Wrapping Up Christmas Gifts
How to give your gift the greatest impact.
After you've purchased your Christmas gifts, the fun part begins. Think about how you can present your gift in its best light. How can the package itself deliver excitement to the recipient? Even a small gift can seem grand when packaged beautifully, and it shouldn't cost you a fortune to do so.
Paper ChoicesSure you can purchase expensive, fancy Christmas wrapping paper with Christmas trees and candy canes all over it. But then you're stuck with the leftovers for another year. Better to choose solid color gift wrap that can be used for other occasions, such as red, white, or metallic colors. For example, red paper works just as well on Valentine's Day once you add a pretty lace ribbon around the package. Or you can skip the traditional gift wrap and go for a more natural approach by using Kraft paper. Let the neutral brown paper serve as a backdrop for creative stamping, stencils, or interesting ribbons or stickers.
Bag ItFor gifts that don't need to be in a box, you can skip the wrapping paper and bag it instead. Purchase clear cellophane bags in bulk, fill them with color paper shred or tissue paper, place your gift inside, and tie with a decorative ribbon. While you're at it, purchase your tissue paper in bulk, not in expensive packages of two or three sheets.
You can also purchase simple, undecorated gift bags in holiday colors at discount stores. Similarly, plain, colorful goody bags from party stores can be dressed up as holiday gift bags for small gifts. Place your own stamp on them using stencils, glitter pens, and stickers.
Other Wrapping IdeasInstead of using boxes or bags, choose a container that can be part of the gift too. A decorative holiday tin makes a lovely container for cookies, small quick breads, or candies. A photo box will hold your gift and that year's holiday pictures. How about a fabric wine tote to wrap up a gift of candlesticks. A terra cotta pot, tied with a decorative ribbon, makes a charming package for a gift of kitchen spices, hot sauces, and measuring spoons. Baskets, when lined with a colorful bed of shredded paper, always look like bountiful containers for assorted small presents, such as soaps, candles, note cards, and pens. Wire or plastic baskets, often available in discount stores, give a more contemporary look to your gift.
Tie It UpWhether you use boxes or bags, add dazzle to your package with creative ribbons and ties. Colorful raffia is attractive on Kraft paper or plain gift sacks. Gather several strands of curling ribbons in different colors to make a festive tie. Lengths of mini, star garlands can add pizzazz to your package when used in place of a ribbon.
Make Your Own Gift TagsTake old Christmas cards and with decorative scissors cut out shapes from the front to use as your gift tags. Or copy photos of your family on card stock to serve as gift tags. How about giving your little artists the holiday task of designing and coloring heavy sheets of paper that can be cut into tags?
The Final TouchesAdd festive detail to your package by attaching small, seasonal adornments to your ribbons. Items might include candy canes, pine cones, bells, ornaments, cookie cutters, or cinnamon sticks. Little details like these will make your gifts feel extra special.
