For many people, the end of the year is all about twinkling fairy lights, a chill in the air, warm dirnks in hand, festive decorations in and around the house, delicious food and plenty of cosy moments with friends and family. For creative souls, it's also the perfect time to bring out all the craft supplies and make the most beautiful Christmas crafts – from making Christmas cards to wrapping Christmas gifts festively with handmade decorations. It's the most wonderful time of the year!
⁠And of course, no celebration is complete without presents, lovingly chosen and beautifully wrapped. After all, a beautifully wrapped gift is the nicest thing to receive and especially to give. In this blog, we'll show you how to turn every present into a heartfelt surprise in no time!

Wrapping Christmas gifts for beginners

You've made a list and checked it twice, bought or made a gift for everyone - naughty or nice! Now it's time for best part: wrapping your Christmas presents. Add a personal touch to emphasise the element of surprise and wow factor. Even if gift wrapping is not your strong suit or if you're short on time, a roll of paper, scissors and some washi tape will go a long way. Sprinkle on a few embellishments like ribbon, stickers, or glitter and you're good to go. Let yourself be inspired by our nine ideas (plus a few extras) so you can turn any gift into a work of art!

1. Gift envelope: small but creative idea for Christmas gift wrapping

Would you like to give a gift card or money, but find a blank envelope a bit boring for the holidays? Then make your own gift envelope from cardstock. Use a large circle punch to cut out four circles of festive paper, layer them over each other like flower petals and glue them in the middle. Fold the circles in half towards the middle and tie the gift box together with a ribbon.

2. Make your own Christmas wrapping paper

For crafters, standard wrapping paper falls into the category of "I like it, but I can do it much better myself!" Luckily, there are many types of neutral paper that you can decorate to your heart's content. For example, turn brown kraft paper into a custom gift wrap and stamp or paint it in various ways. Go for artistic brush strokes and splatters, or give your paper a wash effect by lightly brushing over it with paint. Let everything dry and you'll have beautiful original wrapping paper!

3. Watercolour gift tags

If you feel like bringing out your inner artist, take some watercolour paper and watercolour paints. Create beautiful winter scenes, a starry night sky or a pine tree. A nice extra: the recipient can recycle the miniature painting by giving it a nice spot in his or her home after unwrapping it.

4. Iron on bead Christmas tree tags

If you like to think out of the box, try making gift tags from iron on beads. Create surprisingly fun combinations with two-coloured beads and baker's twine. It's also a fun Christmas craft activity to do together with your children or grandchildren. And best of all, the tag can be re-used as a Christmas tree ornament afterwards!

5. Christmas gift tags made of cork

There's nothing more exciting than a pile of presents underneath the Christmas tree and trying to spot which presents are for who... Of course, you can scribble names on each package, but making your own gift tags is much more fun. Did you know that it's very easy to write a personal holiday message on a cork tag using a chalk marker? Or that it's simple to cut out a shape in a sheet of cork by using a paper punch? Which design will you choose: a snowflake, bauble or heart?

6. Wrapping paper made from cardstock: sturdy and surprising for Christmas gift wrapping

How about using cardstock to wrap your gifts? At first, it may seem too thick a material to use, but once you crumple it thoroughly the texture changes so that the paper wraps easily around almost any shape. Plus, it creates a fun, unique effect. Don’t feel like crumpling by hand? Then use a Sizzix texture roller – it’s a quick and playful way to achieve the same look!

7. Stamping on felt and using it as wrapping paper

A surprising wrapping idea and alternative to wrapping paper is felt. Felt is very versatile – you can cut it, punch it, and even sew it. But did you know you can also stamp on felt? Use a stamping ink specially designed for use on fabric, such as the Tsukineko Versacraft stamping pads. Other inks don’t dry properly or may smudge, which isn’t ideal if you want to use your stamped felt as wrapping paper.

8. Watercolour gift tags with letter beads

The holidays are all about joyful faces full of excitement. Add a pop of colour to that happiness by painting your own watercolour gift tags in every colour of the rainbow. Go one step further and create a cheerful message or spell out the recipient’s name using letter beads.

9. Punching Christmas stars: a sparkling detail for Christmas gift wrapping

We have various paper punches especially for the holidays. With festive designs such as Christmas trees, reindeer, angels, and star punches in different sizes. With the latter, you can make your gifts truly shine! Punch out stars in different sizes from various colours of (self-adhesive) glitter paper and stick them onto your wrapping paper or gift box for a truly stunning present!

Extra tips

Add a touch of green

At this time of year, you can find all sorts of beautiful natural Christmassy twigs, berries, and greens such as holly, pepper berries and pine cones, at the florist, garden centre or even outdoors to help spruce up a gift. Use rosemary, eucalyptus, or cinnamon sticks to decorate your gift - making it look and smell wonderful! Thread twigs through a wooden bead or string together a number of beads before securing them to the present. Place a small twig of mistletoe underneath a Christmas ribbon or wrap a garland around the parcel. Or, make little Christmas wreaths by wrapping fir twigs around a piece of wire. Very cute!

Woodburned tags

If you’re a more fiery type, grab a woodburning pen and get to work hand-lettering wooden gift tags. Our newest woodburning pen is part of a wonderful pyrography set with interchangeable tips and even stamps!

Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Gift Wrapping

What’s the quickest way to wrap Christmas gifts when you’re short on time?

Use one roll of kraft paper, double-sided tape, and a ribbon. Add a simple tag and you’re done in minutes.

What materials do I need for creative Christmas gift wrapping?

Use kraft or patterned paper, ribbon or string, tags, washi tape, a punch or die-cut, and decorate with greenery or glittery stars.

How can I make my own wrapping paper for Christmas gifts?

Stamp or paint neutral paper with stars, pine trees, or snowflakes. Let it dry well for a unique handmade touch.

How can I avoid tears and messy corners when wrapping?

Choose slightly thicker paper, fold the edges neatly using a bone folder or ruler, and secure corners with small pieces of double-sided tape.

What are sustainable ideas for Christmas gift wrapping?

Use recycled paper, old newspapers, or fabric bags. Decorate with natural materials like pine twigs, eucalyptus, or dried orange slices.

How can I make my gift look luxurious quickly?

Combine plain paper with a satin ribbon, add a handmade tag, and finish with a small star, wax seal, or sparkly decoration.

Ready, set... Wrap!

We hope our ideas have shown you that wrapping Christmas gifts isn’t just practical – it’s a joyful, creative activity for the festive season. The joy of giving starts much earlier this way! Make gift wrapping a celebration in itself: set aside a whole afternoon or evening for gift wrapping, with a pot of tea or a glass of mulled wine, some homemade Christmas cookies and your favourite seasonal music on full blast. Gather all your craft supplies and let your creativity run wild. Make it as simple, original and creative as you like. Remember: when it comes to wrapping Christmas presents, anything goes. It’s the time and care you put into it that truly show how much you value the recipient – and that’s the true spirit of Christmas.

We wish you lots of fun wrapping and gift-giving! Will you show us the result of your new wrapping skills? We look forward to seeing your designs! Share your creations on Instagram with the hashtag #craftedtosmile.