Creative gift wrap idea: Try using quilt pieces

Quilt squares + varying paper = creative gift wrap idea

My dear friend Susan and I have exchanged birthday and Christmas gifts for almost 40 years. For most of that time, we’ve lived more than 12 hours apart, so we always send these through the mail. It matters less about what’s inside the packages than the creativity we put in the wrapping itself.

Lately I’ve been using vintage quilts for crafts, so for Susan’s birthday this year I knew I wanted to do something with quilts. Then, I discovered a treasure trove of tiny quilt squares at an antique store, and my idea took flight.

How I approached the quilt gift wrap idea

For this gift, I didn’t just want to use the quilt squares. I also wanted the gift itself to seem quilted. So I bought several rolls of wrapping paper at TJ Maxx, all with coordinating blue themes, and put them to work for my vision.

Supplies you’ll need for this gift wrap idea

Here’s what I used for this quilt gift wrap idea:

• At least two different kinds of wrapping paper, preferably in a coordinating color and pattern
• Quilt squares or strips. I used small pieces of fabric that had been cut out for a quilt. You could cut your own quilt squares, or you could also cut strips from an actual quilt or quilt top.
• Coordinating ribbon. I used very thin ribbon because I wanted to highlight the quilt squares and not the ribbon itself.
• Double-sided tape or permanent glue stick
• Scissors

Steps I took to make these quilt-theme packages

• First, I wrapped the gifts using pieces of wrapping paper that overlapped. Because I was wrapping multiple gifts, I used just one kind of wrapping paper for some of the packages.
• Next I used double-sided tape to create the path that I would lay my quilt squares on (see photo below).
• Then I laid the quilt squares along the strips of double-sided tape, adding glue to the edges if needed to keep them in place.
• Finally, I tied a ribbon across the quilt squares.

I love the look of these quilted packages and was so excited to send them off to Susan. I hope they inspire you to find a creative way to wrap gifts.

Start your own gift exchange tradition

Susan and I have been exchanging wrapped gifts for more than 40 years. Because we live so far apart, we have to send them in the mail — no gift bag as an option! For every birthday and Christmas, we wrap packages with a theme. I wish I’d taken photos of our wonderful ideas, because there have been so many stunning packages over the years — a butterfly theme, a feminist theme, a woodland theme, specific colors or flowers — you name it.

You can start your own tradition — just remember to take photos of your amazing creations!

More offbeat DIY ideas

I like finding unique ways to approach DIYs. Here are some of the fun ideas you’ll find at www.mynanajana.com.

• Make a bolo tie from vintage jewelry
• Make a wallet from vintage postcards
• Make a napkin ring from a leather belt