Have you ever been to a pharmacy on Christmas Eve? Like a Walgreens or a Rite-Aid? It’s pretty sad. Long lines full of anxious people buying nothing but second-run Justin Beiber holiday themed wrapping paper and plastic jugs of Russian vodka. Sure, there are a few folks buying diapers, prescriptions and snack cakes, but really, it’s the wrapping paper that gets them through the door. Or maybe it’s the hooch (no judgements here). All I’m saying is folks could skip the lines at the store if they printed their own paper at home.
Because I hoard collect wrapping paper all year round, most of my gifts are wrapped in generic print paper and accented with holidayish paper or ribbons. One of my favorite things is to wrap in newspaper and make a ‘belly band’ out of something rich and elegant — maybe some origami paper, or a strip of silk brocade, or belt of vintage wrapping paper….
Last winter, my friend Ann sent me a box of vintage wrapping paper she found at Goodwill. How old is it? I’m not sure. It looks about 1940’s to me. Maybe 50’s. Ann, what would you say?
All I know is that the paper crackles like potato chips when I touch it and is far too pretty to use up on one person’s gift. No way, Jose.
Jose’s gift will be wrapped up regular old polka dots and accented with the vintage stuff.
Real vintage stuff? No. It’s a print-out.
I scanned in the wrapping paper and saved them as letter size PDFs. You can print them out on copy paper, or on labels, or anything else your little heart desires. Click here to view the PDF.
I have a thing about getting creative with office supplies. It’s a gift. A weird, obsessive gift.
THANK YOU! I loooove them!
I love the look of vintage papers. I scored a whole stack at the thrift store the other day but now I don’t want to use it because it’s my precious treasure… But the idea of scanning it is perfect. Now I’ll have it FOREVER. Hee hee heeeeee. Thanks for yours too by the way. Beautiful!
Dude, these are awesome. I sooo enjoy reading your blog. And I’m happy to know that I am not the only paper proliferator! Merry Christmas, from Bryan TX
Coolio! I always feel that way about fragile old items – how can I use them but not use them UP? Fabulous, peaches!
Thanks for these very nice papers!!!
Thank you for sending these PDF’s. The paper I think was from a garage sale. I would say the 50’s. You have to remember that the 40’s was half war-time. The war didn’t stop until June 1945, so it took a while to ramp up consumer products. I remember in the fifties that we always saved used wrapping paper as much as possible. I got tired of wrapping presents about twelve years ago. I made tons of fabric bags from sale Christmas fabric. Big ones, tiny little ones for stockings. We collect them after we open the presents and save them for the next year. We also save the ribbon we use to wrap around the top of the bags. The kids thought it was the best idea I ever had.
For some reason, this download doesn’t work anymore!
Would you be able to re-post the PDF? The link seems to be broken.
Thanks so much!
Sorry, I don’t. If I can find the file I’ll reupload, tho.
Hi! Any chance you’ve located this file in the year since the last comment? 🙂 This is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for but the PDF still doesn’t work 🙁 So sad!
Nope. Sorry. I’ll keep my eye out…