Decoy Gift Wrapping

 by gogglecrab
Featured
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The holiday season is here and Christmas is just around the corner, Which got me thinking... wouldn't a Christmas or a birthday gift be more of a surprise if the person was expecting the expected and received the unexpected? (try saying that 3 times fast!) And that's when I came up with the Decoy gift wrap, It's made to look like an obviously wrapped present, (A power drill in my case) but in reality it's something completely different (An iPod touch)And this gift isn't limited to only a only a power drill, the possibilities are endless you can make a decoy gift that's the most unfitting to the selected person! It's a lot of fun to make and you'll get a priceless reaction out of it, let's begin!
 
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Step 1: Materials & supplies

Here's a list of all the stuff you'll need to make this project:
  • Hot glue gun/Hot glue sticks
  • Scissors
  • Cardboard
  • Old newspaper
  • Flour
  • Water
  • Mixing bowl
  • Duct tape/Scotch tape
  • Saran wrap
  • A decoy gift
  • A real gift
  • Wrapping paper
  • Utility knife
I chose a power drill not only because it's an odd thing to give to a regular person, But the iPod also fit in the bottom battery pack section perfectly!
ATTILAtheHUNgry says: Dec 21, 2012. 3:11 PM
This is an amazing idea, and very well executed. Bravo
poofrabbit says: Nov 17, 2012. 2:52 PM
HA!! I love this I now must start making decoy boxes for this year thanks for the great idea!
gogglecrab (author) in reply to poofrabbitNov 17, 2012. 7:25 PM
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
djyorkie says: Oct 13, 2012. 11:44 AM
before seeing this, i had actually planned on taping my wifes best small presents to an ironing board, and then wrapping that up for under the tree... i can imagine her face on seeing it. come on... who gives their mrs an ironing board for christmas. i may even use this technique to make a "wrapped iron" for her too lmao.
DrJase says: Oct 7, 2012. 10:49 AM
Brilliant ible!

I once gave my brother-in-law a DVD where I'd replaced the inlay card with one I created in Photoshop so I looked like a porn film! His face was a picture as he tried to hide it from my sister!!!
Frederbee says: May 21, 2012. 12:47 PM
I like to put a (well-sealed) box of broken glass inside these- they shake it and I say, "Uh-oh..." Best reactions ever
pie popper says: Jan 19, 2012. 5:56 PM
haha, I love doing this! I had gotten my brother MW3 for Christmas, and I knew as soon as he felt it through the paper he would know what it was, so I stripped an old book of its cover, taped the case inside and wrapped it up. Because the book cover was a bit bigger then the case, it felt just like a book. It was priceless.
e-spiv says: Jan 5, 2012. 10:07 PM
Excellent instructable, it inspired me to think creatively about my friend's birthday party. A little cardboard and wok becomes turtle!
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gogglecrab (author) in reply to e-spivJan 6, 2012. 8:49 AM
I'm glad you enjoyed it! It look's awesome, great job!
ginger20037 says: Dec 30, 2011. 9:15 AM
Reminds me of one year when I told my parents I wanted my own set of tools (both power and regular) They gave me a tiny red handsaw on Christmas Eve, then on Christmas they said 'Santa came' and I got the power tools. xD
Then another year, or maybe it was the same year, I said I wanted a camera and they come back with one of these disposable ones. then later on they gave me the actual gift which was a camcorder.
since then I have been doing the box in the box with a crap load of packing tape and hiding any sharp objects in the house. hehe
fluffydragon says: Dec 27, 2011. 3:11 PM
How about a weight in the middle to better disguise it? Or even something weird like a small bottle of water that sloshes?

For Christmas, I gave my brother a gift card taped to a brick, and wrapped in 5 layers of various kinds of 'gift wrap' He almost missed the card because of the side he opened first XD.
gogglecrab (author) in reply to fluffydragonDec 27, 2011. 3:46 PM
Haha! that must have been a surprise to him! But yes, I have thought of adding weight to it, I was just a little short on time, possibly a paper weight, some marbles, rocks?lol anything that's small and heavy would work, or something like you said, A small water bottle of sorts. :-)
finansiatika says: Dec 27, 2011. 12:55 AM
Thus no one will guess what's inside
grannyjones says: Dec 25, 2011. 4:32 PM
When we were teens, I gave my brother an electric toy pinball machine;
but first he was presented the batteries, wrapped in cardboard tubes
assembled to look like a pipe maze. It was so darn funny.
l8nite says: Dec 24, 2011. 10:39 PM
evil EVIL mind.. I LOVE IT ! My favorite decoy/joke wrapping was the box in a box in a box, ending with a necklace box from a local jeweler, inside of which was a screwdriver set (she HAD been complaining she could never find a screwdriver!) ok it almost got me killed/divorced but the look was WELL WORTH it. I've been warned to behave each holiday since but... maybe a hammer that's REALLY a necklace ? GREAT IDEA thank you for sharing
gogglecrab (author) in reply to l8niteDec 25, 2011. 1:20 PM
Great idea! go for it, as long as the real gift is better that the decoy there will be no murdering required! lol
artisnotfart says: Dec 24, 2011. 4:23 PM
I'm making something like this, but bit different
gogglecrab (author) in reply to artisnotfartDec 24, 2011. 5:49 PM
That's cool, good luck with it
sherrycayheyhey says: Dec 23, 2011. 9:30 PM
I'm a fan and longtime user of the decoy gift wrapping method but for me that usually means wrapping a gift in a box many times it's size or doing the box within a box within a box.... You took it to a whole other level though and are the master of decoy gift wrapping!
gogglecrab (author) in reply to sherrycayheyheyDec 24, 2011. 5:43 PM
Why thank you!
scoochmaroo says: Dec 24, 2011. 9:56 AM
I think the main image is a bit confusing. I might not have clicked on it if it weren't in the gift wrap challenge. But I'm so glad I did! I think maybe the second image would make a better main image. It doesn't tell the whole story, but it's a lot clearer to me what the picture is.
gogglecrab (author) in reply to scoochmarooDec 24, 2011. 1:04 PM
Now that you say that I can see what you're saying, thanks for the help!
scoochmaroo says: Dec 24, 2011. 9:54 AM
That is awesome. I am totally going to store this one in the back of my mind for future use.
susanrm says: Dec 23, 2011. 8:22 PM
Ha ha, that's funny! It only works well if the real gift is better than the decoy, though. :-)
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