Can you believe we’re only two weeks away from Christmas?! Each year the holiday season seems to fly by faster and faster … hopefully, you’re about finished with your shopping (or, if not, and you still need some help, you can check out my Meaningful Gift Guide here)! If you have a big family, or you have little kids, you’re likely staring at a mountain of gifts (many of them hidden away in the back corner of closets) … and if you’re anything like me, a mountain of gifts generally equates to a boatload of anxiety! However, it shouldn’t! Procrastination and lack of planning is the culprit, which is why today I’d like to share my strategy for simple, beautiful gift wrapping. It doesn’t need to be stressful, in fact, it can be quite enjoyable. And it’s wonderful seeing the delighted look on a gift recipient’s face when you hand them a meaningful gift that is beautifully wrapped. It’s these little details that make the recipient feel special — you didn’t just snap up a gift-card, and mindlessly toss it into a random holiday card. Nope, you took the time to carefully choose a gift you know he or she will love, and your wrapping should reflect that effort!
So, lets make that happen … I’ve got the magic formula below … all you need is to add your own style and taste to the mix.
Here’s the magic formula … the four things you need to create a beautifully wrapped gift:
1) Simple (preferably solid or with a very subtle, elegant print) wrapping paper.
2) Ribbon, bows, twine, or some combination thereof. You can also use paints and “paint” a ribbon or bow on your gift — I think this looks so sophisticated and pretty! You can check it out in the photographs below. And be sure to experiment with all sorts of ribbon — satin, velvet, etc. A variety of textures creates richness and adds interest.
3) An embellishment of some sort (sprig of greenery, holiday berries, cinnamon stick, ornament, gingerbread cookie, photograph, etc. — the possibilities are endless here, so have fun!)
4) A fun, whimsical gift tag (I designed six options below, free for you to download!) When printing gift tags you purchase electronically, I recommend printing on high quality paper such as Epson presentation paper or Neenah card stock paper.
To give you some creative inspiration, I’ve collected a series of examples below for you to follow — almost all of these examples follow the formula above. I find that gifts look best when you stick to a neutral color palette and add small pops of color — though if you love bright colors and fun prints, that’s okay too … just limit yourself to one bright or print (if you use bright or patterned wrapping paper, keep the rest of the elements simple and understated).
And if you’re hoping to have a Pinterest-worthy Christmas tree, try sticking with a single color palette. Choose three or four colors and purchase wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and embellishments in a combination of those colors. On Christmas morning, your tree will look beautifully crisp and coordinated!
And don’t be afraid to add numerous elements to a gift — as you can see, some of these gifts have ribbon and twine and a wreath, ornament, or other embellishment. Just be creative! Or, if you’re pressed for time, use one of the gift ideas above as inspiration.
Finally, to avoid frustration, and to enjoy the creative process, be sure you have all the supplies you need on hand before you start. Choose your color palette, purchase your gift wrapping and a variety of ribbon or twine, and select three or four embellishments. Resist the urge to go overboard with too many options — remember, the goal here is to make this a simple, enjoyable tradition! Be sure you have a good pair of scissors and plenty of tape!
I’ve linked to a whole variety of wrapping goodies below, and feel free to print out the gift tags I created by following the link below.
Happy Gift Wrapping!
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