping paper to the outer surfaces of the shopping bags to turn any ordinary paper bag into a gift bag!

Gift Tags

Laminate or glue used gift wrap onto card stock to create gift tags. After gluing or laminating cut your gift wrap into any shape you choose, tie a ribbon around the end and store them with your holiday wrap for next year!

Origami

If you are experienced with origami, or if you are curious to learn, you can create beautiful masterpieces with your used holiday wrap. You can even strong these origami creations together to create a garland or use them as place cards for a dinner party!

Photo Credit: www.kitchenfloorcrafts.blogspot.com

Bookmark

Similar to creating the gift tags, use your leftover wrap to glue onto cardstock or laminate (or both) and turn into a pretty bookmark! After gluing or laminating cut your paper into rectangular strips and tie a ribbon at the end. These could also make cute gifts!

Decoupage Furniture

Have a step stool, table, or chair seat that needs sprucing up? Use Mod Podge to decoupage gift wrap onto pieces of furniture that need a little refresh. Little pops of color and pattern can transform any room décor!

Packing Paper

Will you or someone you know be moving in the near future? Use that gift wrap to wrap breakable items in prior to boxing them up to prevent the need for purchasing packaging paper or bubble wrap!

Make Decorative Fans Or Pinwheels

If you have a party coming up you can easily create paper fans or pinwheels to decorate for your event! Thicker paper does tend to work best for this DIY ideas!

Photo Credit: www.dreamgreendiy.com

Make A Placemat

Cut out a placemat sized piece of gift wrap, laminate it, and you have yourself a custom placemat!

Photo Credit: www.oleanderandpalm.com

Cover A Clipboard Or Binder

Similar to covering books and notebooks, use that leftover pretty paper to liven up and add some color to those boring clipboards or binders!