Holiday Wrapping

What’s your wrapping style—in advance, along the way, or “we gotta wrap!” tomorrow’s Christmas?

We used to purchase and wrap in advance, but life happened, so the gifts trickled to the finish for a bit.

Then nine years ago we started a charity in our daughter’s name. We wrap for Aviana’s Elves in advance. For family and friends, wrapping is still sporadic and to the last week.

What are your thoughts about gift wrapping?

I think wrapping is an extension of the gift, so get lost in paper, ribbon, tissue, tags, and bags.

Gift Wrap Supplies

Wrapping/news/paper

Printed tissue paper

Gift tags/bags/hole punch

Ribbon/raffia/twine/bakers twine/string

Pinecones/leaves/ornaments/spices/bells/decorations

Stamps/ink pads

Tape/double side tape/sharp scissors

Paper Weight

Too thin, the paper tears.

Too thick, the paper’s difficult to bend, fold, and crease.

A mid to mid-medium paper makes for effortless wrapping and attractive gifts.

Do you buy gobs for the next year? If the paper involves dots or animals, why yes!

After the holidays, Cost Plus World Market discounts their wrap, ribbon, and tags well.

But they don’t stock up as much as they used to anymore.

Target premium wrap is a favorite too!

Have you ever met a person who doesn’t like dots?

Oh Christmas Tree.

You sly fox you.

The sweetest paper, but so dang thick. I didn’t care, until I wrapped, then didn’t care again.

Ohhhh my gosh! so worth having to use tiny pieces of packaging tape to hold the heavy together!

On the back hides a camera shy porcupine.

Is it me or does raffia makes the world go round.

And scotty dogs too.

Let’s Wrap!

Fun and colorful tissue livens boxes or bags.

Patterned paper and solid ribbon go together famously.

Alternately, solid or dot paper and funky ribbon work well!

(if new to wrapping, go for patterned though, as the design magically hides bulges and bubbles 🙂

Don’t forget to allow enough along the edges. We forget too, but more is better than not enough.

And if cut short, try wrapping diagonally. Our newest venture, for those “Dang! I cut the paper too short moments.” Dave likes this technique so much, he uses it anytime he can now!

Air and bubbles are e-vil (extreme? not so) in wrapping, so smooth those bad boys.

Make your gift a guaranteed looker, crease every edges with your fingers or nail.

Learn to tie a bow. I’ve watched this video too many times to count… registers .666% of the time.

Cut fat ribbon edges on opposing diagonals.

Spill your best secrets, please.

Michael’s sells sets of dot bags for a good price.

Oh bunny, how can someone fall helplessly for the inanimate.

Costco addiction anyone? The wire ribbon makes me wanna…bend!

 

May I introduce you to the heaviest paper known to man.

I sacrificed time and patience for these “who me?” owls.

“We’re innocent. We mean no harm. We bring peace and good cheer.”

And they do. They teach slowing, being with the holiday, and who you most adore and deserves time and attention.

Who likes to stamp?

Hand raised. A few years ago, I stamped every name on every tag and admired every gift.

Now, stamping’s intermixed, but the look and design is eye catching.

My friend Amy gifted a box wrapped in thick ribbon. I adopted the idea. Like Oprah (but not), Dave and I sometimes gather our favorite things for our best friends.

We haven’t finished but into these boxes from Target (or was it) Michael’s they’ll go.

 

This cup reminds of when I was a kid.

You too?

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Our charity has evolved over the nine years, but as of late, we adopt local families within our community and assist the people of Laos.

We wrap over a hundred presents a year, so for delivery, gifts need to be transported and stacked a couple times.

Mid to mid-medium paper weight is necessary for tears.

And ribbon that lays flat.

Or that’s resilient and smashes, then bounces back.

Like this!

And like that.

Kids like sparkle and shine.

And we adults do too!

What are your best wrapping ideas?

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It’s December 12, 2019. We’re 80% finished with Aviana’s Elves, family, and friends. I said:

“I think wrapping is an extension of the gift, so get lost in paper, ribbon, tissue, tags, and bags.” I believe this with my whole heart, but man am I tired of boxing and wrapping for the year.

Tomorrow’s a new day, but next is a new year and new horizon.