• Take inspiration from the patterns and colors of Chinese clothing to wrap your gifts.chinese fashion image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com
  
  If you are stuck for ideas on how to wrap gifts in a more creative way, looking at the traditions of other cultures can provide plenty of inspiration. Chinese culture, for instance, includes symbolism; wrapping your gifts in a manner influenced by the colors and motifs of Chinese art can help make your wrapped gifts look foreign, exotic and truly unique.
  
  

Fabric

• Wrapping your gift using fabric instead of paper can make for a striking package. You can obtain fabric remnants for fairly cheap at any fabric store, or simply use a patterned, Chinese-inspired silk scarf and make it part of the gift. Hold the wrap closed with gold cord or ribbon, or simply knot the corners of the fabric together.
  
  

Red Envelopes

• Chinese tradition calls for monetary gifts, especially wedding gifts or gifts for young people, to come in red envelopes. Make an envelope out of bright red paper, and add an appropriate Chinese character on the front with gold paint or a gold marker.
  
  

Patterned Paper

• Even if you choose to wrap your gifts in paper for simplicity's sake, you can still draw inspiration from Chinese culture. Purchase patterned Chinese-inspired gift wrap online or from local gift stores, or make your own using Chinese character stencils or stamps.
  
  

Decoupage

• Decorate a gift box with Chinese art and symbols through decoupage. Find images you like in books or magazines, cut them out (photocopy them if you do not want to ruin the original) and attach them to a gift box. Then, varnish the box to make the decoration permanent. Insert your gift in the box, and then wrap it with a gold or red ribbon.
  
  

Decorations

• Hang old Chinese coins (the kind with a hole in the middle) from the ribbons or cords you used to wrap your gifts. Original coins may be hard to find, but you can acquire replicas at specialty stores. Alternatively, use large beads decorated with Chinese characters.
  
  For very large packages, you can attach small decorative fans to the ends of the ribbon used to wrap the package or slip a large gift tag printed with a Chinese character under the ribbon of an otherwise plainly wrapped gift.