Introduction: Reused Wrapping Paper Wreath
Don't throw out that wrapping paper!
Sure, you might have come up with a great way to wrap your gifts in an environmentally friendly manner, but that doesn't mean that the people giving gifts to you did the same. Here's a way to reuse all that wrapping paper and turn it into a holiday decoration. This is a nice activity to do after the present opening frenzie, and while you wait for dinner. Sure, making x-mas decoration on x-mas seems a little late, but you can keep it up as long as you want, and save it for next year.
Or if you have an early x-mas, like we did, you can make it before x-mas and hang it up.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Here's what you need:
Wrapping paper from all those great presents, tissue paper works too, and a bow.
Scissors
Wire coat hanger, bent into a circle.
That's all!
Step 2: Cut Strips
Now smooth out the wrapping paper a bit, and get it into a piece about 9" wide, by whatever. Roll the paper up, and cut into strips, about 1" wide. Does not have to be precise!!!!
Make a lot of these.
Step 3: Do the Twist
Now, the "fun" part. Take a strip of paper, put it around the coat hanger, and twist, like a twist tie.
Now, do that a million times!
Slide them together to make the wreath full, and do it until you don't see the hanger anymore.
Step 4: Ta Da!
And now that your wreath is full, trim any long pieces, add a bow, (I'm sure you got one on one of those presents) and you're done.
There, you made a free decoration, and you saved some wrapping paper from ending up in the dump. You could even give it to someone as a thank you gift for all the great presents. Or keep it handy for when you realize you forgot to get a present for Aunt Whoever.
Happy Holidays!
First Prize in the
Homemade Holidays: Holiday Decorations
Participated in the
Homemade Holidays: Holiday Decorations
28 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
Like this idea, makes the paper last a little longer too beyond birthday or Christmas! And I like the idea of giving it as a thank you!
9 years ago on Introduction
Great way to re-cycle the paper! It doesn't look tacky either. You have a great idea. Thanks for sharing !
11 years ago on Introduction
Hi! Thanks for this idea. We had our gift opening on Christmas eve with the idea of splitting Christmas day for a family trip. After opening our gifts, I sat down, chilled and used our used paper to make one of these - all out of shiny, silvery paper with a few sparkly silver bows undone and twisted in....and it turned out very pretty. Photos attached. Only "new" thing was the big silver bow for the top (which was actually left over from a big gift bag I used years ago....). I put it on the front of our motor home once we were parked on our trip and I had a compliment on it already!! Much prettier in person. You DO twist paper "a million times" but it's a great "sitting and chilling and watching a movie/tv" type of project. Thanks!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
awesome. looks really nice.
thanks for sharing!
merry x-mas!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Thanks to you, also. In the process of twisting "like a million times" you do wonder: how is this gonna end up looking? Well, just keep at it. As you twist and add and push the twists together and add and add...it's emerges as a great wreath! I plan to do this every year now. I always hated tossing the paper. Also, I took apart 3 or so standard "just stick 'em" bows from the packages, cut them into about 6" chunks and twisted them in and it worked and added some nice additional sparkle. : ) Thanks again!
11 years ago on Introduction
There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas[3] by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas".
"Xmas" is a common abbreviation of the word "Christmas". It is sometimes pronounced /ˈɛksməs/, but it, and variants such as "Xtemass", originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/. The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for "Mass",[1] while the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ".[2]
From Wikipedia
Just sayin' - we're still prayin' : ) not taking Christ out.
11 years ago on Step 4
This is great! :D I love it. Thank you so much.
12 years ago on Introduction
We did this in 1968, in my brownie troop, using dry-cleaning bags... So you can use those, garbage bags, tissue paper. Thanks for the reflective reminder of times gone by...
12 years ago on Introduction
It's really brillant, I used your idea but I don't have enough instrument. So I used anything I can find to make it happen. Well it looks a little cheazy, but it still adorable. Anyway thank you so much for tell us the idea. You make my Christmas Christmas:)
12 years ago on Introduction
very nice. i tried to make one with used plastic bags. it looks cute, i think..
thanks for the idea!
12 years ago on Introduction
this was an awesome idea!!!
i used your idea, but instead of wrapping paper, i used wire ribbon. here's how it came out:
thanks for the great idea!!!!
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
very nice.
I had made one before with strips of fabric. I had cut them so they were about 2" by12" with pinking shears.
It's a good way to use up old fabric too.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
hey, yeah, that IS a good idea for old fabric.... thanks!
12 years ago on Step 4
Love this idea.
12 years ago on Step 4
Way COOL! I will be teaching my 10 year old cousin. Thanks!
12 years ago on Introduction
i also use wrapping paper to make tiny wrapped boxes for tree decor.i wrap match boxes and hang them on the tree.sometimes i put a gift inside
12 years ago on Introduction
now i can take all those ugly wire hangers and turn them into gifts for thanksgiving
13 years ago on Step 4
Thanks for giving me an idea about how to do the wreath...I'm going to teach this art activity to m student...once again thank you...I love it.
13 years ago on Introduction
So pretty. How do you keep the twisted paper from unraveling?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
it just stays put. magic i guess.