Decorate gift box ideas: 8 easy ways!

Decorate gift box ideas: 8 easy ways!

Use what you have in your craft supply stash to easily decorate a gift box.

I have a bin that I keep all of my ribbons in, as well as any embellishments from gifts and packages received. I save everything! It’s an easy way to decorate your own gift boxes plus you’re upcycling as well!

Use what you have, and save what you receive!

I started with a basic kraft-colored cardboard box.

You can find these boxes at the craft store, or even better: just recycle them from gifts and packages you receive!

Decorating these boxes works for any time of the year, but since we’re approaching the holiday season, here’s a few different ideas that can work now through the New Year.

Easy Box Makeover with Glamour Dust

The first step is to paint two coats of DecoArt GlamourDust glitter paint all over the outside of the box, including the flaps. I used the color Turquoise Sparkle.

GlamourDust is one of my favorite products, because it provides a gorgeous shimmer and sparkle without any worry that glitter is going to rub off or fall off. The shimmer is so pretty as it catches the light. Normally I would paint a similar color of Glamour Dust over a matching color of paint, but I really like how the turquoise color looks against the kraft-colored box.

You can paint the box either flat or with the box put together in its box shape. (I painted the box while it was in its box shape, keeping my free hand inside of the box to make it easy to paint all around it at one time.)

Let dry in between in each coat. I dried it on a small piece of wax paper, which prevented the wet glitter paint from sticking to the paper as it dried.

Here’s what the box looked like after just one coat:

Already you can see the box sparkle and shine!

And here’s the box after two coats:

Isn’t it pretty? 

Now all that’s left to do is embellish the box.

Twine

A popular way to tie up a gift box for a country, farmhouse or rustic feel is to use twine. It’s easy, inexpensive and is a nice contrast to the sparkles.

Plaid Ribbon

Plaid ribbon comes in just about every type of color scheme you can think of, in addition to all of the seasonal and traditional plaid colors. It’s an easy way to highlight your glitter paint color.

Let’s say you’re giving a hostess gift around Thanksgiving. Think of some Fall colors and use a tiny scrap of ribbon – you don’t need much. You probably remember this ribbon from my tiny square pumpkin craft from last week. I love this ribbon because the wire edges make it so easy to position.

Fabric Flowers

Adding fabric flowers to the top of a gift box is a pretty way to dress up the box. One simple flower makes an impact, perhaps on a baby shower or wedding gift:

Two or more flowers are sweet for Mother’s Day, a gardening friend, or the holidays. These cream and green fabric flowers work well for a Christmas package:

You could also choose some small fabric poinsettia flowers for a more traditional holiday look.

Faux berries or grapes

I used Christmas berries to dress up the box, but you could use a bunch of faux grapes or other small picks from the craft store. A simple pick stuck under ribbon or twine finishes off the box nicely.

Buttons

Adding buttons to a gift box is easy. I kept the twine on the box, but you could easily skip any ribbon or twine completely and just go with buttons. These fun buttons are from Buttons Galore & More, which is the perfect name for that website: they have so many styles and colors available! I love using Glue Dots to attach them.

Tulle

I love getting rolls of tulle when they’re on sale at the craft store. They come in solids as well as glittered versions, and can be used for crafts as well as decorating packages. 

I used a white tulle ribbon with silver glitter on the box, tying it in a fluffy big bow. Simple yet festive.

Decorative Bows

For another easy decoration, use a decorative bow (already made) and attach it to your ribbon or twine. Here I attached a sparkly sequinned bow to the tulle ribbon. 

If you’re giving a gift to a little girl who loves hair bows, use one or two of those as the gift topper!

Almost the entire month of December can get pretty filled up with holiday parties, gatherings, family get-togethers, and so on. And of course don’t forget teacher gifts! 

Making the box part of the present is a fun idea, and one your gift recipient will enjoy! (And maybe they’ll reuse it for a gift they give to someone special!)

Happy crafting!

~Laura

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