Gift Giving New Uses for Old Things

Hanger as Ribbon Organizer

Turn a tangle of ribbons into a neat presentation. Hang coordinating colors over the prongs of a tie hanger.

Stickers as Book Labels

Hey, math can be colorful! Wrap textbooks in simple paper and use alphabet stickers to label the spines.

Ribbon as Photo Matte

Glue ribbon around an existing matte to turn a basic frame into one-of-a-kind art.

Ribbon as Shoelace

Let everyone know you march to the beat of your own drum; use colorful ribbon in place of shoelaces. Change when the mood strikes.

Toilet Paper Tube as Wrapping Paper Holder

Slide empty toilet paper tubes over wrapping paper to keep it from unraveling.

Ribbon as Place Card Embellishment

Punch four holes around a piece of cardstock, then tie two pieces of ribbon along the top and bottom to make a striped place card.

Wrapping Paper as Confetti

You could toss old giftwrap in the garbage or… in the air. Use a hold punch to turn gently used paper (or last year’s stock) into confetti.

Ribbon as Utensil Holder

When utensils are wrapped together, guests can grab what they need in one go—great for a buffet table.

Gift Tags as File Label

Use leftover, adhesive gift tags to label file folders. Holly leaves = medical records, Santa = bills (obviously—you owe him for the bike, the LEGOS, the dollhouse…).

Holiday Tags as Drink Labels

Merlot gone missing? A small, adhesive gift tag keeps each drink in the right hand.

Shoelace as Ribbon

Happy birthday, sport! Use a (clean) shoelace for a simple, reusable gift tie.

Kid Art as Holiday Wrap

Oh, that’s grandma dressed as an alligator? Perfect for wrapping her birthday gift. (And the fridge door is full anyway.)

Gift Box as Sugar Holder

More lovely to look at than the branded box from the store, but it still slides easily into the pantry for storage.

Cupcake Liner as Mason Jar Lining

Secure a cupcake liner over the top of a jar with a rubber band. It can be a temporary fix if you’ve lost the lid, a pretty solution to keep flies out of the lemonade, or a cute topper for a gift-in-a-jar.

Jewelry Box as Coaster

A pretty jewelry box top is the perfect size for most wine glasses. Decorate the inside or add some confetti for a party.

Tissue Paper as Wrinkle Preventer

Avoid ironing while on the road. Pack clothes between layers of tissue paper and they’ll arrive wrinkle-free.

Paper Clips as Wrapping Paper Holder

Use paper clips to keep wrapping paper from unraveling.

Branch as Gift Wrap

Spruce up a wrapped gift. Tuck pretty sprigs into the ribbon in place of a bow.

Luggage Tag as Gift Label

Slip a gift label inside a tag.

Book as Misleading Gift Box

To foil present-guessers, hide the real gift in a hollowed-out book. Using a box cutter carve a space just large enough to hold the small item.

Coasters as Gift Tags

For clever gift tags that capture a travel memory, hang on to cardboard coasters from the bars and the restaurants you visit on your journey. When you return home with souvenirs for friends and family, punch a hole near the edge of the coaster, tie a ribbon through the hole, and write a quick note in an empty space (or on the blank side).

Dish Towel as Wine Bag

Place the bottle along one side of the fabric so that the bottle’s top meets the top of the fabric. Fold the excess material at the bottom over the bottle, forming a pocket of sorts. Then roll the dish towel evenly and secure at the neck with ribbon.

Easter Baskets as May Day Gifts

Maximize your green quotient by recycling that Easter basket for a May Day treat. Simply fill the basket with treats—a batch of fresh-baked cookies, candies, flowers and candles, or something more elaborate—for a surprise on your best friend or relative's doorstep.

Flat Iron as Ribbon Smoother

Get the kinks out of wrinkled wrapping ribbons that were tied around your birthday presents for recycled bows without the telltale creases from the previous gift box.

Gift Box as Cupcake Carrier

If the forecast calls for iced roadways, stabilize your sweet cargo by cutting X’s into the tops of gift boxes and inserting the cupcakes. (A shirt box will hold about eight.)

Greeting Cards as Gift Tags

Create a gift tag by cutting a greeting card down to size, then punch a hole in the corner and slide a ribbon through it.

Dictionary as Art

Send a message that speaks volumes. Make a blow-up copy of an entry that relates to the occasion (for Valentine’s Day, try kiss or love) and use a highlighter to mark your most heartfelt sentiments.

Puzzle Pieces as Refrigerator Magnets

Send party guests home with one-of-a-kind favors. Parcel out groups of pieces from an incomplete puzzle and glue a magnet to the back of each. A single box will yield enough decorative sets for dozens of refrigerators.

Paint Chips as Valentines

Create a homemade Valentine with rose-colored swatches cut and arranged in a sweet way on craft paper.

Paper Shredder as Gift Wrap Maker

Dress up presents by running tissue through a shredder instead of scrunching it inside boxes and gift bags.

Paper Towel Holder as Ribbon Organizer

For easy access when you're wrapping, slide spools of ribbon with at least a one-inch diameter opening onto the towel stand's post. Stack the spools from largest to smallest, bottom to top, and tape the ribbon ends to their spools when you're not using them.

Pewter Tray as Guest Book

Create a one-of-a-kind wedding keepsake by renting an engraving pen from a hardware store and asking guests to sign their names on the platter.

Shoe Organizer as Gift Wrap Storage

Arrange gift wrapping supplies so you can easily locate bows, ribbons, scissors, and tape.

Sock as Wine Bag

Slip a (clean) patterned kneesock over the bottom of a bottle, then knot the top to create a decorative carrier. Better yet, offer your hostess two bottles so she can later enjoy toasty toes.

Sugar Bowl as Homemade Candle Holder

Fill mismatched sugar bowls and tea cups with melted wax and a wick for beautiful handmade gifts.

Wire Hanger as Ribbon Dispenser

Dispense ribbon for wrapping gifts. Untwist the hanger—or pop out the cardboard-tube bottom of a hybrid hanger from the dry cleaner—and slide on spools for easy storage.

Farfalle as a Gift Bow

All out of premade bows? Tie up wrapped gift boxes with cooking twine and farfalle pasta.

Jump Rope as Ribbon Replacement

Jump-start a trend with this fun, colorful decoration that doubles as a bonus gift.

Key Chain as Gift Tag

Add a fun touch to a gift box by using a bright key chain as a tag, attached with big rubber bands in place of ribbon. The recipient will love it, even if it doesn’t go with a bow-wrapped Lexus in the driveway.

Lightbulb as Ribbon Smoother

To smooth a wrinkled ribbon, hold it taut, run it over the surface of a clean, warm (but not too hot) lightbulb. (Caution: To avoid singeing the fabric, don't use a bulb that has been on for more than five minutes or so.) You'll have a beautiful bow all without hauling out the iron.
 

Newspaper as Wrapping Paper

Save the comics section for a child's birthday surprise or use the wedding announcements for an engagement.

Paint Chips as Gift Tags

Paint-sample strips make great gift tags. Besides all those hues, they’re printed with fantasy-inspiring names, like Flamingo Dream. Slide one under a ribbon, or punch a hole and thread ribbon through as a tie.

Pant Hanger as Gift Wrap Organizer

Keep individual sheets of wrapping paper crease-free by hanging them from the clips. Do the same with gift bags, or drape their handles over the hook of the hanger. (You can also use a shoe organizer: Stash scissors, tape, gift tags, and other decorating supplies inside the compartments.)

Photo Corners as Gift Tag Securers

Neater and more attractive than Scotch tape (but just as easy to apply), self-adhesive photo corners make even the simplest wrap job look impressive.

Plastic Bag as Gift Wrap

No time to make an emergency pre-party run for wrapping paper? Riffle through your bags to find the prettiest and most colorful―or just ones without writing. Triple-bag the gift, then tie all three sets of handles into a knot. Cut the tops of the loops and fan out the pieces to make a plume.

Ribbon as Gift Bag Handle

Give a white gift bag a makeover with a simple ribbon transplant. String the ends of the ribbon through the holes to the inside of the bag and tie knots to hold them in place.

Wall Calendar as Wrapping Paper

Use expired calendar pages to wrap gifts. Because the sheets are just the right size to cover paperback books and other small items, pictures from past months can find new life with a present.

Laundry Hamper as Wrapping Paper Holder

Store tubes of gift wrap in a tall hamper. Keeping them upright will prevent wrinkles and tears.

Rubber Bands as Gift Bow

Add a snazzy touch to a gift in a snap. Instead of tracking down a bow, stretch several colored bands around the box. Bonus: You can slide a card under the bands.