Find: Adhesive Wrapping Paper Adds Style to Anything

Remember Con-Tact brand paper, the self-adhesive covering that could be used to clad virtually any item? In its heyday it was used to cover any old thing to give it a second life and came in all sorts of prints and colors. 

It's a shame that the patterns offered today aren't particularly current (a faux wood grain pattern is apparently the most enduring). The good news is that Hallmark now offers a self-adhesive product  in fresh patterns for only $5 a roll.

This adhesive paper is marketed as gift wrap and that's probably a good use for it (frustrating to open, maybe, but at least it wouldn't loosen during transport). However, the real opportunity for this product is its usefulnes in breathing new life into things you already own. For example, this is an empty Starbucks Mocha Powder canister that has has been covered in Hallmark's adhesive wrap to become a nifty pen holder.

Now all the disparate accessories in the home office have gotten a makeover thanks to this wrap. Previously boring magazine holders and boxes for CDs look downright sassy, like they were staged for a Real Simple photo shoot. Even a plain white photo box has attitude with its lid covered in this pattern (photo boxes are $1.50 at Michaels). This paper comes in rolls 30" wide so it will easily cover a plain cardboard filebox and fitted lid without a lot of patching and piecing. Best of all, containers that were looking tired and sad are now coordinated and cheerful. You'd never guess they weren't purchased together in a matching set.

There are other patterns like bold stripes and subtle prints that might be more to your taste, with some juvenile patterns as well. Then again, some of the patterns just look like wrapping paper and wouldn't be graphic enough to make a statement. While this glossy paper is durable enough for storage, it is not suitable for heavy wear and tear. 

If you're a Hallmark Gold Crown member, don't forget to use your coupons. This roll was 40% off, so it was only  $3.50. That's an entire office storage makeover for the price of a single mocha!

There are dozens of Hallmark stores in the Birmingham area; check the >StoreLocator">Hallmark Site to find one near you.