3 Creative Ways to Reuse Brown Paper Packaging for DIY Projects

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself with a pile of brown paper packaging after unboxing a few deliveries, knowing you could reuse it for something but you aren’t sure what.

Instead of tossing it out, you can 100% turn this overlooked little DIY project item into something useful, stylish, and functional.

Whether you’re prepping for a cozy movie night, need an eco-friendly gift wrap solution, or want to elevate your next dinner party, these ideas are quick, creative, and totally doable.

DIY Gift Wrap with a Personalized Twist

Why buy expensive gift wrap when you can make your own with the brown paper packaging you’ve already got lying around?

I used white paint pens to draw a few designs on the paper and it’s kind of imperfect but honestly, I maybe like it better that way! You could also dress it up with stamps, stencils or even adding some cute lace or dried flowers for an earthy, rustic vibe, but it’s such a cute personal touch when you can DIY your own gift wrap.

I recently bought these scissors that make a scalloped design (called pinking shears) for the edges, too!

Crafty Charcuterie Boards

This one’s a favorite for when I’m hosting friends or having a family night in. Reuse your brown paper packaging as the base for a charcuterie board or snack platter.

The best part? Clean-up is a breeze!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cut your brown paper packaging to fit your kitchen island or dining table.
• Arrange your cheese, crackers, fruit, and whatever else you’re serving directly on the paper.
• Draw cute labels with chalk or markers to identify each snack (I reused my new paint pens from the wrapping paper which makes it basically my personality now).

Not only does it add a rustic, cozy vibe to your spread, but it’s also a great conversation starter.

Plus, after the event, you can just roll it up and toss it in the recycling—zero dishes required!

Movie Night popcorn bags

We recently bought a projector to make movie nights a little more of a thing, and these popcorn bags are such a fun little addition.

Here’s how to make them:

• Cut roughly a square in the paper (I’d guess about 10” x 10”), fold it in half to make a big triangle.
• Grab the right side point of the triangle and fold across and upward so the point lands right at the edge of the paper between the other two points in the triangle.
• Take the left point of the triangle and fold it at the same angle up toward the right so it’s overlapping the last fold you just did and touches the edge at the same point.
• At that last top point of your original triangle, there are two pieces of the brown paper. Grab just the front one and pull it down over the overlapping triangle points, and use a piece of tape or a sticker to hold it in place.
• Now you can open up that inner part of the bag and round it out so it’ll fit popcorn in there and you’re done!

Final Thoughts

Repurposing materials you already have around the house is one of my favorite ways to get creative with DIY projects.

By reusing brown paper packaging, you’re not only cutting down on waste but also adding a unique, personalized touch to your home – a win win!

Let me know if you try any of these ideas—or if you’ve got your own creative ways to reuse brown paper, I’d love to add them to my list.

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