Aluminium foil is a good substitute for gift wrap; for a textured look, press it gently against a rough surface such as a stucco or brick wall.
To premeasure a length of gift wrapping from a roll, wrap string around the package and use it as a guide.
If your sheet of wrapping paper is a bit too short to cover your package, turn the package at an angle and try wrapping it that way.
Other interesting and attractive substitutes for gift wrapping include leftover wallpaper and fabric remnants, and magazine advertisement pages. The coloured comic pages from weekend newspapers, or even from discarded comics, make cheerful coverings for children's gift packages. You can also use plain brown wrapping paper for gifts, but tie them with bright ribbons of red, gold or yellow.
Make your own printing block by cutting a simple design on a bar of soap or a halved potato. Then use it to decorate newspaper, paper bags or white shelving paper. Use an ink pad or pour out some paint on a paper plate or a clean plastic foam meat tray.
Save wrapping paper. When you have a large object to cover, use different pieces of your stored paper to create a patchwork look.
