Wrapping Made Easy

Pack rat it.

 For a head-start on unusual wrappings, don't ever throw out favorite scraps. And make a habit of haunting flea markets, material stores, etc., for pieces of pretty paper, fabric, ribbons, trims, tassels, and trinkets. Save the ornaments from last year's presents (and even this year's).

Ticker tape.

 Create a special message for the holidays—a favorite famous quote or your own poetry—and order it embossed on tape. Then wrap it around contrasting colored paper (pale white is dramatic, too).

Pennies for the thought.

 Your local 99-cent store will be stocked with novelty items you can use to decorate a wrapped package. Look for fake flowers, ornaments, decorations, stickers, etc.

Nothing lost.

 Recycle old holiday ornaments as wrap decorations: a cluster of tiny ornaments looks spectacular looped into ribbons.

Stretching the envelope.

 Everyone enjoys receiving cash, tickets, or gift certificates as presents, but a plain white envelope doesn't cut it. Make your own envelope by taking an envelope that is the correct size, carefully unfolding it, tracing it out on your chosen paper, and then cutting it out. Then mimic the folds and glue it together. So simple—you will feel like a genius!

Sick of bows?

 Tuck aromatic eucalyptus sprigs or lavender twigs into a flat ribbon (great for spa gifts), or bright candy-cane and jingle-bell ribbons (for holiday gifts). You can also use iron-on patches in amusing shapes, like dragonflies or bumble bees (just pin them on a ribbon), or tassels that match the color of the paper. Tiny cloth rosebuds or ribbons made of tasseled trim give a new look to an old story.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.

 Costume jewelry looks great on packages. Hunt through your castaways or inexpensive boutiques for items. Pin pierced earrings to a velvet ribbon. Wrap a choker around the package as a decorative extra gift. Place beaded garlands atop wrapped boxes.

Think out of the box.

 You don't have to put all of a gift inside the box. Be daring and adorn your wrapped present on the outside with something that provides a clue to what's inside. For example, tie a pair of candles to the outside of a box holding candlesticks.

Advanced elegance.

 If you're giving several gifts to one person or a family unit, go elegant by wrapping each present in different shades of the same paper. They will look stunning when stacked together. Or, choose a gift bag in one shade and add a bow in the same color. In winter, try piles of presents wrapped in shades of white and cream, sparkling with gold and silver highlights.

Article content courtesy of Gift Wrapping © Ryland Peters & Small, 2004