Use rustic materials as a starting point for rustic packaging. Materials considered rustic or that have that rustic look include handmade paper, brown paper (rough or smooth), burlap, unbleached muslin, flannel, wool, wood, twine, matter ribbon and buttons. Stick with a handful of materials rather than trying to use all of the material considered rustic in a single package. Printed or patterned paper can look rustic as long as the colors are muted, the pattern classic rather than modern, and the finish matte.
Use silhouettes of rustic items and locations to visually trigger the impression of "rustic." Print the silhouettes with faded or imperfect edges, sometimes described as "the vintage look," such as when talking about t-shirts, rather than crisp, perfect edges. Places and objects to silhouette on the main package or on the label include trees, plants, flowers, farm animals, wooden or barbed-wire fences, cottages, cabins, farmhouses, mountains and bodies of water.
Store the gift or product in a glass jar as a simple starting point for a rustic packaging look. While glass is heavier than plastic, it is also surprisingly sturdy and carries strong associations with rural life, usefulness, value, and "the way things used to be." Embellish the glass jar with a matte printed paper wrapping over the lid, a label styled to resemble a hand-written note, an etched or rub-on quote, or product information, gingham or plaid ribbons, or a tag attached with twine wrapped several times around the lid.