Eco-Friendly Christmas Wrapping Ideas with Kraft Paper

Brown paper packages tied up with string – made magical

There’s something so timeless about a parcel wrapped in simple brown Kraft paper. It feels nostalgic, a nod to old-fashioned post offices and packages tied up with string, yet it’s also one of the most sustainable choices you can make at Christmas. Kraft paper is fully recyclable, affordable, and endlessly versatile – the perfect blank canvas for your creativity. Instead of shiny foils or plastic-coated wrapping that heads straight for landfill, you get the satisfaction of knowing your gifts look beautiful and tread lightly on the planet too. A win for the environment and for your purse.

One of my favourite ways to elevate this humble wrapping is to give it a little “travelling-the-world” magic. Think festive parcels arriving from afar, covered in stamps and tied with string. You can pick up bundles of vintage stamps on eBay for just a few pounds, and they instantly transform plain paper into something brimming with character and charm. A scattering of pinecones, a loop of red and white twine, and suddenly your gift looks like it’s travelled across snowy rooftops to land beneath the tree. It’s simple, nostalgic, and utterly gorgeous.

If you fancy adding a touch of woodland magic to your Kraft wrapping, this is such a fun way to do it. I printed some beautiful winter wildlife illustrations – a fox, a polar bear, a stag – onto Kraft card (you can find sets of line drawings like this on Etsy for less than a fiver). After cutting them out, I made a little pocket by folding the wrapping paper down the centre and back on itself before finishing off the parcel. The animal slips snugly into the pocket, almost like it’s peeking out of its wintry world.

To set the scene, I added a few loose brushstrokes of wintery trees for the fox and a frosty cave for the polar bear. It doesn’t need to be a perfect painting. The charm is in the simplicity, making each gift look like a tiny storybook. The best bit? Each animal doubles as a gift tag by writing a message to the recipient on the back. It’s wrapping and gift tag in one, with a sprinkle of handmade magic.

For this handsome stag, I added stamped snowflakes in a random pattern.

For a pop of colour and instant festive cheer, I couldn’t resist adding a few honeycomb paper decorations to my Kraft paper wrapping. These little spheres bring texture, fun, and a burst of personality. These would be fun for the kiddos Christmas gifts.

Plus they’re reusable, so your wrapping stays eco-friendly. I simply glued the honeycomb shapes in place and drew simple black lines with loops to turn them into hanging baubles. For a smaller parcel, I flipped the idea and used a single honeycomb as a balloon, sketching a little figure holding the string. It’s guaranteed to raise a smile before the paper’s even torn open. You could even use this idea for birthday wrapping.

If you’ve got a quiet evening, a hot chocolate, and a little creative energy to spare, this one’s pure magic. Using a white acrylic pen on brown Kraft paper, I drew rows of tiny gingerbread-style houses, complete with frosted rooftops, twinkly windows, and a dusting of “icing” snow. It’s definitely one for the wrapping enthusiast — if I had twenty gifts to wrap, I wouldn’t be doing this! But for those extra-special presents, the ones that deserve a little more love and time, it’s worth every minute.

The contrast of crisp white on warm brown paper is just gorgeous and gives that nostalgic, homemade Christmas feel — like something straight out of a cosy winter storybook. You could even personalise the houses to match your own home or the recipient’s! Just pop on a Christmas film, get your pen flowing, and watch your gift wrapping turn into miniature winter wonderlands.

I think it's lovely to add in a few plain brown paper packages and tie some greenery to them to look like Christmas trees.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most beautiful. For this one, I printed out little photos of the gift recipients. A favourite memory, a holiday snap, or just a picture that makes you smile. I tucked them under a length of raw-edge silk ribbon purchased from Etsy. The softness of the ribbon against the brown Kraft paper feels so luxurious, and the photo makes the wrapping instantly personal. It’s a lovely way to show thoughtfulness before the gift is even opened, and such a joy to hand over.

You could even make it a little guessing game under the tree — whose smiling face is waiting on each parcel? This one’s a breeze to put together, but it looks utterly heartfelt. A true case of “less is more” when it comes to Christmas wrapping.

So, there you have it, proof that simple brown Kraft paper can be transformed into something truly special with just a few thoughtful touches. Whether you’re in the mood for vintage charm with old stamps, a touch of woodland whimsy, bursts of colour and texture, or a sentimental twist with personal photos, there’s a way to make every parcel feel unique. It’s not about perfection, it’s about the love and creativity that goes into each wrap.

Pop on a Christmas playlist, make yourself something festive to sip, and let the wrapping become part of the joy of giving. Because when it comes down to it, a beautifully wrapped gift says, “I thought of you” before the ribbon’s even untied.