Impress friends and family with gifts dressed up in thoughtful holiday gift boxes. These handmade packaging ideas not only offer a beautiful presentation, they'll be cherished long after Christmas is over.

Give cardboard jewelry boxes a ruby-slipper-inspired makeover and you won't even need wrapping paper. Brush the tops with acrylic paint to cover the label; let dry. Apply craft glue, and then sprinkle on glitter in the same shade as the paint. For extra sparkle, finish with metallic ribbon or embroidery floss.

Clear plastic boxes let you design packages that are beautiful inside and out. Nestle gifts in a blanket of faux snow; a bauble topper, created with wreath ornaments and sparkly pipe cleaners, adds a modern touch.

Packaged in quaint town house boxes, holiday cookies look classic yet tempting.

Although these containers resemble snowballs, they're not for throwing, but for packaging small presents.

With a standard-size matchbox, decorative paper, and stickers, kids can make small gift boxes filled with treats to give to classmates for Christmas.

Give a cardboard box a cheery makeover as wrapping for holiday gifts by gluing on a greeting card cutout. Place the lid on top of a card. Using a ruler, draw an outline that's about 1/4 inch outside the lid. Cut just inside the line with a pair of pinking shears. Use a glue stick to attach the cutout to the lid; the card will extend over the box's edges (be sure it's centered over the lid before pressing down). Repeat to cover the bottom of the box.

Give candy boxes a finishing touch that won't be ripped away when your present is opened.

Cover containers with a selection of seasonal gift wrap, art paper, ribbon, and twill tape. For chocolates, wrap the cover only, using craft glue or a glue stick as you go. Tuck excess paper inside, and trim the edge with a ribbon or paper strip.

With a few simple steps, you can make a Christmas package open like a blossom.

Embellish hexagonal cardboard boxes with with paint, paper, and lots of glitter, for a presentation that makes a lump of coal look desirable.

Present holiday favors in cone-shaped boxes made of card stock, wrapping paper, and lacy motifs.

Fold a piece of origami paper around a square box for inexpensive yet sophisticated holiday packaging.

Enclose jewelry, candy, and stocking stuffers in these miniature boxes decorated with ribbon holly.

Here's a gift box so elegant, you could give it as a gift itself. Decorate a wooden box with pearlized paint, silver paper, and photocopied images, and tuck a special present inside.

Giving a lot of gifts this holiday? Forget the cards, and have a stamp made with a special message for your all your recipients. Stamp the lids, and let the ink dry before closing.

To wrap the box, tape the left end of a paper strip to the inside of the box's right side. Put on the lid, and wrap paper around box, bringing it under, then across the lid. To fasten on the right side, tuck paper under lid. Trim the paper, leaving a 1 1/2-inch tail.