Gifting from the Kitchen in Style {the QECH way}: Brown Paper Packages

Now you can trick out your canisters with the best of them, and transform your empty egg cartons into muffin holders. We’re going further into upcycling gift wrap territory by using an even lowlier receptacle: the lowly shopping bag.

Not a plastic one. I haven’t figured out how to beautify those yet. No, I am speaking of the lovely, sturdy brown paper bags that you can find at places like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or even a few mainstream grocery stores.

And it doesn’t take much to beautify a brown paper bag, honestly. In fact, all you have to do is cut it apart and wrap it with the outside facing in. Does that make sense to anyone here? No? OK, I’ll try again.

Step by step transformation of a grocery bag into wrapping paper:

1. Remove the handles. Just pull ‘em off!
2. Cut straight down along one corner of the bag, all the way to the bottom.
3. From there, cut off the bottom of the bag.
4. Lay the bag out flat, with the designs from the outside facing up.
5. Lay your gift on top of the bag and wrap as you would any present.

• a collection of salt dough ornaments
• homemade jam or other canned goods
• a selection of homemade chocolates and truffles (you can find some great recipes in our HealthyHolidays free eBook!)
• themed gifts such as a spaghetti dinner (with noodles and sauce), ice cream fixings, or movie night

And of course, it’s limited only by your creativity! Whatever you need to wrap up can be wrapped in this style. Furthermore you can dress it up in a lot of different ways. I had some fun when I was wrapping presents the other night for my family, coming up with some different ways to dress up the paper bag.

Use fancy or plain string and tie it in the old-fashioned way with a big ol' bow on top.

The easiest way to dress up brown paper: pretty fabric ribbon in any design or color. You can also write directly on the package in a coordinating marker or pen.

Cut apart old Christmas cards, and punch holes into them. Tie them onto the package for instant - and free - decoration.

Add natural elements - either real or fake - like cinnamon sticks, poinsiettas or sprigs of pine boughs.

Tie on a candy cane for embellishment. Other ideas: trinkets and small ornaments.

Check out the fun print from the side panel of the Trader Joe's bag!