DIY jeans ribbon tutorial (upcycled denim gift wrap)

Looking for a unique way to wrap gifts this year? This upcycled gift wrapping idea transforms old jeans into gorgeous rustic ribbon bows. It’s the perfect way to give new life to old denim scraps while creating one-of-a-kind wrapped presents.

I might be overdoing it with the denim lately, but I just can’t stop. I love the way I wrapped these gifts and want to share this quick idea with you in case you have some old jeans lying around the house.

What you’ll need

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Old jeans (from your closet purge or thrift store finds)
Scissors
Wrapping paper of your choice ( love blue glitter or metallic gift wrap)
Optional: ornaments, decorative picks, or natural elements

How to make denim ribbon from old jeans

Step 1: Rip strips by hand

Rip strips from your old jeans about 1-2 inches wide and as long as you need for your gift size. Ripping the denim by hand (instead of cutting with scissors) creates those gorgeous frayed edges automatically. No extra work needed!

strips of ripped jeans with frayed edges

Step 3: Wrap your gift

Wrap your present in your chosen paper, then tie the denim strips around it just like you would with traditional ribbon. You can even sew them together if you run out of length.

Step 4: Make bows

Tie the denim strips into bows, or layer multiple strips for a fuller look. The frayed edges add gorgeous texture that makes even simple bows look special.

Check out my tutorial on how to make a bow with thin ribbon.

Step 5: Add finishing touches (Optional)

Top your wrapped gift with small ornaments, vintage brooches, dried flowers, or whatever suits your style.

In the summer, I found a denim rose pin in my mom’s closet, which she didn’t want anymore, and she gave it to me. You can make one too; there are so many tutorials online, or you can just buy one, which would be my choice because it looks like they are a pain in the rear to make. You can find them on Etsy!

Why I love this denim wrapping idea

This upcycled denim gift wrap feels so elegant and unique. The texture of the denim adds so much visual interest, and I love that it’s a sustainable way to use up fabric scraps. Plus, it’s completely customizable because you can use any fabric scraps and not just denim.

The best part? No two gifts look exactly the same. The natural variation in denim color and the hand-torn edges mean each wrapped present is truly unique.