The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Gift Wrapping
The Christmas season is full of activities, from baking to decorating and, of course, buying the perfect gifts for family and friends. Now that holiday shopping is done, it’s time to wrap those presents.
Is there anything more comforting than a well-wrapped present?! Since I was little, I wished to make my gifts look elegant and stunning, slickly wrapped in thick, beautifully patterned wrapping paper. Instead, they were dull and always looked like some toddler’s craft, or my dog has its teeth on it. (And I don’t have a dog…). When I was looking for gift wrapping posts and advice, all I found are sayings like: “Don’t panic. There are plenty of unique ways to wrap presents beautifully”. And then a long list of perfectly wrapped gifts with another long list of ideas on how to decorate them to look even fancier. But none of those designs revealed how they wrapped that f$#%$$%^ing piece of paper, for God’s sake!
I really did give up trying to make my gifts look beautiful under the tree, and you could always say, where is mine.
Their presents moto:
“When giving a gift from your heart, an important component is your thoughtfulness in its presentation. You want to show your love for that person. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but that extra touch is so special”.
My presents: look all rumpled and bulky.
But Gift wrapping is still a part of my soul, something I clearly enjoy doing, and I can’t get enough of it, LOL. SO I’m still trying to nail it, and I want to improve the appearance of my gifts this year. That’s the least I can do to improve this year at all, LOL. SO here are techniques I found would be easy on my two left hands, and I’ll give them a try before giving up for good.
Happy wrapping, everyone
The easiest and MUST Tried method: the Diagonal Wrapping Method.
It’s just what it sounds like. Turn your gift at an angle of 45 degrees rather than placing it in the middle. It’s how Subway sandwich is wrapped. Turning the paper 45 degrees, you move all the extra dead space in the corners to form the longest part of your sheet, which easily folds across and makes a comfortable overlap zone with the opposite flap. It’s how envelopes are made.
You can pull up each corner. And cover every corner of your box back to where you’re going to start. So starting with the corner closest to you, you’re just going to pull this up and over your box.
How do you measure wrapping paper for diagonal wrapping?
Measure your gift’s height as well as the longest diagonal. Just use a piece of string to get the rough measurement. Cut a square piece of paper, the sides of which equal the diagonal of the box plus one and a half times its height. Next, place the gift diagonally in the middle.
Basic geometric principles explain how it works.
Japanese Wrapping Method
Contemporary Japanese style gift wrapping is rather like origami in that it follows a strict sequence of precise folds. The beauty of it is that once you have got used to the basic technique, you can be more experimental, incorporating intricate pleats and decorations.
Furoshiki Gift Wrap
Or fabric wrap, in other words.
If all that folding and decorating seems like too much effort, you might prefer the more traditional form of Japanese gift wrapping, Furoshiki. This involves using Furoshiki (a Japanese gift wrapping cloth) to wrap gifts in a bundle. It’s far more straightforward and, because the fabric can be reused, it’s more environmentally friendly –, and the recipient gets an extra gift.
You will need:
Furoshiki… and that’s all!
A fab idea for odd-shaped gifts not fitting a box! Get a big enough piece of fabric and tie it in a place like a big sack!
Oddly-Shaped Gifts
Some gifts don’t work with traditional wrapping methods. You can use a gift bag and some tissue paper and call it done. Or put the present in a box and wrap that. But what if you have only paper? No worries.
If you still failed
Who cares! It’s not the reason to ruin your Christmas mood! Just switch to Fabric Gift Bags and never look back.
Put a Bow on It or Bow Perfection
Nothing pulls together a gift wrapping project like a bow. But “the store-bought bows that you can buy in a bag really won’t do the job, though“, – Oh, really??? SCREW YOU!!! I’ve just spent my entire day learning to wrap the paper around the tiny box, and the store-bought bow is exactly what I need right now!
Now when your gifts look decent in that paper over them, time to dress them up.
DRESSING UP
I won’t share designs that just different colors wrap paper. You could figure those mix and match yourself. I’m listing the ones that really need some fantasy come up with because, for example, I wouldn’t think of sticking a pom pom or dishwashing brush (that’s the last item I would ever think of… You can even substitute it for toilet brush to those “most fav” guests ) to my gifts or spray a gold paint glitter over to look it sparkling and expensive.
Rainbow Strings
(Source: Tikkido )
Use tape instead of trying to hold all of the ribbons together and tie a bow. Use a dollar store toy or ornament in the middle to tie the gift together.
Hand-Painted
(Source: Cakies)
Let out your inner artist. Create some beautiful Christmas scenes using paints.
The perfect option for a lazy gift wrapper. Just take brown paper and paint it on your own bow.
Or traditional Christmas scenes and shapes, carol lyrics.
(Source: GROWING SPACES)
Tiny, bottle-brush tree atop a doodled car looks like carrying a Christmas tree home. You can wrap a bar of soap or jewelry box.
Little Black Dress. Sorry, box…
There’s something so stylish about keeping it simple than things that shine brighter or try harder. Use a color out of the ordinary for Christmas to make a bold statement. This idea is easy, but it is still so exquisite.
(Source: Going Home to Roost)
You can put your drawing skills to the test with a little freehand design made in a white paint pen. Or write whatever personalized message you like using chalk and finish with twine or a ribbon. Love the chalkboard look for gift wrapping. So unique. It makes the gifts look personalized. Get these black wrapping paper and white markers. They’re perfect for this look below.
(Source: PopSugar)The flat black backdrop is the perfect showcase for a sprig of mistletoe with white berries. For those who enjoyed the sprig approach.
White on white
Another bold statement. A timeless and elegant look that will always be in style. White on white gift wrapping!
Kid-Friendly
(Source: Burlap + Blue)
Here is a kid-friendly gift wrapping idea. Let your kids make their own custom paper with their own set of colors. They’ll know right away which gifts under the tree are for them!
(Source: Lines Across)
Loving it! The fact that kids can play with their presents before they even unwrap them is incredible! Perfect for toddlers.
Greetings from a penguin, reindeer, or polar bear? Why not! Use scissors and a circle punch to snip out the pieces you need from colored paper.
Another kid-friendly idea. The yellow paper is the background for these emoji-face presents. They’re too cute to unwrap, aren’t they?
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY »
Grocery Bag Repurpose
(Source: A Creative Min)
This is an easy and fast way to be merry with your gift wrapping without spending much money! Use stamps to make your own custom paper on a plain brown bag or find bags that use their own holiday print.
Pine Tree Printable
(Source: Homey Oh My)
Gorgeous gift wrap, and best of all — you can download this free pine tree printable to wrap your gifts at home.
Simple & cute
Source: Monika Hibbs)
This gold deer is SOOOO cute! The gold and blush pink color palette totally rock it.
Christmas-tree-inspired
(Source: More Than Ideas)
Nice one to wrap presents that looks just like a Christmas tree! Here’s a tutorial.
Adorable gift wrap idea. Use oversized jingle bells. You can spray paint whatever bells you find in the color you want to suit your Christmas tree color scheme.
Add an accent to presents with colorful holiday lights: to form a star shape, hot-glue six bulbs together. Then with double-stick tape, fasten the bauble to a length of ribbon.
Match your gifts with the tree using miniature baubles in the same color scheme. Double up with a soft velvet ribbon in a similar hue
Sweet treat
A sweet idea for those with a sweet tooth. Slip a lollypop or a candy cane under the twine and watch them melt with a smile as you hand over this treasure.
Plain white paper with swirl lollipops or tree cuttings is the perfect backdrop.
Crooks of candy canes look just like the rails on Santa’s sleigh. Another genius idea gluing on honeycomb ornaments.
Get the tutorial at Country Living
Label maker
I love this wrap idea so much, perhaps due to its retro vibe or just the simplicity of this idea.
Natural Gift Toppers
Try something seasonal instead of the traditional gift bows like pinecones, branches, sprigs. Plus, they pop against plain brown parcel paper.
As a bonus, you might get a sweet fragrance depending on what you use, too.
Subtle references to nature. Pine cones, cinnamon sticks, or sprig against a simple black or white wrap rocks! Natural twine or recycled paper gift tags complete the look.
Use a rustic pouch as an easier solution for jam jars and other circular items.
Get the tutorial at In the Fields »
Totally in love with this mini wreath, craft paper, and hessian look! The balance of rustic, earthy, and elegant.
Add a tiny wreath to the box skipping the paper. Or rosemary sprigs have just the right amount of bend if soaked briefly in water.
(Source: Eslamoda)
Brown paper and black ribbon as a perfect backdrop for a pine sprig = the ultimate note of holiday spirit. The time you’ll spend to wrap this present show that the gift you’re giving is from the heart.
Glitter bomb
Don’t tell me this glitter look didn’t do it for you!
This OTT glitter bomb idea will turn these plain branches and craft paper into exquisite Christmas gift wrapping! When in doubt, spray it with gold! If your present sucks, spray it with gold 🙂
Cookie Tags
Yummo, here’s another tasty gift wrapping idea — this time using homemade gingerbread biscuits.
Gingerbread cookie + icing + piping gift recipient’s name.
Get the recipe for Gingerbread Cookies
Road Map
This wrapping paper shows that Life is a journey in the most charming way. Use a road map to wrap your gifts in it. Everything is kept in place by pulling a piece of thread through a vintage button for a cute take on a bow.
Star Gift Boxes
Keep it a mystery with three-dimensional boxes to disguise a present’s telltale shape. Bonus: double as decorations.
Button-Down
Wrap your gift in a plaid shirt = giving two gifts in one.
Get the tutorial at Country Living.
Bow Overload
Swap a lonely store-bought sticker by covering the entire top of a gift box in monochromatic bows.
Gift-Card Envelope Alternatives
By tailoring the wrap to the item, make a gift card more personal.
Puzzled
I bet you have at least one jigsaw puzzle that missing a few pieces. Give them another life (they are not useful anymore anyway). Paint them black with chalkboard paint, and they look like gift tags. Voila!
Final Tips
The organization is key. Gift-wrapping is no exception.
Keep your paper, bows, ribbons, tape, and whatever else you use in one place, so when it’s time, you don’t have to hunt all over the house or use your cat’s dry food box as a gift box.
Double-sided tape.
Using that instead of the standard tape helps create a more polished look.
When you have everything you need for presents wrapping, find a spot where you can really spread out and be comfortable – like a bathroom…because honestly that’s the only place I can think of that means “privacy” having kids. Grab your gear (tape, those kilometers of wrapping paper, anything with a screen to watch tutorials on and make your holiday a little merrier with some wine or any other booze you prefer during that time 🙂 Just don’t forget why you are there so you won’t find yourself in an hour sitting on a bathroom floor crying over some soap opera with a half-empty bottle. Business first! :))
How this year will you be wrapping your Christmas gifts? Do you have a favorite option from the ones I’ve listed above? Tell me in the comments below! And share your fab wine too! please 🙂
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