How to Reuse Your Once Upon a Book Club Packaging: Tips from My Mom!

 At Once Upon a Book Club, every detail matters. When it’s time to pack our marvelous whimsical boxes, the excitement in the air is almost tangible. We put so much thought into creating the custom packaging for our surprise gifts — from boxes to bags and paper, we want to ensure that each gift feels magical. 

Every package is an opportunity to bring joy to our readers! There’s something incredibly rewarding about sending off each box, knowing it holds surprise gifts that will bring a story to life. Each element, from the wrapping paper to the smallest tag, is part of creating an immersive reading experience. 

That’s why it’s so wonderful to know that so many subscribers, like my mom, love these boxes and can’t bring themselves to toss them out after one use. In fact, my mom has become a bit of a packaging artist herself, finding all kinds of clever ways to reuse the boxes and bags. Here are some of her favorite ideas for giving OUABC packaging a new lease on life!

Instant Gift Boxes with a Bow 

One of my mom’s simplest and favorite tricks is to turn the packaging into gift boxes. The boxes already look fabulous, especially with their themed designs. To cover up the page numbers, she just adds a beautiful bow, and voilà!—a ready-made gift box.

If the numbers are a bit more spread out, she uses a bow alongside a touch of permanent marker to mask any extra bits. It’s such a quick way to repurpose our boxes without much effort!

To/From Stickers and Themed Labels

My mom is big on giving personalized gifts, so she keeps a stash of stickers and labels handy to transform each box into a one-of-a-kind present. Using “To/From” labels, she can easily turn any OUABC box into a personalized gift box for friends and family. 

 She also likes to use themed or holiday stickers to cover up text or page numbers, which gives each box a fresh look.

She has used these dressed-up boxes as unique storage containers and as decorative boxes around the house. (Of course, she insists that everyone sees the packaging and knows it’s from OUABC!)

Repurposing Drawstring Bags for Gifts and Essentials 

Our book boxes often include fantastic drawstring bags, which my mom adores. She loves turning them into little pouches for various items—sunglasses, headphones, tiny gifts, you name it! 

Her go-to options are iron-on patches. The patches cover up any text or page numbers on the bag and give it a completely new look. With a few minutes of ironing, the bags are ready to be used or gifted as unique little accessories. According to her, they’re perfect for storing essentials or creating an extra-special gift bag for small presents.

Add a Personal Touch with Permanent Markers 

For those who enjoy adding a personal touch, my mom suggests using permanent markers. You can even get creative with your designs and cover up page numbers or extra text with doodles and shapes. We just love these repurposed boxes!

Whiting Out for a Clean Slate 

If a box has a lighter or white background, my mom reaches for her trusty white-out. This trick is as simple as it sounds: she uses white-out (or White-Out Correction Tape) to cover up page numbers or any text she wants to remove.

With a clean slate, she has the freedom to write a personalized note, add stickers, or leave it blank for a minimalistic look. 

Conclusion

For my mom, reusing Once Upon a Book Club packaging is a way to keep a little bit of each story alive, even after she’s turned the final page. She always says that getting her monthly box is like getting a piece of magic delivered to her doorstep, and these repurposing ideas let her enjoy that magic a little longer.

I am always thrilled to see how much joy our packaging brings her (and to be honest, I love trying out her ideas, too!) Every package is designed with love, and seeing it enjoyed beyond the initial unboxing is a testament to just how special these monthly book boxes are.

If you’re a Once Upon a Book Club subscriber and have been wondering what to do with all those beautiful boxes, I hope my mom’s ideas inspire you to get crafty. With a bit of creativity, you can turn each package into something new, extending the magic of your reading experience. So the next time you finish a book and find yourself with an empty box, remember: the fun doesn’t have to end there.

We would love to see what you create with your Once Upon a Book Club packaging. Happy crafting and happy reading!

Why not subscribe and let the joy and magic of a Once Upon a Book Club book subscription box knock on your door?