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Forget the gift bag and tissue paper. Here's how to make your gifts stand out

Four super cute wrapping ideas to elevate any valentine this year

Four super cute wrapping ideas to elevate any valentine this year

CBC Life ·

We all strive to give gifts with meaning, but the packaging they come in can be just as meaningful. We urge you to consider foregoing the traditional wrapping methods and think outside the (gift)box, if you will. And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's the perfect time to up your present presentation for the special someone in your life. Our in-house DIY-er, Steven Sabados showed us four simple ways to elevate our gifts, for now or for any special occasion.

Fortune cookie takeout container

If you're gifting a few smaller items, you could throw them in a gift bag, but there's a way up to the presentation. Pop the items inside a decorative takeout container, and finish it off with these easy fortune cookie decorations.​

Here's what you'll need:

  • Decorative paper, double sided
  • Circle template (soup bowl)
  • Exacto knife
  • Hot glue
  • Message written out on a long thin piece of paper

Here's how to do it:

1. Using a bowl as your guide, draw a circle in pencil on the paper.

2. Cut the decorative paper into a circle.

3. Loosely fold your paper in half.

4. Bend the paper back on itself toward the straight edge.

5. Guide the underside to collapse in on itself. Now you have a fortune cookie shape.

6. Glue the centre of the fold together with hot glue to keep the shape.

7. Write your message on a small piece of decorative paper in a contrasting colour, and it inside the paper cookie.

8. Adorn the gift with a fortune cookie topper and voila!

Scarf turned gift wrap

Make any present extra pretty by wrapping it in a patterned scarf. For this wrapping technique, Steven was inspired by Furoshiki, a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, traditionally used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. Not only will your giftee be super impressed with your thoughtful presentation, but it's eco-friendly...and they get a new scarf.

Here's what you'll need:

  • Scarf (preferably double-sided)
  • Elastic band
  • Small leaf-shaped piece of green paper
  • Pen
  • Fake flowers

Here's how to do it:

1. Lay fabric flat and place item in the middle.

2. Bring the four corners together and use two ends to tie all the fabric together. If your fabric has a contrasting back, use that side to create the flower. Secure with an elastic.

3. Twist the fabric so the reverse/opposite colour is facing up.

4. Fold each flap back on itself. Tuck it into the elastic.

5. Pouf out fabric to create a flower. 

6. Add a little loving message shaped like a leaf, and pop a couple of fake flowers in the middle.

Sweet treats platter

Your loved one will be extra excited to receive a spread of tasty treats if they're curated and wrapped with care. Sometimes it really is all about the presentation, so here's what we recommend.

Here's what we used (but you can opt for anything your giftee will enjoy):

  • Prosecco
  • Fresh grapefruit juice
  • Doughnut bouquet
  • Chocolates
  • Moss
  • Flowers
  • Elastic bands
  • Bowl, tray or flower pot

Here's how to do it:

1. Arrange the objects in the bowl, starting with the heavier and taller items at the back of your arrangement.

2. Fill in remaining spaces with flowers and moss to create a garden-like effect.

3. Gift your cornucopia of culinary delights.

Easiest brown paper flower wrap

Even though flowers often come in cellophane with the price tag attached, there's no need to actually present them this way. This is an easy way to dress them up in a snap, and is perfect for elevating cheap, grocery store blooms.

Here's what you'll need:

  • Flowers
  • Brown paper
  • Ribbon

Here's how to do it:

1. Fold the paper in half, but no need to keep it perfect

2. Place flowers in line with the top piece of paper.

3. Fold flaps over and tape down.

4. Fold a second piece of paper in half like the first one.

5. Place bottom of the stems in the middle of the paper.

6. Fold the bottom of the paper up.

7. Fold the left and right side over and tape down.

8. Secure with a ribbon.

Resource guide:

Fortune cookie takeout container

Scarf turned gift wrap​

Sweet Treats Platter

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