Thinking Outside the Box - 5 Great Things to Do With Wrapping Paper

My very first job was wrapping gifts for a little department store & I've loved wrapping & paper ever since! There are so many beautiful paper designs on the market & so many other things to do with them than just wrapping boxes. 

Here are a few fun projects that might inspire you to think outside the box when it comes to using gift wrap . . . 

1 - A Backdrop for Photos
It's a lot less expensive than fabric & easier to adhere to the wall.

2 - Transform a Filing Cabinet or Piece of Furniture
The cabinet below was done with Mod Podge. 

3 - Create an Artsy Grouping
Scrapbook paper was actually used in the project below {Mod Podged on stretched canvases}. But a similar effect could be created with coordinating gift wrap paper.  Frames could also be used. 

4 - Table Runners & Placemats

Again, so much less expensive than fabric & it can be cut to fit awkward sized plates {like the square ones below}. Plus, clean up is so easy - just throw it away!

5 - Temporary Wallpaper

That's right - with a few carefully-placed staples, gift wrap can be used as temporary wallpaper. It is best used on a smallish wall like how my friend, Wendy from The Shabby Nest used it. In the photo below, she spiffied up her mud room area. {CLICK HERE} to see her post about it. She said her "faux wallpaper" actually lasted a long time! {Make sure to use a nice, thick paper for a project like this.}

Source - The Shabby Nest

And there you have it. For the record, my favorite gift wrap is called "All Wrapped Up" {based out of Layton, Utah}. I also love the wrapping paper sold at Hobby Lobby from about summer through Christmas {in the Christmas section}. Both have simple, two color patterns on big rolls - plus the paper is nice & thick!

All Wrapped Up wrapping paper - SO pretty!

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