How to Make Cheap and Creative Christmas Cards and Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas

The Holiday season is approaching and everyone is getting ready to shop for Christmas gifts. So much money and time is put into shopping that when it comes to getting cards and wrapping gifts the budget can be tight. Here are some decorating ideas on how to make your Christmas cards and wrapping great even if you have a low budget.

Gift Boxes

A friend of mine does this every year and the gifts she gives look glamourous after she is down with her gift boxes. What you can do is go to a craft store like Michael's or Joanns and purchase some brown boxes they can range in price usually less than a dollar or sometimes you may be able to buy them in bulk. After purchasing the boxes you can choose to either paint each one or spray paint them. My friend found it easier to spray paint the boxes and she usually uses silver, gold, red, or green so they can sparkle in holiday colors. After painting or spray painting the boxes you can decorate them with different ribbons, bows, craft jems, so whatever else you can think of. What makes these gift boxes great is that all you have to do is put the present inside and it is easy to open. It also is a gift within itself because the recipient of the present can save the box and use it again.

Gift Baskets

This gift wrapping idea can also be a great present. If you have a bunch of little gifts for someone and don't know how to decorate or wrap them you can always make a Gift basket and have one big gift for someone. Gift baskets are also pretty easy to do and inexpensive especially when you already bought the gifts. To make a gift basket all you have to do is go to a craft store like Michael's or Joann's. You can purchase cheap baskets there. They range in price depending on the size. To decorate the bottom of the basket you can get tissue paper, shredded color paper, or anything that can cover the bottom of the basket after placing the gifts inside. You also need cellophane to wrap the basket in. Cellophane is the clear wrap that covers the gift basket. You wrap the basket in cellophane and then tie a bow on top of it. To make the cellophane shrink you can use a blow dryer. This is a great way to decorate gifts.

Gift Balloons

Gift Balloons are another creative way to wrap a gift if you can find places who offer this option. Some department stores during the Christmas season offers a service where they can wrap small gifts inside a big clear balloon. Small gifts include teddy bears, toys, light items.

Pinatas

Pinatas are fun for all occasions. A pinata is a decorate paper-mache figure that you can put toys, candy, or even cards in. This way of decorating can be very creative and fun for everyone. You can either choose to make a Pinata or purchase one at the store which are pretty inexpensive. In the pinata you can either put presents that are wrapped inside or just use the pinata to wrap the gift. You can either decide to hang up the pinata and let the person receiving the gift break the pinata or you can just let the person open the gift.

Donate to Gift Wrapping

During the Christmas season there are many groups that do gift fundraising outside of malls and department stores. Many groups gift wrap for free but ask for donations. This is a great way if you want your gifts nicely wrapped and at the same time you can support a good cause.

Photo Gift Cards

Want to personalize your cards? Then making photo gift cards are very personal and great to make. You can either make them on your computer through a photo program and some photo paper or you can go to any photo store, or kinkos and they can make them there as well.

Drawing or Painting your own gift cards

If you are a good artist or painter you can also make your own gift cards. All you need are some good paints, drawing paper or art paper, and your creativity. This is a great personal way of giving cards. If you don't want to draw or paint more than one card then you can always use a copier to make multiples of a card.

Make Your own gift cards

If you aren't the best artist but still would like to make your own cards you can also do this. There are many things you can use to make and design a card. The best things I have found are scrapbooking items and stickers. These items are cheap and easy to find at Walmart, Target, Michael's, Joanns, or other crafts stores.

These are just a few unique and inexpensive ways to make cards and decorate gifts for the Christmas season!