I have always loved making my own wrapping paper. Of course, it does save money, but I also think it adds a personal touch to your gift! So that made me love this suggestion a reader sent in even more:
I use old road maps and even “maps” from attractions like the zoo, botanical garden etc. as gift wrap. ~Kat
How perfect is that, especially for someone who loves to travel as much as I do? I have maps from all over the world! Instead of tossing them in a box, I’m pulling them out this year and wrapping gifts with them. You can customize the maps for each recipient. For instance, The Girl and I love to go to London, so I’m going to wrap her gifts in London maps. Monkey Boy loves theme parks, so I’m going to wrap his in a park map from when we went to California a few years ago.
I think this is such a unique idea that won’t cost you a dime. In fact, it will actually save you money you would have spent on all that wrapping paper.
Do you love this idea as much as I do?
Have you ever used anything unusual to wrap a gift in?
~Mavis
Leslie says
I LOVE this idea! I am definitely doing it next year!! Thanks
Carrie says
Before GPS’s my stepdad would ask for a new road atlas every year for Christmas. I made fancy envelopes with the old maps but never thought of wrapping with them! So cool! To make an envelope you first have to deconstruct an envelope you have on hand to make a template, trace, cut and then fold and glue the edges. 🙂
Marilyn says
My now daughter in law used old maps as part of her wedding flowers! They live in Colorado and hike the mountains all of the time so it was perfect!
Lori says
When I was growing up my mom would save the Sunday funny papers( cartoons) . Our gifts were always wrapped in them.
Lunch Lady says
I use old maps for origami stars for Christmas gifts! Easy and unique, no need to wrap.
Christine says
My husband is a structural steel detailer and uses extra large prints. When they no longer use them, they make great wrapping paper, especially for guys!
Helen says
I used to use the cartoon section of the newspaper. My. Husband had a cow. I don’t see what’s wrong with it.
Kate says
We have annual passes to our local theme parks. I just tuck our park map for the day in my bag when we leave. It makes perfect wrapping paper!
Laure says
Love using maps. I’ve found using them as gift wrap has a bonus “saving $” feature — if the recipient is a child (and often this works for adults, too), they get so caught up in looking at the map, figuring out if they’ve been there before, and exactly where…that the gift itself is kind-of secondary. Sort-of like how toddlers often play more with the box a toy came in than the toy itself 🙂
I also use the large patterned (often shiny) paper that sometimes comes to protect a flowering plant from the grocery store or florist. Sometimes it’s printed with something store-specific (so use the white side) but often it’s not, just a generic pattern that is changed every month or so, and the piece of shiny paper can be even larger than gift wrap, so great for big gifts
I also use leftover rolls of wallpaper, and even oversized magazine pages (need to be taped together) if I have a magazine that is particularly appropriately themed for a given person. Lastly, I’ve used any free posters that came my way.
Kate says
Ooh! Magazines and posters! I never thought of that. Stealing! 😉