Crafty Uses for Used Wrapping Paper
Oh, wrapping paper! So beautiful around a gift, so painful to bag up and take to the curb the next day. Looking for ways to reuse that pretty paper and keep the holiday fun rolling? We’re here to help with three of our favorite ideas for games and crafts with used wrapping paper.
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Collage Thank-You Cards
Now that your kids have received all those great presents, it’s time to write thank-you cards. Making their own will cultivate their gratitude and creativity, and gift givers will love seeing the art they create.
Supplies:
Sturdy paper, such as construction paper or card stock
Used wrapping paper
Scissors
Glue
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Glitter glue (optional)
Stickers (optional)
Directions:
Step one: Cut your sturdy paper into rectangles that will fit into whatever size envelopes you have on hand, then fold them in half to make basic cards. Older kids can help with the cutting, while younger kids might be better folders.
Step two: Have your kids use dots of glue to attach pieces of used wrapping paper to the front of the card to make a collage. If they can write, have them use markers, crayons, colored pencils, or glitter glue to write “thank you” on top of the collage. If they can’t, that’s a good job for you.
Step three: Open the card and let your kids get creative with the messages and artwork inside. They can cut wrapping paper into letter shapes, draw pictures and write messages, and decorate with stickers. Your kids may surprise you with their artistic flair!
Step four: Address the envelopes and invite kids to decorate them with drawings or stickers, then mail the cards to bring a smile to someone’s face! Remember you may need extra postage if the envelope is bulky.
Merry Memory Game
This is one of our favorites. With a little ingenuity, a few minutes, and some craft supplies, you can make a DIY holiday game perfect for younger kids. Best of all, the game is reusable and small enough to store inside a plastic bag!
Supplies:
Sturdy paper, such as construction paper or card stock
Markers or colored pencils
Used wrapping paper with a repeating pattern
Scissors
Cardboard
Glue
Directions:
Step one: On sturdy paper, draw a grid using the markers or colored pencils. Older kids can do this themselves, but younger kids will need your help. For a harder game, make the squares 1 inch by 1 inch. For an easier one, make them 2 inches by 2 inches. Trim off any excess paper around the edges of your grid.
Step two: Have your kids sort through your used wrapping paper until they find two images that match. Then ask them to carefully cut those images into small squares that fit inside your grid spaces. Younger kids may need your help with cutting.
Step three: While your kids are working on the wrapping paper, cut out cardboard squares the same size as your grid spaces, one for each of your images. These will serve as backing pieces for the wrapping paper.
Step four: Ask your kids to glue each image to a cardboard backing piece (younger kids may need your help). These will mask any distinctive backing patterns on the wrapping paper and help the game pieces last through many games.
Step five: Once you have enough game pieces to fill your grid, mix them up and place them inside the grid with images facedown.
To play the game, players take turns looking for matching images. On each turn, the player flips over a game piece, then flips over another looking for its match. Whoever collects the most matches at the end wins. It’s called a memory game because you win by remembering where each piece’s match is from someone’s previous turn. Once they’ve learned the rules, kids can usually play on their own.
To reuse the game, take the pieces off the grid, mix them up again, and put them down in new grid spaces. The game stores well in a gallon-size plastic freezer bag.
Wrapping Paper Puzzle
Kids can turn a large piece of wrapping paper that has survived with minimal wrinkles into a puzzle, making for a fun next-day craft activity to go with leftover holiday treats.
Supplies:
A large piece of wrinkle-free used wrapping paper with an image on it
Scissors
Glue
Cardstock or lightweight cardboard
Directions:
Step one: Cut the large piece of wrapping paper into a square or rectangle, with the image in the center.
Step two: Glue the square or rectangle of wrapping paper to a piece of cardstock or lightweight cardboard. This will provide a sturdy back for the puzzle pieces.
Step three: Have your kids cut the cardboard-backed wrapping paper into pieces. For an easy puzzle, they can cut nine squares. For a more difficult one, they can make more cuts or try cutting unusual shapes. Younger kids may need your help cutting through the cardboard.
Step four: Toss the pieces of the puzzle into an empty container to scramble them, then challenge your kids to reassemble them! For extra fun, family members can make puzzles for each other to solve, or you can set up an assembly line and make a whole bunch of puzzles to give away!