Creative Way to Wrap a Small Gift

How to gift wrap small items in a creative way to send in the mail.

I am sending this covered gift tube to my daughter who is away at college.

Gift Box made from paper towel tubes

It is filled with lots of kisses – Hershey Kisses that is.  I want to send her something unique that won’t fit into her dorm mailbox.  This way the mail-room clerk will have to put a note in her mailbox saying – “You got a package, come to the front desk to get it.” Making its arrival more dramatic.

How to Make a Gift Box Using Cardboard Tubes

This gift box idea is a recycling project, re-using cardboard tubes from paper towels, toilet paper, or gift wrap. You can decorate them in many different ways. Check out how these:  Valentine Love Gift Tubes

By using two tubes, one inside the other gives them more pizazz then just wrapping the gift inside, tootsie-roll style.

Unique Valentine Gift Wrap

I covered the tubes with coordinating gift-wrap and used poufy pink tulle to tie them together.  It is very easy to make and can hold many different items, depending on the size of the tubes you use.  If you have something large you could use mailing tubes as they have a wider diameter.   

supplies needed:

  • 2 cardboard tubes – one narrower to slide snuggly into the other
  • 2 coordinating wrapping papers
  • Tulle or ribbon to coordinate
  • Hole Punch
  • Spray Adhesive
  • Glue Stick
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Download Valentine design template (below)

 

unique valentine gift wrap

1.  Determine how long a tube you want to hold the gift, add at least 2-inches for tubes to overlap.  Cut the tubes so that you have two that are equal lengths.

valentine gift wrap tutorial

2.  Cut a piece of the first gift-wrap slightly larger than the first tubes end and place face down on work surface. Place one end of first tube on the wrong-side of paper and trace around tube, then draw a dotted line about 1/2 -inch around it.  Cut circle out on dotted lines.  Do the same for the other tube and the coordinating gift-wrap.

valentine gift wrap tutorial

Make cuts into the the 1/2 -inch excess as shown. Repeat for other tube.

valentine gift wrap

3.  Glue circle on to end of tube, overlapping tabs if necessary.  Repeat on other tube.

valentine gift wrap

 
4.  Cut gift-wrap to size to cover tube.  Spray wrong side of this piece with spray adhesive and carefully wrap around tube.  Make sure to smooth down edges.  Repeat this step for second tube using the coordinating gift-wrap.

valentine gift wrap tutorial

5.  Punch two holes (as shown) about  1 1/2 – inches apart on the seamed side of each tube.

unique valentine gift wrap tutorial
6.  Thread tulle or ribbon through holes in smaller tube, then through holes in the larger one.
unique valentine gift wrap

7.  Make sure smaller tube is inside larger tube.   Pull tubes together by pulling the ends of the tulle or ribbon.  The tulle acts as a hinge.

valentine unique wrapping

8.  Place gift inside.  Pull tulle and wrap around front of tube.  Tie into a bow and trim ends of tulle if necessary.

Valentine-cupcake-toppers free printable


Get a copy of these cute cupcake toppers here:  They are ” little circles that you can cut out.  I used one as an embellishment on the tube.

valentine button craft

Find a button that coordinates with your gift-wrap and glue a valentine graphic that you downloaded onto center of button.  You can also use a round sticker and write the recipients name on.

valentine package

Glue button onto center of bow.

valentine love button craft

Valentine love button

I couldn’t decide which button I liked better, so I made two.

Valentine Cylinder Package

 

For other Valentine’s ideas check out these posts:

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19 Comments

  1. awww so sweet! I’ve never seen anything like that!

  2. Totally cute! great teachers gift!!

    1. Thanks Beth – thanks for the idea to use it as a teachers gift, too. It would be perfect.

  3. Valentines Gifts Philippines says:

    I am looking forward to your next post,this would make an awesome gift. :))

  4. send gift Philippines says:

    Thanks for guiding me through this gonna be a perfect gift nice tutorial.I find it good entries that would walk me through. Great post!

    zaijan

  5. Valentines Gifts Philippines says:

    Wow! This is quite a collection thanks for giving a tutorial like it,will certainly visit your site more often now. Good work!

    vee

  6. Linda@Craftaholics Anonymous says:

    Amanda,
    What a clever idea! Thanks for the ho-to. Thanks for linking up to my party! :)
    happy crafting,
    Linda

  7. Diana @ The Girl Creative says:

    This is soooo cute!! I think I’m going to make them for my girls. They would love them. And we always have paper towel and toilet paper rolls on hand! Thanks so much for linking up. Featuring you today on my “Readers Rock” post. :)

  8. This is a great idea, I can’t wait to try it!

  9. Diane at InMyOwnStyle says:

    I just found a mailing tube to send it off, so I am off to the post office tomorrow. Thanks for the stumble, Meg at The Brassy Apple and all the nice comments everyone has left for me.
    Diane

  10. Who wouldn’t want to get one of these for V day. What a fun gift! I love it.

  11. Wow. That is so pretty and creative!

  12. This is such a SWEET idea, I will have to try it for my daughter who is away at school. :)

  13. ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~ says:

    Hello and thanks for stopping by for a visit and entering my giveaway. You are the craftiest gal I have met in a long time. I love your blog and I am following you now.
    I was not aware of Kim so I will have to google her and learn more.
    Yes we are neighbors and what you don’t know is that I lived near you for many years in Holmes and I had an Aunt & Uncle who lived in Landsdale.

  14. Thanks Mom! I can’t wait for my first package of the semester. All the other kids will be wicked jealous :) XOXO -Mandy

  15. Very precious! What a great way to recycle and send a cute treat.

  16. What a good Mom you are! And what a good idea this is!

  17. Meg/Brassy Apple says:

    OH so fun! what a fun gift! gave it a little “stumble”.

    nice to meet you via SITS! :) lovin’ it so far!

  18. Diane at InMyOwnStyle says:

    Hi Amanda-

    Thanks for the nice comment. I love creating and sending surprises. It’s a fun way to connect when I can’t be there in person.
    Diane