Gift Wrapping using Magazines
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
Singapore
December 30, 2008 10:50pm CST
I was recently inspired when the primetime morning show I watched which showed how to recycle magazines for wrapping gifts. They looked fantastic because of the glossy pages of the magazine. Today I tried doing just that.
I took out my old travel magazine and tore out pages from them. Since the gift is quite large, I had to have a big piece. It was kind of difficult trying to find similar colored pages to piece everything together to make a big collage.
I took pages that had pictures of the blue sea and ocean, taped them together. The outcome was quite nice. I tied a ribbon around it and it looked beautiful. Not fantastic, but nice. I hope the recipient likes what I did. Here's a picture of it.
I'm inspired to use magazines for wrapping gifts in future. What about you? Do you use magazines to wrap gifts?
12 people like this
39 responses
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
I saw a video clip on someone using cartoon strip pages in the newspaper for wrapping gifts. I think it's a great idea too. I think there are so many ways to avoid buying wrapping papers. I have decided to do this more often now. I used to buy cheap wrapping papers, like 10 cents per piece types, but I think this is better. I can also showcase my creativity in this area.
1 person likes this
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
31 Dec 08
I saw one too, and it was beautiful, and of course no expenses incurred. You just have to use your imagination and creativeness. There are many things around us which we can use, if only we open our eyes. Those pebbles and leaves could also be utilized. Happy new year.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
I know. I have been a little lazy on the imagination and creativity bit, but I thought I'd give it a shot. It turned out pretty good. I used an old ribbon I got for a gift as well. There are so many things we can actually use. I'm collecting scraps and putting them in a box for use in future.
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
31 Dec 08
Wow! That is really nice. I think if I attempted that it wouldn't come out as nice as the way you did it. Of course it doesn't help that the only magazines I get in my house are on writing so they don't have many pictures in them. 
Actually, I do get a magazine on travel from the CAA but I usually just pitch it. Perhaps I should hold onto them.... like I got space to hold onto more stuff.
Good job!
Actually, I do get a magazine on travel from the CAA but I usually just pitch it. Perhaps I should hold onto them.... like I got space to hold onto more stuff.
Good job!
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
Yup! I just got some IKEA catalogues and they came in a huge piece. So I need not make a collage out of magazine pages. I have saved them in a box. I understand when you mentioned about space to store these things. I just don't have much space either and I don't want clutter as well. So I'm keeping it to just one box.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
Thank you! I think the travel magazines and women's fashion magazines are the best types to use, because they have such beautiful pictures on them. I don't buy many magazines. I got these from an old pile I thought of putting them in the recycling bin. I thought it would be great to keep some pieces. I think that the next time I need wrapping paper, I would ask some people from Freecycle to give me old fashion magazines. These people have loads of them to give away. Then I would use them to wrap gifts. It's free.
At the same time, I'm collecting strings and ribbons so that I can decorate and embellish the gifts nicely.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
8 Jan 09
Cleo Malaysia? Do they have an online version? Probably not. Anyway, will try look for other pics. Thank you!
1 person likes this
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
6 Jan 09
HI gr8life,
Which magazine is it? I'd love to look at some pics. They are insipiring. I'm collecting bits of ribbons and strings, on top of magazine pages to wrap my gifts. Sure beats buying them. These can be expensive!
1 person likes this
@UK_Shree (3603)
•
31 Dec 08
I have never considered doing this and to be honest I wouldn't have thought that it would look nice. I am a big fan of making sure that any gifts I give are well presented, but I have just checked out the picture you posted and it does look quite good!
Thanks for the great idea - I might try it sometime
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Although I had this idea long ago, but I never really thought it would look great too. But i was inspired when the outcome of the gift wrapping I watched on the tv show turned out really professional, I decided to try it out for myself. I think you can embellish it very nicely. Let me see if I can attach a nice pic to inspire you to do the same. I may not do a great job, but some others have done wonderful things with magazine pages. Thank you for your response!
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Here's a pic I found on the net. The gift looks great with the magazine wrapping. Check it out!
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/belabela1980/ss_CTG512951.jpg
@chariana10 (143)
• Taiwan
31 Dec 08
well, ive been doing this since i was in my high school. we have a monthly subscriptions of magazines and and i end up using those as gift warppers. you just have to be creative and artistic so it wont look like a dump. so far, my friends and family love it..
1 person likes this
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
I'm just no good at the creativity bit. But I think it is a matter of experimenting. Glad it turned out okay. The show I watched gave me some nice ideas that I began saving scraps around the house so that I could use them for gift wrapping.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
31 Dec 08
That looks very nice! When we were kids, we always used the comics section as gift wrap for birthday presents. We didn't realize we were "helping the environment" some 30+ years ago, we were just too poor to buy real wrapping paper!
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
1 Jan 09
Back then we always got the newspaper so it wasn't a bit deal. But I don't get the paper so I'd have to go buy it to use the comics for wrapping paper. That kinda defeats the purpose. Now most of the time I re-use the bags that others have given us.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
That's wonderful that you have started way back thirty years ago. But what changed along the way? The commercial world took over and everyone wants a nicer and unique gift wrapper. But I think we need to revive those years all over again and create our own unique designs from magazines and things we find around the house.
1 person likes this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
16 Jan 09
I get a lot of cooking magazines and save them for the recipies. I have never thought of using them as wrapping paper. I usualy wait until the after Christmas sales and buy a ton of wrapping paper to use for the year. I tend to buy the stuff that can be used for any occasion so that I dont need to run out and buy a roll last minute and pay a ton for it. I might experiment with some old mags and see if I can still put together a nice looking gift. Thanks for the great idea.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
17 Jan 09
I guess you can start saving a tonne from using magazines. Cooking magazines have lovely, yummy, almost good-to-eat pages. You can try it this year. Good day happy thoughts!
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
8 Jan 09
I'm hoping to get some free magazines from Freecycle if ever I need to wrap presents now. I have created gift bags before. They are pretty easy to make. My next craft is to make gift boxes from used greeting cards. 
@nancyrowina (3850)
•
5 Jan 09
That is a good Idea I might try that as I hate buying wrapping paper that will only be ripped up and thrown away in the end anyway. And it would save trees too as your recycling paper and not buying wrapping paper.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
7 Jan 09
Initially I bought cheap wrapping papers since they are going to be thrown away anyway, but I thought that this is a better idea. There are so many maagzines that we recycle too. So why not use some of the pages for gift wrapping or other uses?
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
31 Dec 08
yeah looking unique!i had this and i made it like small paper bag and looks cool.
per bag and looks cool.@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Hi Bombshell,
That's a wonderful idea as well. I have made some paper bags before and I think it would look great with glossy magazine papers. Thanks for the ideas! Keep them coming in! Have a great new year ahead!
@greenglitterturtle (2750)
• United States
31 Dec 08
hi sydney...now that's an interesting idea. i like to make envelopes out of calendar pictures.it makes the envelope interesting and sharp. i have also used magazine pages for an envelope. to make and envelpe you open up a ready made envelope and trace around it for a pattern. i like to use cardboard to make the pattern out of because it is more sturdy to re-use again and again. then place the pattern on the wrong side of the calendar picture, trace and cut out the envelope. it's best to use a plain address label to write/print the address on so that it will stand out.and best to use self-adhesive stamps on the envelope. to seal the envelope i use double sided tape.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
That's a wonderful Idea. I was looking for large A4 envelopes the other day and did not even think of using the magazine for it. It was for a contest and I did not want to spend money to get new envelopes. Thank you for the refreshing idea. I'm going to do just that, because I have new contest to participate this week. Thank you!
@greenglitterturtle (2750)
• United States
1 Jan 09
sure, my pleasure. i can't even give credit to the person who gave me the idea. it was someone who wrote my bro-in-law. they used an envelope made from a calendar picture. he thot i'd be interested and gave it to me. i don't know what came of the envelope. i just know that later on i really took off with the idea. and got compliments from people when i did it.
@rashmi1979 (112)
• United States
31 Dec 08
Wow! Thats a great idea & the picture looks fab too . I am sure the receiver will like it! :) I am surely going to try the next time. Could you share the channel and show name-timing where you saw this tip. I would like to pick up some more in future as it is avery creative and a great way to recycle as well as save some bucks :)
Happy Lotting & Have a Great New Year! :)
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Hi rashmi,
It's on channel newsasia, just a few days before Christmas. I tried going to their site to look for a link but could not find one, sadly. I will try to look for some videos on youTube if you want to get some fancy ideas. Happy new year!
@rashmi1979 (112)
• United States
1 Jan 09
Thanks Sydney! You are an angel...didn't know you would take so much effort :) Thanks again & Wish you a Very Happy New Year! :)
@buttercup100 (23)
• United States
31 Dec 08
SydneyHazelton,
Yes, that is a neat way to wrap gifts and gets the people talking..."Why didn't I think of that!" I also wrap in newpapers and paper sack (stamp or paint different elements to dress it up.)
You do not see it often, but when I can find boxes that have the wavy side boards, i like to use that. Gifts come out really cute. Have you tired aluminum foil or saran-wrap; those can be cute if on the right gift. I have even used material of many sorts.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
31 Dec 08
Wow! You are really creative. I have not heard of some of the things you mentioned. What is paper sack and saran wrap? I have not tried aluminium foil. I think it would turn ut very nice, but I don't have any left over just yet.
@buttercup100 (23)
• United States
1 Jan 09
A paper sack is what we put groceries in when we go to the store. Saran-wrap is what we use to wrap food in to keep it fresh, this item is found in the section of the store where ziplock bags are sold.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
31 Dec 08
I used fabric and sewed bags this year. I had a lot of fabric in my stash that I didn't think I was going to use, and this makes them re-usable. It's not quite as environmental as reusing magazines, but I thought they looked nice under people's trees.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Hi cutepenguin,
I have thought of fabric too and may use them to wrap gifts. I think the recipient will be able to reuse the fabric bags as coin purses. I use that currently. I think that as long as you find some use for old stuff (instead of throwing them away), we are all helping save the earth. So way to go! Keep recycling!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
1 Jan 09
That is a great idea and recycling and saving to boot!!! I just found out to use calendar pages - the part with the beautiful pictures on the top, to make envelopes out of the picture side! I am going to try that one.
Also cartoon pages from the newspaper is good for wrapping for Birthdays!
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Someone just mentioned about calendar pages fr envelopes. I'm going to try it. Have been looking for an envelope recently and never thought of reusing magazines or other materials. Great tips! Thank you for responding!
@beaniecat (329)
• United States
1 Jan 09
I haven't done this. However, yours does look nice. My grandmother used to use the funnies from the Sunday paper.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
2 Jan 09
Thank you for your compliment! I have not tried using the comics pages but I think I will give it a try when the opportunity arises. Thank you for responding, beaniecat!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
2 Jan 09
I've never thought of using magazines. It's closer in texture then what newspapers are. I personally haven't used newspapers but I've known people who have... sometimes it's convenient, cheap, and great for last minuters
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
2 Jan 09
Well, I discovered that magazines have different textures and thickness. There are some very flimsy ones like the IKEA catalogue, but there are some thinker ones. You are right that it is great for wrapping gifts at the last minute. But I think it should not be used only at the last minute, but all the time.
@Seppy1984 (2145)
• United States
1 Jan 09
I have to say that you did a beautiful job with wrapping this gift with the magazines. It looks really pretty. I have to be honest I have never used magazines before I sure will do it in the future. The one thing I use is the comics out of the newspaper. My dad gave me that great tip one year when I had no wrapping paper. Another thing I do is when I have brown paper bags I cut the bag so it is flat and then I sit there and decorate the bag. So this way you know that you are getting the exact thing you want when it comes to wrapping gifts. Thanks for the great idea you have.
Happy Mylotting
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
Comics are great ways to make wrapping gifts. I think they do it in the olden days, but we need to revive such things again, to save the environment. Brown paper bags are great, but we don't get much here in my country because the store use a lot of plastic bags. Terrible, I know. I hope situation changes soon. We only get those when we shop at big departmenta stores or boutiques. Thanks for all the tips! Happy new year!
@kanishfathima (62)
• India
1 Jan 09
Gifts are very gorgeous items. So it must a wrapper. we can using magazines to wrapping gifts.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
1 Jan 09
I think that any gifts that comes from the heart will be gorgeous, no matter how it is wrapped. But I'm beginning to enjoy wrapping gifts this way. It's unique and tests your creativity. You might have some hidden talents, for all you know. Cheers!
