Extra credit Transform a simple gift voucher into a personalised surprise

One of the certainties of Christmas is that you’ll either give or receive at least one voucher. This year, rather than presenting your loved one with a standard envelope or card, try one of our eight creative ways to wrap and present a gift card. These simple ideas can be used all year round and will make receiving a practical token just that little bit more magical

1 THAT’S A WRAP

With scarves currently trending and some gorgeous versions readily available in shops, give the fashionista in your life a gift voucher wrapped in a beautiful scarf. Find a small box and place your voucher inside. Fold the scarf into a triangle shape and place the box in the middle. Fold the bottom, pointy end up over the box, bring the top side down, then fold the two outer ends towards each together and tie in a knot to secure. 2 BANG FOR BUCKS

If you like to make your own crackers and are also planning on giving someone a gift voucher, then combine the two by using a DIY cracker kit large enough to fit a voucher inside. Add a few sweets or chocolates as an extra treat and don’t forget a nice loud banger!

STYLIST’S TIP Make your voucher feel more personal by packaging it inside something else your recipient might like. Coffee lover? Pop it inside a mug. Flower fancier? How about a gardening glove?

3 SUPER SLURPRISE

If the teen in your life loves smoothies, treat them to a fab new smoothie cup (ours was $3 from Kmart) and pop a voucher inside. 4 BAGS OF JOY

If you have some basic sewing skills, whip up a few voucher-sized bags. They can be made in minutes and decorated with a mini bell, tag or tassel. Use some leftover fabric or buy a pre-cut square of fabric (called a ‘fat quarter’) from your fabric shop for around $5. You can get three bags out of one fat quarter, so this is a very cost-effective option. 5 YES WE CANISTER!

You can’t beat a stylish canister filled with favourite treats and a gift card for a winning Christmas present. Canisters can be picked up relatively cheaply and are an inexpensive way to dress up a voucher. Simply fill with chocolate, nuts or sweets, pop the voucher in the middle, add the lid and secure with ribbon and a gift tag.

6 WILD RIDE

Kids will love this cute idea. Take some plastic animals and give them a coat of paint using a testpot. Place a gift voucher in a small box and tie it to the back of the animal using ribbon or twine. This way they’ll have a toy to play with now, as well as a token to spend once the excitement is all over.

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EPIC ENVELOPES If you are posting a voucher and need to keep the weight and size down, look out for some envelope

options that can be dressed up and easily popped into a postage bag. Here we simply placed the

voucher in a gold cardboard envelope and sealed the flap with

a cute pom pom and gift tag. CREDITS Soho satin scarves, $9.95 each, from Cotton On.

DIY bonbon (cracker) kit, $6.99, metallic cotton fat quarter, $5.99, Cristina Re gold perforated envelope wallets, $17.99 a packet, all from Spotlight. Tassel decorations, $3 for 4, from The Warehouse. Glitter straw cup,

$3, gold glass canister, $4, from Kmart. Animals, $8 a packet, gold bells, $2 a packet, from Look Sharp. Background is Capiz table runner, $59.95, from Freedom.

All other items stylist’s own.