How To Make A Thoughtful Gift Box & Present (2024)

How To Make A Thoughtful Gift Box & Present

My new favorite way to recycle…

Okay, my Amazon boxes are piling up now more than ever (shameless plug for our Amazon Shop page!), so I’ve been making a huge effort to upcycle, recycle, and reuse. (Which a lot of times just looks like a toddler playing in a huge empty box!) But I also love making homemade gift baskets (using an old box as the “basket”) and introduced you to it originally in an old blog post here.

Most recently I made one for my sister (see here!) and I had a ton of questions about how to replicate it, so I thought I’d show you how it’s done. And truly, anyone can do it, it’s super easy. With a few fun things on hand, you can throw one together for a hostess gift, a get-well-soon front door drop off, new baby welcome, or a quick birthday surprise. So, let’s get crafty and whip up some boxes together!

DIY Gift Box & Present

Materials At The Ready

Believe it or not, you don’t need much to transform a regular box into a fabulous gift. All you need are a box (an Amazon box works perfectly!), scissors, tissue paper, ribbon, and a few fun goodies to fill the box to make the cutest DIY gift basket. I like to keep small items on hand (i.e. candles, tea towels, etc..), so I’m always prepared to create a thoughtful gift box at a moment’s notice. Also, consider keeping books in a pile for re-gifting… books you recommend are always fun to give (and receive!).

It’s All About The Wrapping Paper

The wrapping paper is key to the charm with this gift! I like to splurge on good paper because to me it’s half of the gift and all of the presentation. Dogwood Hill is my favorite wrapping paper, but also HomeGoods ALWAYS has a fantastic selection. So grab your paper and just wrap the box! And remember, the inside of the box doesn’t need to look perfect since it will be covered with tissue paper and goodies later.

Build The Box

Once you wrap the box, next add the finishing touches. Toss in some scrap paper or old newspaper (or this, or even better shred your own old paper!) to give the box a bit of “cushion” and add tissue paper to add the bottom. Then start piling in the gifts! It could be anything from your favorite nail polish to a scented candle or a homemade baked treat (my breakfast cookies are always a hit!).

Creating these DIY gift boxes might seem like a lot of work, but honestly it’s SUPER easy. Trust me, the “oooos” and “ahhh’s” and big hugs will make it all worth it. Make sure you let me know if you try your hand at a DIY gift basket!