How to wrap a small gift in a pull-tab can: A creative way to wrap cash, gift cards, jewellery and concert tickets so no-one can guess what’s inside. Great way to wrap small gifts that are hard to wrap or disguise.
You know how it goes. You have a great gift to give someone – maybe tickets to a concert or the theatre, or a gift card to their favourite store, or perhaps a nice, crisp hundred dollar bill! You’re super-excited about your gift, but you don’t want to just stick it a boring, old envelope. You want your wrap-job to be special, and you don’t want the person to be able to guess what’s inside.
Well, I’m going to show you how you can wrap a small gift in such a creative way that they’ll never guess what’s inside. It’s also super-fun to open a gift wrapped this way. All you need is a pull-tab can from your pantry cupboard!
This is such a cool way to wrap a gift and a really fun way to receive one. I wrap a few small presents this way every Christmas and my kids think opening the gift is just as exciting as finding out what’s inside.
Preparing the can for wrapping only takes a few minutes, and it’s really easy to do. Let me show you how!
How to wrap a small gift in a pull-tab can:
Supplies:
- Pull-pull tab can
- can opener
- hot water/dish soap
- hot glue gun
- wrapping paper, ribbons, bow
- tissue paper
- your gift
Start by removing your label from the can. I suppose you could leave it on, but I always remove it because I like the look of that shiny clean can when presenting my gift.
*A handy tip for removing stubborn labels is to blast it with the heat of your hair-dryer. The glue softens quickly, and your label will peel right off.
Wwith a can-opener, open the BOTTOM of the can. Do NOT open the top. You must leave the top of the can completely intact so your recipient has to “pop” the lid to reveal what’s inside. Leave the bottom of the can attached by a half inch or so.
Empty the contents and store for later use.
Wash and dry the can, and for the love of all things holy, take care to not cut yourself on the sharp edge.
Now, pop your gift into the can, and stuff it with tissue or whatever fluffy filler you have on hand. I’ve used tissue paper here.
With a glue gun, re-attach the bottom of the can. Hold it all in place for a minute while the glue dries. The seal that you’ve created won’t look perfect, but that’s not going to matter.
See? Mine’s kind of messy. No worries.
Now flip your can over, and ta-daaaa… You have what looks like a completely new, un-opened tin can! Cool or what?
Now you just have to glam it up with wrapping paper, ribbons and bows!
Doesn’t that look pretty? Ooooo! They’ll never guess what’s inside!
Here’s a shot taken the first time I used this method of gift-wrappnig. This is my dad and my boys opening tickets to a Jr. A hockey game one year at Christmas.
Isn’t that a fun and creative way to give a gift? Now go grab a can or two, and get wrapping!
Looking for more cool DIY gift-wrap ideas? Check out:
Gorgeous Brown Paper Bag Gift Wrap
Homemade Wrapping Paper with Coloured Ice Pops
How to Make Gift Wrap with Paint and a Hair Dryer
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
Angelique Felix
Such a cool idea!
Love it 🙂
Michaela
I LOVE THIS!! So creative! I’m going to do this for my hubby this year!!! Thanks for an awesome idea!
Laura@art4littlehands
What an awesome idea!!!! I am so glad you shared. this will be done time and time again in our home from now on. I am thinking it should be a tradition from now on. Thanks for the great idea. Pinning and sharing now!
mermaid
Well, I have prepared the can.. While taking off the label I thought that maybe I should leave it on. Would be nice to see people`s faces thinking that I have given them a can of baked beans or chopped tomatoes 😀 😀 😀
By the way.. Tupperware can openers don`t leave sharp edges.
happyhooligans
Wow, you didn’t waste any time, did you? Leaving the label on is just brilliant! I so wish I’d thought of that when I did it last year. I’ll remember it next time! Thanks for the heads up about the Tupperware can opener too!
Rashmie @ MommyLabs
What a genius idea this is! I’m going to try this right away to enjoy those expressions on the faces of the receiver! Thank you for sharing!
Joan
I going today to buy these cans, love the idea I’m going to used the cans instead of the Christmas pull crackers at the table.
doodlebags
Superb idea.
Elisa
The Pampered Chef opener also doesn’t leave sharp edges! Great idea- I think we’re gonna do this!
Barbara L
Going to fill mine with candy so the weight is there – like hershey kisses so they don’t rattle so much!
Mike
This is great idea….I am going to start with a big box and wrap and place about 4 other boxes in with my wife’s favorites…1 box with a can of coke, another box with a twix bar, one with the fun size twix, and one with a bag of her favorite chips or popcorn, then the can filled with Hershey kisses and the concert tix.
happyhooligans
What a fun guy you are, Mike! She’ll love that! Enjoy the concert!
beth
how do you open the cans that are rounded on bottom? they don’t seem to open with can opener?
happyhooligans
I would think they wouldn’t work then, Beth. Any can opener I’ve ever used, needs that ridge to grip in order for it to work.
ej
What a great idea!! I am going to just leave the original label on it so they think they are getting a can of peas. LOL!!
happyhooligans
Hah! I love it!
Betty Diana Arce
Great idea. Using a safety can opener will make this project a lot safer!
Seerah
Soooo lovely, never seen anything like it. Cant wait to make this for my loved ones, especially hubby.
Jenetta Penner
Nice hack… This is perfect! Love the idea of leaving the label on and see the look on my friends’ faces! 🙂
Pam
Most cans now have rounded edges for safety and I am not finding a can opener that will open them. Has anyone else figured out what to do for the rounded edge cans???
Debbie B
I have seen this before but never did it. Since I will be giving some gift cards this year I think I am going to try this! I’m so glad I saw you on pinterest — I had forgotten about this!!!
Thanks for a really cute idea!
happyhooligans
I’m so glad you found me, Debbie!
Heidi
Hey Lady! This is one excellent idea for gift wrapping! You are so talented!! i made one for my father in law for father’s day and he LOVED It! He couldn’t figure out how i got the gift card inside. Thank You!!!
happyhooligans
Yay! I’m so glad you (and your Father-in-law) loved it! It’s one of my favourite ways to gift-wrap!
Sonya
This is a Great idea !!!!!! I am going to be making some bracelets for Christmas and this is perfect!!!
Zak Hart
It is a gorgeous guide really amazing article thanks for sharing this info.