You Should Be Doing This With Wrapping Paper Scraps

Gift-wrapping season is here, and with it comes those awkward scraps of wrapping paper that you're not quite sure what to do with. But if you have a bunch of wrapping paper that doesn't fit any gifts, there's solution that’s so adorable you just might end up wanting to save every scrap of leftover wrapping paper you’ve got: turning it into ribbon for your gifts.

To do it, first cut the wrapping paper into thin strips (cutting the long way if you’re working with a rectangle). Once you’ve finished cutting up the paper, curl it using a pair of scissors. This can be done the same way you’d curl ribbon—gently run the edge of your scissors from one end of wrapping paper to the other.

Make sure you’re scraping the inside of the wrapping paper, not the design on the outside. This will cause the wrapping paper to curl up; the more pressure you apply, the more curl you’ll get. For this hack, the full length of paper should be curled, but you can vary the kinds of coils you’re creating.

Once every strip of paper has been curled, you can grab a section by the middle and begin layering other sections on top of it. Stack the curled strips so they lay over each other in the very center of each strip; this should create a full curl on both sides of the stack.

You’re looking to emulate the same design you’d get from a curly ribbon bow. Instagram user @kelleynan demonstrates this hack from cutting to layering. She also advises DIYers to layer the curled wrapping paper scraps in different directions to help create a more full, layered effect. 

Using up your scraps each year means your homemade wrapping paper ribbon will be a perfect match for your presents. If you’re someone who loves to go all out with matching wrapping paper designs