CHRISTMAS 7 Clever Ways To Use Leftover Wrapping Paper Scraps

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with leftover wrapping paper, this is the post for you. Here are 7 ideas for all those leftover wrapping paper scraps.

Do you ever feel guilty when you look at the leftover scraps after you get done wrapping a gift?

There they sit.

It’s not the scraps’ fault that your package was smaller than the paper.

It’s not the scraps’ fault that they didn’t make the cut (literally).

It’s not the scraps’ fault that for them? Christmas is over.

All their hopes and dreams left on the wrapping table.

I say NO.

I want to plead on their behalf.

Don’t leave the scraps behind.

Instead? Today is all about being creative and using what we have and making our presents so much cuter without spending an extra dime.

Here are 7 clever ways to use leftover wrapping paper scraps.

// red polka dot box //

Before I get started on the entire ways to use leftover wrapping paper scraps situation, I wanted to share three simple ideas that I use to make gift wrapping easier.

Can we all agree that gift wrapping is fun, but we are left with two fundamental gift wrap problems.

1. Where to keep all the gift wrap when not in use.
2. Where to keep the gift wrap and ribbon when you are in the middle of wrapping.

No worries.

I have a couple of simple, easy solutions.

When a gift shows up at the door and I want to wrap it right then? It’s SO EASY because I have a box tucked under the tree (you can see my box here that I just pulled out from underneath the tree). In it, I have tags, tissue paper, scissors, a pen to write on tags and tape. When I want to wrap, I pull out the box, open it up and wrap the gift right then.

I found these boxes that look so cute under the tree and they work PERFECTLY  for holding Christmas wrapping supplies (and for using for gifts, too).

You can see the polka dot box set I used here.

But KariAnne, you are thinking right now.

Where do you put the gift wrap rolls?

Easy peasy chicken squeezy.

I add the boxes and gift wrap to a magazine wrap in the living room. It looks so much and the wrapping paper and boxes kind of decorate the space, too.

// Christmas gift wrap organizer //

And my third tip?

What do I do with the wrapping paper after Christmas is over?

This is like the organizer I have up in my attic.

Every year, I bring it down and assess what I need to get for this year. It keeps everything nice and tidy. You could use it to store wrapping supplies and ribbon when you are wrapping, too, and it fits perfectly under a bed.

You can see the wrapping organizer here.

And now that we are organized? It’s time for all the clever ways to use leftover wrapping paper scraps.

7 Clever Ways To Use Leftover Wrapping Paper Scraps

1. This wrapping paper bow

Isn’t this bow the cutest?

It’s SO SIMPLE to make and you can make it with the littlest scrap of wrapping paper and add it to a tag.

Here’s the step-by-step on how I make them.

1. Cut out a square of paper and fold it in half.
2. Cut out an oval with two ends (as shown) along the fold.
3. Open up the oval and it should look like the picture.
4. Fold the two ends over and tape them in place, creating your bow.
5. Cut a smaller piece of wrapping paper and wrap it around the center of your bow.
6. Tape in place.
7. Cut another piece of wrapping paper with notched ends along the fold.
8. Tape in place behind the bow to create a “ribbon” backing for the bow.
9. Decorate.

2. Variation on this wrapping paper bow

Here’s a simple variation on this bow.

Take two of the completed bows and stack them on top of each other.

Tape in place and now you have a fuller wrapping paper bow.

3. This curled wrapping paper bow

This is another fun bow idea.

Did you know wrapping paper curls? It’s very forgiving and you can curl it and then curl it again. Just be careful that you don’t rip it when you are curling the paper.

Here’s the step-by-step on how I make this bow.

1. Cut out a square of paper and fold it in half.
2. Add a fold at the very bottom of the paper.
3. Cut out strips along the fold.
4. Curl the end of the strips (make sure to vary the way that you curl the paper).
5. If a strip rips when you curl it, just cut it shorter and have a shorter curl.
6. Roll up the curled strip and tape it in place on the top of a package.
7. Fluff the curls and re-curl the strips if needed.
8. Decorate with a tag.

4. This wrapping paper tree

Don’t tell the other wrapping paper ideas, but this is my favorite.

I used this idea to wrap a gift for my husband.

Here’s the step-by-step on how I make this scrap wrapping paper tree.

1. Cut out six strips of wrapping paper.
2. Fold at the end and then fold again (this way your tree will stand up).
3. Tape the strips to the box, cutting each strip a little smaller as you go up the tree.
4. Make a gift wrap bow for the top (see idea number one).
5. Tape the bow at the top of the tree.
6. Decorate with a tag.

5. Cut letters out of wrapping paper

I’ve shared this before with Christmas cards, but it also works for Christmas wrapping paper.

Trace a letter on the cutest one and make a tag for the top of a present.

Cut it out, punch a hole in the corner, and tie it onto the ribbon on the present.

You can also tape it in place to the top of the present to make monogrammed present toppers.

6. Cut a house out of wrapping paper

Easy and cute.

Yes, please.

After you are done wrapping the gift, cut a house out of wrapping paper and add it to the front with double-stick tape.

Add a “wreath” to the front made from jute twine.

7. Cut out shapes out of wrapping paper for the top of presents.

These look so cute under the tree and you can decorate with them around your house until Christmas shows up.

Here are three different versions of this idea.

And here’s the step-by-step to make each one.

1. Cut out a tree from wrapping paper.
2. Attach it with double-sided tape.
3. Finish with snowflakes and jingle bells.

Snowflake

1. Trace a snowflake on the back of the wrapping paper.
2. Use double-stick tape to the front of a package wrapped with craft paper.
3. Glue on jingle bells to the corners of the snowflake.

Reindeer

1. Trace the cut out of a reindeer.
2. Use double-stick tape to tape the reindeer to the front of a package.
3. Glue on the snowflake and jingle bells.

// Little Elf Gift Wrap Cutter //

And one last tip.

I bought this elf gift wrap cutter this year.

It just slides along the gift wrap and makes cutting it SO EASY.

You can see it here.

I hope you have so much fun wrapping gifts that it feels like they almost wrap themselves.

And see what I mean?

Those scraps deserve their day in the sun.

Don’t “cut them out” of the gift.

PS Christmas pun totally intended.

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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