We all love creative and thrifty ways to save a little money during this time of the year when our shopping budget suddenly sky rockets. Christmas wrapping of gifts can often be a challenge to make them look different than years of the past. This is also a great time to test your imagination and come up with innovative ideas to re-purpose and save on small details like Christmas gift wrapping.

Here are three creative ideas to put your old knitted sweaters to use as gift wraps and accessories

Christmas Gift Ideas: Gift Wrapping with Repurposed Sweaters 

1. Christmas treat bags

Chunky cable knit sweaters represent Christmas-y winter days like nothing else. Why not use your old sweater to create treat bags for the kids. Cut two pieces approximately 6 inches x 10 inches in size. Fold over the top and hem with a needle and thread to prevent the wool from unraveling. Next place the two pieces on top of each other with their right side facing each other. Hot glue the three sides together leaving the opening on the top. Turn over the bag and fill with small treats. Close the mouth with a ribbon and decorate with embellishments.

Image via: Shopgirl Maria

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2. Sweater wine bags

You can re-purpose patterned knit sweaters for interesting wine bags. Look for bright and cheerful patterns that convey the spirit of Christmas. To make these wine bags, measure your bottle leaving about one inch from the top. Cut the sleeve of your sweater according to the measurement. Make sure that the cuff of your sweater is included in the cut piece. This will be the top of the bag. Flip the piece inside out and hot glue the bottom together. Place your wine bottle inside and tie a ribbon, twine or wool around the neck to fasten it. Decorate with pompoms, bows etc.

 Image via: Kelebeginruyasi

 3. Sweater gift tags

Once you have finished making your sweater wine bags and treat bags, use the left over pieces of the sweater to make cute gift tags. Use cookie cutters to trace your desired shape onto a piece of stiff paper. Make sure the patterns are not too complicated. Cut two pieces of the sweater according to the pattern. Place the pieces with the right sides facing outside. Stitch together with a needle and strong thread using short running stitches. Leave a little gap and stuff with cotton batting or use shreds of the sweater. Close the gap and hot glue a jute twine to hang on your gift bags and boxes.

Image via: Your home based Mom

 By re-purposing and re-using old sweaters you will be able to save a lot of money on gift wrapping which in itself can get quite expensive. These creative and easy ideas will be appreciated by your friends and family alike.

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Christmas is the season of giving and sharing our blessings is here. It’s the time of the year when people are busy shopping for items that will show their gratitude and care for their loved ones. But it’s not just the items that you have to prepare; wrapping your gifts is also a concern.

Festive Ideas for Wrapping with Gift Bags

Image via: Cricut holiday

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The art of wrapping gifts is getting popular because of the impressive beauty it brings to any gift. It sets the tone and excitement to the person receiving the gift by just looking at your gift wrapping design. One of the most popular today is the gift bags. It comes in different styles and very easy to use. Here are festive ideas for wrapping your items with gift bags.

Start by using a colorful flat bottom paper bags

This is very essential for your inner wrap. It secures your item from being exposed to the recipient just before he or she opens your gift.  It comes in different color and sizes. This colorful flat bottom paper bag or also known as lunch sack gives a decent look in your gift bag.

Dress it up

Aside from the original designs of your gift bags, you can enhance it by dressing it up with a band of patterned papers. You can attach it with a double sided tape to make it look neat and presentable. The patterned paper can be a part of craft paper or anything that will match the design of your gift bags. It will make a highlight of the gift bag.

Image via: Feu-Feu

Have a personalized gift tag

To add more festive look at your gift bag, it is very important to have a well-designed gift tag. This idea will appear more impressive if you will do it personally. You print out a design from your computer and write down your message in the tag.

The best thing with gift bags is its flexibility and ease of use. You just have to slip your item inside and seal the top.  A wonderful and attractive gift is now ready to provide excitement and smile to anyone who receives it.

For more holiday gift wrapping ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Image via: Eddie Ross

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Original Entry #857, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! So you have 2 days left until Christmas and the pressure is starting to build.. can you feel it? I will be honest, most years I have my gifts wrapped by now, stocking stuffers ready, and all I’m doing is cooking…. Well, not this year! Me and my hubby have quite a few gifts to wrap in the next 24 hours… the pressure is ON!

Today, I went on search for quick and easy gift wrapping ideas. While I love a pretty present, I also love saving time, and my gifts looking great too! Martha Stewart once again saved the day with these great ideas. See which ones you love the best… I am loving the potato chip bag wrapping and kids artwork wrapping! wheh hew!

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Craft Paper Gift Wrap

For oddly shaped gifts and those that need sturdy wrapping, make it all about the trimmings. Use kraft paper for an attractive yet supportive covering. Once wrapped, add special trimmings and gift tags to your package.

Potato Chip Bag Gift Wrap

You can give a new life to empty potato-chip bags and dress up your gifts in them with this quick idea. Cut open a potato-chip bag along its seam to reveal the shiny white or silver inside of the bag. Flatten the bag, wash it with soap and water, and air dry. Then wrap your present and adorn it with ribbons and homemade cards.

Cupcake Paper Carnations

Use up to a dozen liners for each flower. (The more liners you use, the fluffier the results.)

1. Separate and set out liners.

2. Fold them in half.

3. Nest folded liners inside one another. (If using a variety of sizes, stack from largest to smallest.) With an awl, poke a hole in the center near the folds.

4. Send the stem of a mini brass brad through the hole. Pierce an unfolded cup with the brad. Spread brad to secure. Fan out liners to create ruffles.

5. Rotate each folded liner about a quarter turn, and overlap each one with the next until you’ve formed a flower shape. Hot-glue the liners directly to a gift or ribbon.

Kids Artwork Gift Wrap

Let the kids join in on the gift-wrapping fun by using their drawings as inexpensive and delightful homemade gift wrap. Have kids doodle on Kraft paper, calendar pages, shopping bags, magazine pages, and phone book pages.

Color Coded Wrapping

If you have a lot of gifts to give this year, assign each family member a different color paper, and you won’t even need gift tags. This is a fun way for everyone to identify his or her presents.

For more Christmas ideas on Stagetecture, click here.