Ok, people! Time to start wrapping.
Actually, according to my typical schedule, it’s waaaaaay before time to do the wrapping (first I have to buy the presents). But… I did agree to do this LITTLE post about EASY wrapping. Plus, maybe now I’ll actually get to enjoy my wrap job for a few days, rather than a few hours.
So. Here are my humble wrapping habits. Perhaps you will care, perhaps you will not…
1. Start with a pile of stuff.
Not just stuff from the Christmas-wrapping aisle (the less of that the better). Any kind of stuff. Stuff you found for practically free at estate sales.
Stuff you didn’t use from your last package of garbage bags.
More stuff you found for practically free at estate sales—plus stuff you got on the Christmas clearance racks last year for 75% off.
Oh! And also stuff you bought at a second-hand store because you thought it was cool but you haven’t yet been able to figure out a way to use the crazy things.
It helps if the stuff you pull out fits within a festive color scheme.
2. Next, pull out a stash of wrapping paper.
Think plain. And variations on a theme.
Some years I have wrapped all my Christmas gifts in shades of green. Other years it’s been sheet music. Sometimes I’ve done everything in kraft paper. This year I’m branching out and using three rolls I already had on hand:
A candy-cane red/white paper, a roll of gold/white wallpaper (thrift store, baby!), and a gold kraft paper with a slight shimmer to it.
3. Then, box up every gift you can (they wrap so much nicer that way) and start cutting and taping!
Heck, if it’s a nice enough box, you might not even need wrapping paper.
(Caution: Never attempt to skip the wrapping if the present is for someone under the age of 18.)
4. Finally, embellish your gifts with the pile of stuff.
For example, take the cards that came with that silly old Adverteasing game you bought because you thought it might provide some copywriting inspiration or at least a few laughs, turn the red-and-white playing cards sideways, type on them with your retro typewriter, circle the name, punch a hole, attach them with red-and-white twist ties, and use them as gift tags.
Or, get a little out of hand with your spool of white string.
Turns out, all you need is an inch or two of red ribbon tied on at the end to give it some festive color.
It also turns out that the wire-edged ribbon you used last year and salvaged after the gifting frenzy on Christmas morning is completely reusable. The wire allows you to smooth the ribbon out perfectly so it looks brand new.
And always remember: A little tinsel goes a long way.
5. Now, stand back and admire your work before it all disappears in a swirl of glee.
One more little tip… When you’re really down to some last-minute, in-a-hurry wrapping (like, say, 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve), and you’ve got several gifts going to the same few people, you can designate each person a certain type of embellishment. For example, last Christmas, all of R-girl’s gifts had a bit of red ribbon tied on. All of R-boy’s had tinsel. No need for gift tags at all, and we could tell at a glance whose was whose!
6. Annnnd that’s it.
Now go put those presents under the tree!
Which is what I’m off to do now…
Happy wrapping, all. And please share your tips too. I want to hear!
by julie rybarczyk
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