If you've got a stash of leftover wrapping paper sitting in a drawer after the holidays — too pretty to throw away, too small to wrap anything with — this video is exactly what to do with it. I show ten projects that use those little offcuts and remnants in ways that are genuinely useful: pockets and pouches for journals, laminated covers, DIY decorative tape, matted frames, gift tags, bookmarks, and more. And because all of these techniques work with any paper, you don't need wrapping paper specifically — but wrapping paper is a particularly good excuse to finally use up what's been piling up.
What we cover
Ten distinct projects built from paper scraps and a handful of basic supplies — double-sided tape, a glue stick, cardstock, and optionally a laminator. Some projects take five minutes; a few take longer if you want to embellish. Every project is shown with real examples, and several include a quick demonstration so you can see how the technique actually works, not just what the finished piece looks like.
What you'll learn
How to make laminated pockets from wrapping paper, including:
- Layering two pieces of wrapping paper (unglued) inside a laminating pouch so both sides show
- Cutting one edge open after laminating to create the pocket opening
- Leaving one side long and adding eyelets to bind multiple pockets into a mini album with rings
How to fold and seal a paper pouch without a laminator, including:
- Folding a scrap piece to the desired size with no measuring required
- Using double-sided tape on both the side flap and the smaller interior flap to seal all edges with no gaps
- Folding and gluing the bottom hem for a clean, flat base
- Embossing or adding small collage clusters when the paper is plain
How to make a laminated journal cover or pocket page, including:
- Running two coordinating papers through a single laminating pouch for a layered cover
- Cutting apart the laminated piece to create two separate pockets for a dashboard or planner page
- Using the finished piece as a floating pocket that clips onto any journal page and moves with you
DIY decorative tape (washi-style) from wrapping paper scraps, including:
- Applying double-sided tape to the back of a wrapping paper strip and trimming to width
- Cutting strips with a wiggly line rather than straight for a decorative border edge
- Rolling finished tape for storage and cutting pieces as needed
Collage, paper piecing, and Franken paper — gluing the most interesting sections of wrapping paper onto copy paper, sewing over it with straight or zigzag stitch, then backing with cardstock so the stitching doesn't show through. The finished panel works as a journal cover, a tag base, or a starting point for a memory-keeping page — Natasa suggests keeping a small snippet from every gift you receive and collaging them together with dates and occasions.
How to cover cardstock or a frame with wrapping paper for mats and book plates, including:
- Cutting corner margins before folding so corners lie flat and neat
- Pulling the paper tight against the cardstock when folding and sealing — this is the step that makes the difference between a tidy finish and a lumpy one
- Using the technique to make a book plate, a fridge magnet, or a layered mat with a stacked frame effect
Laminated keychains and dangles — cutting small wrapping paper shapes (including tiny pockets), laminating them, and assembling on a jump ring and keychain clip. Works as a bag charm, a gift, or a word-of-the-year reminder you keep with you.
How to cover a cardstock frame with wrapping paper, including:
- Cutting an X from corner to corner on the inner opening and trimming the resulting points
- Folding the inner flaps over and sealing before doing the outer edges
- Pulling the paper tight on all four sides for a clean front
Tags and gift tags from scraps, including:
- Laminating small pieces when you already have the machine out and space to spare on the pouch
- Gluing torn wrapping paper onto tea-dyed cardstock and sewing around the edges for oversized journal tags
- Running small gift tags through an embossing machine for texture
Laminated bookmarks — the simplest use of leftover laminator space. Any narrow strip goes in alongside whatever else you're laminating; nothing gets wasted.
Tips & gotchas
Don't start hoarding every offcut. That's the trap. Make the projects you want to make, then let the rest go — otherwise you've just moved the pile from the wrapping paper drawer to the craft supplies drawer.
Wet glue and lightweight paper don't get along. If you're covering cardstock or backing a tag, use a glue stick rather than liquid glue. Even some glue sticks can cause light warping, so apply sparingly and smooth quickly. For anything that needs a really clean surface, double-sided tape is the most reliable option.
When wrapping cardstock or a frame, the key step is pulling the paper tight before you press it down. Pick the piece up, pull the paper taut, then fold. A bone folder helps get corners crisp — your fingernail works too, but the bone folder gives you more control for those small corner folds.
Cut your corner margins before you start folding. Leave a small amount beyond the corner rather than folding all the way to the edge — it gives you material to tuck in neatly instead of a lumpy overlap.
The decorative tape made with double-sided tape is permanent once applied, unlike real washi tape. It won't peel cleanly, so use it where you want something to stay down — not as a removable accent.
When you're laminating, look at how much empty space is left on the pouch. Bookmarks, tags, and small pockets all fit into those gaps. Keep a little envelope of things-to-laminate near the machine so when it's out and warm, nothing goes to waste.
Once you've worked through a few, you start seeing the offcuts differently: not as scraps to manage but as raw material with a fairly short path to something finished and useful. The collage memory-keeping idea in particular — keeping a snippet of wrapping paper from every gift, dated and noted — is the kind of thing that's easy to start right now and genuinely lovely to look back at.
