I’m Gracie (@graciecreates) from the Archer and Olive ambassador team! I always find myself running out of wrapping paper as the holiday season approaches. Instead of buying more wrapping paper, I try to wrap gifts DIY-style using budget-friendly supplies I have around the house. Gifts always feel much more personal when you can see the handmade touch, even from the outside. 

Supplies you’ll need: 

• Any plain paper - I’m using leftover paper grocery bags, but you can use butcher paper or leftover craft paper you may have sitting around
• Archer and Olive Acrylograph pens
• Archer and Olive Gel pens
• Scissors
• Tape
• (Optional) Gift tag - I designed some printable gift tags to color and add as a gift topper

And don't forget to use affiliate code graciecreates for 10% off your order!

Video Tutorial & Printable Gift Tags

Unique Wrapping Technique

You can wrap your gift any way you like, but I’ll show a more intricate wrapping technique here if you want to spice yours up. However, a basic wrap job may suit your gift better if you want more space to draw. If you’re a visual learner, try watching the companion YouTube video I created to follow along with this wrapping technique!

To wrap your gift: 

1. Cut your paper bag (or scrap paper) to size. I recommend cutting a sheet around 4 times the size of your gift. For example, the box I wrapped here was ~4.5 x 6.5 inches, so my paper was ~20 x 30 in. It doesn’t have to be the perfect size, you can always cut off excess or fill in the gaps later. This project is about using what you have; it doesn’t have to be perfect!
2. Place your paper sheet wrong side up on the table. Place your gift in the center of the paper. Take the section of paper at the top of your gift and fold it down over the top of your gift. It should land ~3-4 inches down the front of your gift. Crease the edges so it lays nicely over the corners. 
3. Fold the sides. Using one hand to hold the top piece down, take your other hand and pinch the edge folded paper on the right side of your gift and pull it down to lay flush with the right side edge of your gift box. It should create 2 winged flaps, one along the bottom edge of the gift and one the top. Crease both flaps so that they lay flat and parallel to the top and bottom of your box. Repeat on the left side. 
4. Taking the top creased flap on the right side of the gift, fold it across the top of the gift. Take the top creased flap on the left side of the gift and fold it across the top. It should look like the start of a hair braid. 
5. Take the bottom creased flap on the right side of the gift and fold it across the top. Then take the bottom creased flap on the left side of the gift and fold it across the top.
6. With the final loose edge from last stitch of the “braid”, wrap it around the gift and tape it in place so it lays flat and taut. 
7. Fold in the extra paper along the bottom of the gift like a classic present. 

Personalize Your Gift

From here, all you need to do is decorate. I like to use a pen with a thicker, more opaque ink for this project, especially if you are using a non-white paper. The Archer and Olive Acrylograph pens have a great opaque ink that can stand out against darker colored paper. 

For my friend’s gift that I’m wrapping, I’m adding some cute, groovy doodles all over the outside, creating a simple pattern. To add another finishing touch, I used a few of the Archer and Olive gel pens to add some sparkles and dots around the doodles. 

Lastly, I’m added in one of the gift tags from my printable set that I colored to match the gift. Little tags like this fit perfectly into the little sections we folded while wrapping. 

And that’s it!I love the way the way these make your gifts feel much more personal. Plus they’re easy and both environmentally- and budget-friendly. 

You can find more creative goings-on in my corner of the internet, @graciecreates on Instagram and YouTube, and @groovygraciecreates on TikTok. If you do this project, share with the A&O team on socials! Tag us @archerandolive and use the hashtags #AOShare and #archerandolive