I made these Christmas gift boxes to fit in my bookcase nooks almost 10 years ago. This is the year that I change the wrapping for the very first time. I know. Fascinating and mundane at the same time.
The idea or making fake gifts to put in my bookcases originally came to me when I saw the exact same thing at a friend's house and copied it.
I made it much better than he did because a) I'm telling the story and b) his kids picked out his wrapping paper and kids have absurd taste.
I built these built in bookcases just before Christmas in 2016. You can read a bit about how I built them here and see their full reveal including the secret storage compartments they have here. The first year I built them is the first year I made these black, gold and greenery adorned boxes.
So the bookcase presents were born. (copied, stolen, whatever)
Bookcase Gift Boxes
2 ways to make them
Custom DIY with woodworking
As far as DIYS using tools, this one is a level 1 in terms of difficulty. You just cut some 2x2's so they fit the size of your book nook and screw them together.
Super-Easy DIY with a glass of wine in one hand
Wrap some presents in whatever boxes you have laying around that fit in your bookcases. Stick them in so the bows and ribbon face out. Sip.
Changes For 2024
It was way too easy to punch a hole in the paper when I first made these. I did them really quickly.
When I originally made them I just used 2x2s and made a frame. This year I will add a thin piece of wood or stiff cardboard to the face of the frame.
They'll be easier to wrap with a solid surface and I won't have to worry about punching holes in the paper when I make, hang, or store them.
Materials
- Two 8' long 2x2s
- Stiff cardboard cut to size* (new this year)
- Wrapping paper
- Ribbon
- Fake or real greenery
- 2.5" nails or screws
- Scotch tape
- White glue or staple gun
Instructions
Choose whatever wrapping paper you want! Ribbon too.
NOTE: Matte paper is better than shiny because shiny shows all the wrinkles, marks etc.
The unexpected genius of this
If you have 1.5" of space behind your books on the bookcase you can just push them back and stick the gift box in front of everything. When it's time to get rid of them you slide them out and your bookcases are exactly like they were before Christmas. It's a Christmas miracle, cue the squirming baby Jesus.
In other words, you don't have to find anywhere to store what's normally in your bookcases as long as you can push them back by a little more than an inch.
Put sprigs of real greenery in floral vials with water and tuck those in the bows if you're having the kind of super-fancy night you always imagine you will but never do.
Or just do it for you.
I searched around big, bad Amazon for a while and found what I think are best selection of fake greenery picks for Christmas.
I chose this artificial pine because the stems are wood coloured, not green which makes them natural looking.
A triple mix of various eucalyptus stems.
I chose this pine sprig because it looks like bonsai. It's 14" long from tip to tail but you can cut the stem shorter or individual sprigs from it.
You'll see these boxes done with their new wrapping in my annual Christmas House tour. If you're looking for Christmas decorating inspiration before then, here's a random Christmas House Tour from 2020
Full Instructions for the DIY bookcase presents below.
Fake Bookcase Presents
A fast and easy way to give your bookcases that cozy holiday feeling. These measurements are for a standard Ikea Billy Bookcase but can be revised to fit any bookcase.
Materials
- Two 8' long 2x2s.
- Wrapping paper.
- Ribbon.
- Fake or real greenery.
- 2.5" nails or screws.
- Scotch tape
- White glue or staple gun.
Instructions
- Cut the 2x2s into 14" lengths. (you'll need 8 of them for 4 presents)
- Cut the 2x2s into 8.5" lengths. (you'll need 8 of them for 4 presents)
- Screw or nail wood together to form a rectangle frame. Your long 2x2s will be the top and the shorter ones will be the sides. Your finished frame will be 14" x 11.5"
- Wrap the frame with the wrapping paper of your choice.
- Lay ribbon across the present and staple or glue it to the back.
- Form a bow and staple it to the ribbon (or use a pipe cleaner to attach it)
- Add in greenery to give some holiday feel and add colour contrast.
- Place your "present" into the bookcase.
Notes
Store these carefully and they'll last for years.
Use whatever kind of paper you want. Vintage wrapping paper would be GREAT.
If you're going to screw the frames together remember to pre-drill the wood so it doesn't split.
Matte paper is better than shiny because shiny shows all the wrinkles, marks etc.
I love your idea, though I had a hard time seeing what the finished "gifts" look like, because they are so dark in the photos. I am either getting old, or the results of the election here in America have made me want to stick forks in my eyes and ears, so I don't have to see or hear him again.
Love this idea - thank you Karen; and good call on using matt paper. I approve of change from the black - in my world, it's unfortunately giving UK bin bag vibes.. 🤭
I'm a lazy dollop with overcrowded bookshelves, so might try a wrapped sheet of heavy cardboard folded in three - think this could slide on without need to move books or acquire materials/skills I don't already have.
Looking forward to the new reveal!
What my hoarder cabinets look like actually need NO more books. I would use this idea to made faux empty shelves to hide the mess in each compartment. I actually think that would look good year round. THANKS for a really great look/improvement for my home. No coffee our the nose this morning - whats a matter you?
No coffee OUT the nose for me this morning. Sorry for the confusion - Christmas wishing for an edit function on comments.
I love this idea! I'm going to try this out!
It's fun to do and obviously it can look totally different with different wrappings. ~ karen!
My next email opened (after this one about presents in your bookshelves) was from my local independent bookstore. This recommendation from them reminded me of your screech owl adventures. I thought it might interest you: https://www.wellesleybooks.com/book/9781324086482
Cute! Thanks, I'll have a look. ~ karen!
There really is NO end to your cleverosity. With the understanding that my brain cannot comprehend the notion of this Christmas that you speak of until my digestive system has performed its anatomical magic on a Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Sorry - it's a rule here in the States and I rarely break rules.