Create a
signature
wrap that reflects your personal style. Perhaps you prefer the elegance
of white satin ribbon on white embossed paper, or the casual simplicity
of raffia tyings on brown packaging paper. Maybe the flair of layering
colorful cellophane tied with Mylar ribbon is more your style.
Experiment with various combinations of paper and tyings until you find
one that says "YOU." Then use that combination as your own
signature wrap for all of your gifts.
Gift bags are great
for wrapping odd-shaped or unboxed items in a hurry, and they are
available in a wide range of sizes, colors, and patterns.
Make reusable gift
bags from silk, taffeta, burlap, chintz, or another fabric, or from
dishtowels, doilies, or pillow cases. These are great for odd-shaped and
oversized presents and are easy to customize. Embellish the bags with
appliqué, embroidery, lace, trim, or buttons and tie them closed with
yarn, ribbon, cord, or raffia.
Wrap oversize gifts
in pillowcases, paper tablecloths, butcher paper, or lawn and leaf bags.
Tie with rope or wide ribbon and attach an extra-large gift tag. To find
oversize boxes, scout out furniture and appliance stores.
To design your own
gift wrapping paper, spatter-paint, rag-roll, sponge, or stencil sheets
or rolls of plain-colored paper.
When presenting
several packages to one recipient, form a "tower" by stacking
them from largest to smallest and tying them together with a sturdy
cord, rope, or ribbon.
Hide a small gift in
a huge bouquet of flowers,
a jar of penny candy, a bucket of marbles, a box of chocolates, or a bag
of popcorn.
For padding fragile
objects, use paper streamers, shredded paper, popcorn, or unshelled
peanuts.
To mislead shakers
and squeezers, add marbles, bells, weights, or padding to your package
before wrapping it.
A bag of potpourri
inside a package makes a sensory treat. Scented candles and fresh flower
petals would also be scent-sational inside wrapped gift packages.
Wrapping tissue is
now available in many patterns and colors. Some are designed to
coordinate with outer wraps, but it's fun to use your own creative flair
to mix and match patterns.
For added interest,
embellish your gifts with baubles, fresh or dried flowers, small toys,
balloons, knickknacks, ornaments, trinkets, or potpourri sachets.
In addition to
ribbon in all its varieties—satin, French-wired, acetate moiré, lace,
Mylar, metallic, cloth, and so forth—many other objects make creative
tyings. These include colorful shoelaces, artificial rope pearls,
leather strips, vinyl cording, jump rope, strips of netting, paper
streamers, paper twist, raffia, hemp rope, twine, and yarn.
To save time, keep
an assortment of gift tags, greeting cards, and personal note cards with
your wrapping supplies.
To measure the
amount of wrapping paper you will need to cut from a roll, wrap a piece
of string or yarn around the package and cut it to length. Then, use
that to measure the paper.
Keep a pair of
scissors, a stapler, and a pen with your wrapping supplies and guard
them jealously—unless you don't mind searching for them when needed.
It is said that good
things come in small packages. Put a ring or another small piece of
jewelry in a plastic egg, then place the egg in a basket with other eggs
filled with the usual Easter treats.
Want
to see where you can find
additional
wrapping tips?
Have
any gift wrapping tips
you'd like to share?