Simple personalized wrapping paper

You know you're cheap when . . . you won't pay for a dollar store gift bag and card for a graduation gift.

Normally, The Dollar Tree is my favorite frugal source for getting a gift together. But, when the graduation gifts mount to three or four at a time, even the cheapo cards and bags start to add up. Plus, it's easy to mix the gifts up when it's three identical gifts being carted off to one shared graduation party.

So we made personalized wrapping paper and cards using Microsoft Word, tape, scissors and a cut-up black folder.

Simply repeat the recipient's name over and over in a Word document. (If you like, add a big set of initials as we did.) Print and tape a few together.

We cut vaguely card-shaped rectangles out of the black folder, folded them in half and added white paper to the inside to make cards.

Instructions for making the ribbon are here.

The wrapping was a surprise hit of the party. People came over and took pictures of it.

They were obviously unfamiliar with the depths that some people will go to save a buck.