Wrap star

Here’s the haul: 10 cute gift bags, three spools of satin ribbon and 50 sheets of tissue paper. Here’s the damage: $15. Thank you, Dollar Tree.

Wrapping gets expensive elsewhere. You can expect to pay $5 for a gift bag at Hallmark or Target. But the dollar store goods are just as cute these days. And I’m not exaggerating!

Cute birthday stuff

Love the baby bags, especially the bottom two on the right!

I used to go to dollar stores for two things: movie boxes of candy and mylar balloons. But as a crafter, I began looking at other items over the last couple of years. It started with those cheap rolls of satin and grosgrain ribbon. I’d buy them in every color and scoff at the mark-ups on the same items next door at Michael’s.

Now, I do a big stock-up on wrapping every few months and don’t worry about needing something in which to present last-minute gifts.

Essentials in essential colors.

Yes, it's post-Christmas, but these are just as cute as the $6 offerings the Container Store hawks.

These come packaged 2 for $1 and you can decorate or have the kids draw on them!

Right now, there’s a wide selection of really cute Valentine’s bags, too.

Sweet, right?

Adorable.

Don’t get me wrong. I still need my occasional trip from indulgent pretty papers from The Container Store. But this is a good fix in the mean time.