Decorative package idea

[Tammy]

I am done with bows on gift packages.  You know how thrift stores put out boxes of misc tree ornaments this time of year?  I buy those normally at .25 each and tie on my presents.  No more smashed bows and the recipient has an extra ornament to hang the next year.  Plus you can normally personalize them to the different ornaments you find.  Golfing Santa for the golfer in the family or angels for little girls.   

[Magpie18]

thrifts are a good source of baskets & tins for gift packaging too.

The cost of baskets & tins in places like CostPlus or Crate & Barrel are really high for what you get.  & honestly,  most of the baskets I have seen in thrifts look like they were used once for a gift basket & then donated -- you really can't tell the difference.

do the thrifts around you sell broken jewelry by the xlarge bag or bags of buttons?  they make great gift package decorations or just Christmas decoration.

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Yup, I totally understand why you're choosing the route you are. I amass tins all year I can use for Christmas and birthday gifts. I am a lousy wrapper, so any decorative short cuts like that are wonderful.

People will undoubtedly love ornaments instead of bows!

[Tammy]

I thrift cheap tins too.  They make wonderful containers for tame bird seed, wild bird seed, rawhide dog bones, cat food...

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Tammy, I thrift cheap tins too. I have a thing for vintage tins and a weakness for tins with great herbal or flower designs on them...botanical prints.  My husband made me a clock from one many years ago, which I had hanging in my kitchen and then in the loo for years.  The tin was only .29, and then the stuff to make the clock face was about 3-4 bucks. The result: Original and happy. I liked the design so much that when I found another one just like it, I purchased that, too. I keep my essential oils for my diffuser in it. I do use them for seeds popsicle sticks (amazing how those things come in handy, and they're free), my dried herbs. I keep some of my laundry supplies in them, like packets of soap for my fine washables, my lavender fabric softener, etc.  They make the laundry experience much more pleasant.      

I have used a few to put gifts in. It's a great idea for the right person.

SeSo   

[Cookie]

I collect old tins, too.  The candy, cookie, and cracker tins are my favorite, but just the old ones.  I don't really like any of the new styles I've seen in the thrift stores.  I keep sewing stuff and cake decorating supplies in them.

I like the idea about tying Christmas ornaments on gifts.  I just thrifted a vintage book on how to do all these crazy bows with ribbon so I'll have to try that out this year, too.

[Tammy]

I usually buy just small figures, like a snowman or santa figure but picked up a container of plastic ornaments in 3 different colors for $1.00.  Think I'll tie several together tight and wire them to the ribbon.  Speaking of ribbon, how about using garland instead?  Hmmm, is it too early for me to decorate?   

[ChrisMiss]

That is a great idea of an ornament instead of a bow.  I've done one in addition to a bow but leaving off the bow is a great idea, one less thing to buy and then dispose of.  Using garland as ribbon is good too.  I've used garland and then a holiday pick to decorate a package too.  (Of course cutting off the long end of the pick)

Customizing the wrapping to the receiptant is all part of the fun.  My in-laws love the movie It's A Wonderful Life.  I'd found wrapping paper in that theme and used it to wrap a few of their gifts for several years.  Kids are the easiest to theme wrap presents for.  Most of the younger set have a favorite Disney character and it's easy to find paper and ornaments for them.

I don't give as many gifts at Christmas now that my duties as Santa are over but the gifts that I do give I want the receiptant to know that I put a lot of thought and effort into their gift, even if it is "just" a gift card.  At least the card can be attractively wrapped.