Repurpose Packing Paper Into A Gorgeous Wreath For Any Season

With our reliance on delivery services these days, you might have an abundance of packing paper in your home. There are plenty of clever ways to repurpose packing paper after a move, such as this unexpected way to reuse paper around the house that will help to make your glass shine. The next time you have extra paper, consider repurposing it into a decorative braided wreath. Think of the craft as a bonus with your purchase — you'll have an excuse to exercise your creativity, and you'll end up with a gorgeous year-round decoration.

For this project, you will need a wreath frame and long, narrow strips of packing paper. Dollar Tree sells a Floral Garden Metal Wreath Form with a 14.25 inch diameter that would work for this project, or you can get a KBHOME 14-inch Metal Wire Wreath Form Frame 2-Pack from Amazon. Metal frames are best because they are less noticeable and easier to hide with packing paper, but foam options are available that offer a simpler way to attach the paper and any embellishments you may choose to add. If you anticipate needing more paper than you already have at home, you can supplement with Dollar Tree's Jot Kraft Paper, measuring 30 inches by 15 feet.

First, lay out and flatten the paper as much as possible. Next, cut it into three strips of equal lengths, giving you three strands to form a braid. Once you have these strips, scrunch them up so they look like paper ropes. Tape the strips to a table or countertop so that you can braid them, being careful not to pull them too tightly or rip them as you work. Once you're done with the braid, use hot glue to keep the end from unraveling.

Now you're ready to begin attaching the braid to the wreath form. Attach one end of the braid to the outer edge of the frame — either by shoving the paper into the prongs of a metal wreath or, if you have a foam wreath, by using hot glue or pins, like these Urmspst Sewing Pins or Haidi Hair T-pins. Continue securing the braid around the frame, pulling the paper taut as you work. When you've circled the wreath once, cut the paper and hot glue the end before blending it into the beginning of the braid for a seamless finish.

For a chunkier wreath, circle the frame and cut the braid two more times, attaching the second braid to the top of the wreath and the third braid to the inner edge of the frame. If you see any gaps between the individual braids, make adjustments to fill in the holes and then hot glue the paper in place. Ultimately, you will have three separate braids covering the fram

With the foundation of the wreath complete, you can get creative by customizing the braid. Attach decorative ribbon or jute string to the top of the wreath as a hanger, or go with a cleaner look by using a wall hook to hang it up. Wind a strand of battery-powered lights, like these HOBAYS Fairy Lights, around the braid, and glue the battery pack to the back of the wreath — making sure the batteries are still accessible in case you need to replace them.

Choose a year-round theme for the wreath, for example, with the addition of dried flowers, so you can display the decor permanently. Alternatively, you could swap out the adornments throughout the year with seasonal decorative picks from a craft store. Consider adding mini pumpkin decorations in the fall or snowflake appliques in the winter. If you're using a foam wreath, the picks can easily poke through the paper braid and into the foam for easy attaching. Just be careful with the paper when swapping out the accessories so it doesn't get damaged, although the crinkled look of the material easily hides any rips. You also could patch up small tears with more paper. For similar craft ideas using repurposed materials, check out these 13 stunning DIY wreaths you can make using empty toilet paper rolls.