Gift wrapping season is upon us, and with it comes those awkward bits of wrapping paper you’re not quite sure what to do with. But if you’ve got a pile of wrapping paper that doesn’t fit any gifts, there’s a solution that’s so adorable you might end up wanting to save every bit of wrapping paper you have: turn it into ribbon for your gifts.

How to turn scraps of wrapping paper into ribbon

1. Cut the paper strips. First, cut the wrapping paper into thin strips (cut longer if you’re working with a rectangle).
2. Twist each strip. When you are done cutting the paper, curl it using scissors. This can be done the same way you would twist a ribbon – gently run the edge of a pair of scissors from one end of the wrapping paper to the other. Be sure to scrape the inside of the wrapping paper, not the design on the outside. This will cause the wrapping paper to curl; the more pressure you apply, the more you twist. For this hack, the paper should be curled along its entire length, but you can vary the types of coils you create.
3. Arrange the curls. After each strip of paper is curled, you can grab a section in the middle and start stacking the other pieces on top of it. Stack the twisted strips so that they lie one over the other in the very center of each strip; this should create a full curl on both sides of the pile.
4. Paste it. Take your bundle and attach it to the wrapped gift by sticking a piece of tape across the middle where they cross. Don’t worry about the tape being visible – the tape should fold over it.

You are looking to mimic the same design you would get from a curly bow. Instagram user @kelleynan demonstrates this hack from cutting to layers. She also advises DIYers to layer curled pieces of wrapping paper in different directions to help create a fuller, layered effect.

If you use up your scraps every year, that means your homemade wrapping paper will be the perfect match for your gifts. If you’re someone who likes to go all out with matching wrapping paper designs and color schemes, this trend is definitely for you, although @kelleynan shows off this hack using complementary wrapping papers.

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Other ways to use wrapping paper

wooden bows: If you’re looking for even more ways to reuse these ribbons, you might want to check out the Christmas tree bow trend that’s taking over the holiday scene this year. Twisted ribbon can make a cute, unique decoration – and using Christmas wrapping paper means it’s already on theme.

Holiday Streamers: Use larger pieces that will leave you with plenty of extra length to make holiday ribbons. Twist them gently, then join several pieces of paper at the ends.

bunting: Bunting is a simple decoration that will give a similar festive effect – just cut leftover wrapping paper into triangles and hang them from a garland, a length of twine or more wrapping paper.

Gift bags: When you have a piece of wrapping paper that is close to the gift you are trying to wrap, you can try making a gift bag out of it instead of wrapping it the traditional way. All you have to do is fold the paper over the gift and tape it as you normally would, leaving both sides open. Pull out the gift and push both sides of the paper at one end, creating a diamond shape. Fold it straight down and tape to create the bottom of your bag. All you have to do is insert your gift and fold the top.