Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String… {Gift Wrapping Inspiration}

| Allison

Hello, dears!

I wrote this draft a while ago when it September was just starting, and WOW, can you believe it’s almost October now?! WHAT. All the stores are putting out Halloween stuff and getting ready for “the holiday season.” NOOOOO IT’S STILL SUMMER, ISN’T IT? *sigh*

Anyway, September is one of the most birthday-heavy months with our extended family and friends, which is fun! But it means a lot of wrapping gifts. I put together a package for my dear friend Aria‘s birthday a while ago, and since it turned out so pretty, I decided to show you guys! 🙂

I love making presents extra special by putting pretty touches on the wrapping. You don’t need a lot of fancy stuff to beautify a plain package, either – all I used was brown paper and packing paper, washi tape and regular tape, and natural twine. Well, and watercolor paper + watercolors for the tags.

That’s a good place to start – with the tags. I simply cut some house-shaped pieces out of watercolor paper, watercolored some simple flowers on each one, and then punched a hole in the top (not shown, obviously).

gift 2

Later I wrote a short message on the front of each, like “enjoy,” and then a little note on the back about the gift, why I picked it, what I like about it if I have it myself, etc., just to make it more like I was talking to her about it at a birthday party or something. 🙂

gift 3

Now for the presents! I tied each gift with some natural twine after wrapping it, and added one of the pretty tags.

I think this wrapping is super cute! It’s pretty simple, too: I just cut some washi tape into triangles and stuck them on in a slight arc to make a mini banner.

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The following two pictures show ideas of how to wrap narrow, cylindrical or flat(ish) packages. For this one I simply wrapped two bands of washi tape around the edges.

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For this one, I cut out two washi tape hearts and drew over them for extra detail. It looks pretty plain in this picture, but there’s more washi tape on the back. Note: paper washi tape works far better for drawing on than the kinds with a slick finish. You can also draw the heart first and then put the washi tape heart over top – washi tape is translucent enough that the pen or marker will show through.

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I really like this idea as well! Just snip or tear little squares of washi tape (I used a narrow roll), and scatter them around like polka-dots. You could also make a similar pattern with small crosses of tape.

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For these blank ATCs, I decided not to wrap them at all – I tied some twine around them, added a tag, and they were good to go!

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This was really easy too: I made an asterisk of washi tape in the center, and ta-daa!

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Another super simple but cute option: diagonal washi tape stripes. I like the look of the narrow rolls, but of course you can try it with regular width, or mix different sizes for variation.

(Oh, guess what those black specks are from? I was trying to get my Micron pen more inky and flung it back and forth without the lid on. *facepalm* WHYYYY? IT GOT EVERYWHERE. Learn from my mistakes, please, and never fling an open pen. XD)

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Now to put it all together! I got everything to fit JUST right, which was quite pleasing to accomplish, as well as to look at. 😛 As you can see, I stuck washi tape around the exposed edges to attach all the scrapbook paper, and as a pretty way to cover the seams.

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I drew Aria this picture from one of the photographs she took here, and then taped it up with washi tape for easy removal. I also put Scotch tape over top for extra strength.

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The blue flowered box in the bottom right is actually the box that that present came with. It was so pretty that I decided just to tie it up without wrapping it. 🙂

gift 22

If you’re sending a package via mail like I am, it’s fun to decorate the box that you’re sending. I covered the whole box in scrapbook paper or craft paper first. Then for the top, I cut two “tags” out of brown paper, glued them on, and added “stitches” with a pen for extra detail. I also added a little tab in the corner that told her to wait until her actual birthday to open it. 😉

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For the front and back, I cut triangles out of coordinating paper, glued them on with a gluestick, and then taped the seams with washi tape. For the sides I just used sheets of scrapbook paper.

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You don’t have to decorate the bottom much, but I wanted to. 😉 First I added some brown paper, then I cut out some flowers from a leftover scrapbook paper scrap and glued them down. I think this could be cute for the top of the box or as wrapping for a gift, too! I like how they look like stickers.

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I sealed it up with packing tape and then it was ready to go! Here are some tips and tricks for wrapping gifts, before I finish the post.

  • As you’ve probably noticed, I used blue throughout the package, since blue is my friend’s favorite color. 🙂 Use the recipient’s favorite color, pattern, print, etc. to make the gift even more special!
  • When you tie up the packages, it helps the recipient slow down and enjoy the process of opening the gifts… but can also just make them exasperated if you make the gift TOO hard to unwrap, so don’t go that far. XD
  • If you don’t have quite enough room for all your presents, use an empty space inside an actual gift – whether it’s a jewelry chest, toolbox, or recipe tin, like this.
  • For an easy DIY filler, to pack everything in tightly, use an office paper shredder to cut brown paper bags or construction paper into thin strips. The brown paper especially can be used for all sorts of other crafts and packaging as well!

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  • It’s a good idea to cover the whole outer box in packing tape after you’re finished decorating it, so the paper and tape don’t get rumpled or peel off in the mail.
  • Boxes with a flip-up top like I used make it seem more like a gift box and less like a boring ol’ cardboard shipping box.
  • Lastly, I spent this much time and effort on the package obviously because she’s my best friend and I enjoy this sort of thing, but also because I knew she would appreciate it – and she did! On the other hand, presentation doesn’t matter to some people, and that’s totally fine! You just might want to keep this in mind before you go all out with decorations which the recipient wouldn’t care if you skipped in the first place. 😉

Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this post and were inspired to make your next gift extra special with fun gift wrap. 🙂 Which package was your favorite? Which month has the most birthdays for you? And do you like washi tape? (If so, stay tuned for the exciting post I’ve mentioned that includes envelope art as well!)

Thanks so much for reading, dears, and please have yourself a lovely day. ❤

***Allison***

67 thoughts on “Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String… {Gift Wrapping Inspiration}”

  1. Yay! I was the first one to like your post!! 😀 That package is soooo pretty! 🙂 My Birthday is in October which also happens to be one of the busiest months of the year for us. XD Also, That drawing of you and Aria is SO PRETTY!!!!

    -Laura ❤ 🙂

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    1. Hee hee, CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA! *throws confetti* YOU WIN… something?? XD Anyway, thank you so much! Oh yes, I am sending you a package but it might arrive a little late, I’m not sure. :[] I hope not! I can’t wait for you to get it. 🙂 Aww, thanks so much! I like it too. 🙂

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      1. LOL. YAY SOMETHING!! XD Aww! Thank you that is so sweet! 🙂 You did not have to do that!! 🙂 I will be looking out for it though…. XD 😛

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  2. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE THIS NATURALLY. I have so many ideas for YOUR birthday next year. *rubs hands* I LOVED getting to see you put it all together! EEEEEP THIS WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL POST. I LOVED getting the box so much….and unwrapping it…AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH.

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    1. Also I forgot to tell you, but I did frame that picture and it’s now on my floating shelves with three other pictures of us together. ☺

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  5. ALLISON THAT IS THE LOVELIEST BIRTHDAY GIFT ONE COULD ASK FOR!!!! Ahh, I’ll definitely be trying these out- it’s my brother’s birthday today! 😀 What brand of washi tape do you use the most?

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    1. AWW, WELL I’M GLAD YOU THINK SO. Really? That’s great! I would say tell him happy birthday but that might be weird since he’s never heard of me, nor I of him… XD HA HA, but I hope he has a great birthday! Yikes, that’s a hard one. *looks in washi tape drawer* Uh, it’s kind of a grand mix. XD The only brand I can remember is Scotch Tape, but I got several from Hobby Lobby and also from a book called “Washi Tape Crafts.” Other than that, I’m afraid I don’t know! What about you?

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      1. I will say that he has received many well wishes from the kindhearts of the general public of the blogsphere. XD
        Oooh! *makes mental note* I’m not sure, I never used any! 😛

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  6. AWWW ALLISON THAT WRAPPING IS GORGEOUS!!! And the drawinggg is spectacular <33 I absolutely love the little watercolor gift tags. All around, so beautiful! What a fun gift for Aria 😀

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  7. Allison what a lovely job you did. Aria will be so honored that you did a special wrapping for her gifts.
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIA
    Marilyn

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  9. Thank You Allison for the instructions on the wrappings. I like the way you chose Aria’s favorite color on all the packages. Hope Aria had a Happy Birthday.

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  11. Wow, Allison. You are SO amazing. This is all so gorgeous and you put so much effort and detail into everything! I’m trying to put together a (very late XD) birthday package for my friend too inspired by your posts. 🙂
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing all your amazing artwork and creative ideas! Your blog is so inspiring! 😀

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  14. Wow, that is such an awesome package! It’s decorated amazingly, and I love all the artwork and how you wrapped the gifts!! You did a wonderful job! I DO love washi tape and tend to use it a lot, as you probably already know! 😜😂 I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOUR NEXT POST!!!! 🎉😊

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    1. Thanks so much! It was super fun. 🙂 Hee hee, I DO know that – and I love getting your samples! OH, also I got your letter thank you so muuuuch! ❤ I'm currently rather backed up with letters, but I hope I can reply soon! 😉 Also I think the surprise post will be the post after next one, so I have time to *ahem* prepare for it all. 😛 😉 I'm so glad you're excited for it!

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      1. Your welcome! ❤ LOL!! 😛 Oh yay!! I'm sorry how late it was…I was also backed up with letters. No worries at all, take your time! I'll love receiving it in the mail whenever you have time to send it! 🙂 Ooh, yay! Can't wait!

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  20. Happy Belated Birthday, Aria! These are great ideas! I can’t wait to do something like this for my pen pals on their birthdays. My favorite washi tape has sloths on it, what’s yours?
    -Rose

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  21. oh my. Allison these look gorgeous!! I love the creativity spark in this I’ll definitely have to give some of the ideas a try for my friend’s birthday coming up ahah. I’m so in awe. XD lovely post, Allison! sydney xoxo

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  24. Pingback: Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String… {Gift Wrapping Inspiration} — A Farm Girls Life – Bon Bon Lifestyle Webazine

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