DIY paper stuffing is considered one of the easiest and most economical ways to decorate a gift box. To learn how beautifully decorate various surprises, you need to find out what kind of paper you can make shavings from, and also read several step-by-step instructions in order to understand how to work with different materials.
What is filler for?
The cut paper "noodles" that are placed inside gift boxes are called paperfiller. They help securely fix items inside the packaging. In a box with such a filler, a bottle of wine, a vase or a set of antique dishes will not rattle and roll from one side of the box to the other.
Paperfiller protects the contents of the package from mechanical damage and sudden temperature changes.
This filling looks better than polystyrene or foam inserts. The cut paper can be of different colors and textures. Designers select the filling based on the shape and color of the packaging, as well as the contents.
For a children's gift, multi-colored, corrugated paperfiller is suitable, but for presenting a gift to a boss, it is better to use a single-color filling.
Color and texture
The texture of paper strips can be different. Designers divide it into 5 types.
The table shows their names and methods of application:
| Type of paper shavings | What gifts is it suitable for? |
| Straight | Straight stripes are suitable for filling boxes with small items. |
| Crumpled | The prepared strips are slightly crumpled by hand and placed inside the package. This type of paperfiller goes well with medium-sized items. |
| Wavy | The paper is twisted with scissors to resemble curly locks. This type of filling is placed in boxes with large items. |
| Corrugated | This type of filler is used for packing fragile items. |
| Mixed | This paperfiller consists of 2-3 main types of shavings. It is used to fill boxes that need to be transported. A mixture of different paper textures prevents the movement of objects inside the package and provides reliable protection against mechanical damage. |
The shade of the paper "noodles" depends on the color of the box. If the packaging is single-color, the paperfiller inside should be the same color or a shade lighter. You can use contrasting colors, for example, a red box with blue filler inside. Black packaging goes well with white paper, as well as with gold and silver.
These combinations visually make the contents of the box more expensive and presentable. Bright paper stripes look good inside light cardboard packages.
The color of the filler also depends on the theme of the holiday, in honor of which the surprise will be given. For example, for Christmas packages, designers often use red or gold paperfiller. For women's gifts for March 8 or a birthday, the package can be filled with pink "noodles" or soft blue. Bright fuchsia paper will look beautiful.
Density and width
Paper filler for boxes comes in different widths and densities. These criteria determine the degree of fluffiness of the material, as well as its visual appeal. The standard width of paper "noodles" varies from 1.5 to 3 mm.
According to density, paperfiller is usually divided into 3 types:
- classic - 80 g/m2;
- with increased density - 150 to 170 g/m2;
- designer - 120 g/m2.
The thicker the material, the more reliably it protects the items inside from damage and temperature changes. For example, tissue paper (density 150 g/m2) is used as a filler for gift boxes with clothes, shoes or cosmetics.
Craft "noodles" can be put into packages with bottles of expensive cognac. They are also suitable for filling boxes with handmade soap or perfume.
Thin paper is most often used to seal small gift packages. Paperfiller of this type is lightweight and comes in a wide range of bright colors.
Necessary tools
You can make paper filling for the box yourself.
This may require the following tools:
- stationery knife;
- simple pencil;
- eraser;
- ruler;
- simple and curly scissors;
- silicone cutting mat (to avoid damaging the work surface).
Detailed information about the most popular methods of making paperfiller at home can be found further in the article.
Paper shavings white
White filler is considered universal. It is suitable for packaging of all colors.
To make it you will need:
- A4 office paper;
- ruler;
- pencil;
- scissors.
Algorithm of actions:
- Place a sheet of paper horizontally on the table.
- Measure 4 cm from the right edge. Place dots at the top and bottom.
- Place the ruler on the marks so that it connects them.
- Fold the paper along the ruler.
- Next, you need to fold the entire sheet like an accordion, bending the edge back and then forward.
- The result will be a strip 4 cm wide. It should be placed horizontally on the table.
- Use a ruler to mark the top and bottom edges of the folded paper, placing dots with a pencil every 3 mm.
- Connect the top and bottom points with thin, barely noticeable pencil lines.
- Cut the paper along the markings.
- Straighten the resulting strips.
- Place the shavings in a pile and press lightly with your hands.
In the same way, you need to cut a few more sheets of paper until the prepared box is filled with shavings to the brim.
Cobalt
This is a thicker paper. Usually designers make corrugated shavings from cobalt. This filler is suitable for boxes with fragile contents. To make it, you will need a stationery knife, a ruler and a pencil.
Algorithm of actions:
- Place the cobalt sheet vertically on the table.
- Make markings at the top and bottom in the form of dots, placing them every 2 mm.
- Now you need to cut the paper into thin strips. Apply the ruler so that it connects the lower and upper points, and run the blade of a stationery knife across the paper.
- Once the strips are cut, each one needs to be folded like an accordion.
- From the bottom edge of 1 strip, measure up 5 mm and bend.
- Next, the strip is folded in the same way, first to one side, then to the other, until the end.
- You also need to bend all the other strips.
- Then they are carefully straightened with fingers.
To fill a large box you will need about 10-15 sheets. The paperfiler will turn out beautiful and dense.
Craft
Craft "noodles" are most often used to fill boxes with bottles, dishes and vases. Designers advise making the shavings straight or wavy.
To make it you will need:
- pencil;
- eraser;
- sharp scissors;
- stationery knife.
Algorithm of actions:
- Place the craft sheet horizontally on the table.
- Using a ruler and pencil, mark the top and bottom edges, placing dots 3 mm apart. The stripes should not be wider, otherwise the filling will look rough.
- Using a ruler to connect the top and bottom points, you need to cut the paper into even strips.
- Erase the markings with an eraser.
- If a straight shaving shape was chosen to fill the box, then at this stage its production can be considered complete. To create a wavy paperfiller, each strip must be twisted separately.
- Hold the end of the strip with your fingers, take the open scissors in your other hand and run the blade along the strip from top to bottom, slightly stretching the paper. The strip will take the form of a twisted curl.
This filler reliably protects the contents from mechanical damage and sudden temperature changes.
From corrugated paper
Corrugated paper filler is suitable for small boxes with small souvenirs inside. In craft stores, this material is sold in rolls. The color palette is wide. You can choose pastel-colored paper, bright or even neon. To make corrugated shavings, you only need sharp scissors.
Algorithm of actions:
- Unroll the paper roll and divide it into 3 equal parts.
- Roll each sheet into a tube with a diameter of about 4 cm.
- Press the tube so that it becomes flat.
- Using scissors, cut the workpiece vertically into thin strips, about 3 mm wide.
- Straighten the shavings and put them in a pile.
- Lightly crush the filling with your hands and place it in a gift box.
Corrugated paper is very thin, so it needs to be cut with scissors. A stationery knife will crumple the material, and the cut line will end up torn and crooked.
Colored
The paper filler for the box can be of different colors. Designers advise combining paper of similar shades, as well as creating contrasting and achromatic compositions.
To create such fillers, you should use double-sided paper. It should be thick, and the stripes wide. Colored shavings can be given different shapes, but it is best to make paperfiller mixed.
Brief instructions on how to create a filling for a gift box from paper in 3 bright shades:
- Place the yellow paper vertically on the table and cut into 3 mm wide strips. Then fold it like an accordion.
- Place a sheet of orange paper horizontally on the table, cut into 2 mm thick strips and curl with sharp scissors.
- Cut the red paper into strips 3 mm wide, put them in a pile and lightly crumple them with your hands.
Shavings of different colors are mixed and filled into the box to the brim.
Economy option
An economical, but at the same time original way to fill gift packaging is to make shavings from newspaper pages. All you need for the job is sharp scissors.
Algorithm of actions:
- Straighten the newspaper and fold it in 4 layers horizontally.
- Press the fold lines well with your fingers so that they remain visible.
- Unfold the newspaper and cut with scissors along the marked lines.
- Now each of the parts needs to be rolled into tubes with a diameter of 1 cm.
- Flatten the tubes by placing them on the table and smoothing them out with your hands.
- Using scissors, cut the blanks horizontally into strips 2 mm wide.
- Carefully straighten out all the strips, put them in a pile and press them lightly.
To make the shavings look nice, it is recommended to choose pages with text, without pictures. It is even better to use sheets from foreign newspapers, so that there are no random Russian words on the pages, which will immediately catch the eye of the recipient as soon as he opens the box.
Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas
Additional materials will help to beautifully decorate the contents of the festive packaging. For example, thin paper shavings can be mixed with spiral tinsel of a suitable color. Silver tinsel is suitable for decorating white paper, and gold for black paper. You need to choose a single-color decor for the colored filler.
You can also add large confetti inside the package. It is sold in craft stores. You can cut out confetti with a figured hole punch from double-sided colored paper. The shade of additional decorations can be contrasting or match the color of the main filler.
A paperfiler made of paper and threads pulled from a bag in which sugar was previously stored looks interesting. Usually such bags are white. You can choose any shade of paper for shavings, the main thing is that it is thick.
All sheets need to be marked and cut into strips of the same thickness as the sack threads. You can also use strips cut from thick and transparent packaging film as decoration. The filling will be beautiful and rustling.
Cobalt or craft paper can be mixed with strips cut from colored scrapbooking sheets. As a rule, such paper is decorated with a beautiful print. It can be matched to the theme of the holiday in honor of which the gift will be given.
For Christmas surprises, sheets with stars and snowflakes are suitable, and for birthdays - with balls and cakes. This is a type of thick paper, so the filler base should be the same thickness so that the finished paperfiller looks beautiful. Cut ribbons can be given any shape. A mixture of straight craft shavings and corrugated paper with pictures looks original.
The paper "noodles" can be sprayed with glitter hairspray to give the box's contents a festive look. It is better to avoid dry glitter. It will magnetize your hands and the surface of the items inside the box. Instead of glitter, large sequins can be placed inside the packaging.
Empty space around objects of complex shapes can be filled with small decorations. Dried rosebuds are often placed in packaging with creams and perfumes, and delicious candies or dried citrus slices are placed in the corners of wine boxes.
Fillers for mailing boxes
Mailing boxes must be packed very tightly so that their contents are reliably protected from impacts, temperature changes and frequent movement of the packaging during transportation.
List of suitable fillings that meet these requirements:
- wide shavings of thick mixed type paper;
- a mixture of thin strips of cobalt and sisal;
- corrugated paper with mesh for rosebuds;
- spiral rain with sisal and cobalt;
- a mixture of strips of packing tape and kraft paper;
- newspaper shavings mixed with corrugated paper;
- foil tinsel and twine.
The walls of the box that will be transported must be reinforced with cardboard inserts. The packaging can be wrapped with packaging film on top and placed inside a larger box. The contents of the gift, packed in this way, will be delivered to the recipient intact and beautiful.
For products
The paper filler for the food box should be breathable and keep the air temperature inside the package constant. You can put paper "noodles" made of corrugated paper, napkins or newspapers in the fruit box. This filling will prevent the products from mixing inside the package and will protect them from accidental impacts.
If there are several bottles of alcohol or, for example, jars of honey in 1 box, then you need to put shavings of thick paper between them. It will prevent the objects from moving and will help protect the glass from sudden temperature changes.
If you take a package with glass containers out into the cold and then bring them back indoors, they will become covered with condensation and in some cases may burst. Thin paper absorbs excess moisture well, and kraft, cobalt and a mixture of paper and sisal retain heat.
It is not difficult to make paper filling for a gift box with your own hands. The main thing is to learn how to correctly select paper by color and make shavings of different shapes, and also remember that for better preservation of the contents of the package, the density of the filling should be high.
Video paper fillers
What and how to make gift fillings: