Wrapping it Up

Before I begin wrapping, I lay out the gifts and gather boxes to fit, so that every gift is ready to wrap.  Once I start I don't want to be jumping up and down too much. I mostly do this on the floor. It's a good idea to have a large board to work on.  Odd shaped gifts that don't fit in a box, get a bag or a sheet of cellophane.



 

I decide on a theme according to what I happen to find. One idea is to go with the natural look of brown paper, pine cones, raffia ribbon and nostalgic embellishments.

On the complete other side of the scale . . . you can purchase a large roll of white or silver paper and create an elegant look with all the gifts wrapped in the same paper and ribbon.

I could not find exactly what I wanted this year but I also did not look hard. This one looked like an economical choice . . . four or five rolls of paper that co-ordinate or compliment each other.

 

Now . . . if you have a method of cutting and wrapping that works well, you can just scroll on by.  This is a basic method that works for almost any box.

1. Wrap the precious gift with some tissue paper.

2. Lay the box on top of the wrapping paper, nice side of the paper down. Cut paper to size - ends should be no more than the depth of the box and not much less - then be sure there is enough to wrap around the main part, with a bit extra.

3. Wrap main part, leaving ends open.

4. Fold and tape on center of box.

5. Fold down the top part of the overhang on the end, crimping the edges to create straight lines.

6. Fold the angled edges in, then flip the last remaining open part up and tape. Repeat on other end and you are done.

 

To switch things up you can fold the centre part in different ways. Sometimes I do an accordion style fold and tape it down.

Use ribbon and/or picks to embellish.

 

This year I dug out some of our old tree decor and thought it  might be fun to use for the small kids.



I like to stack and co-ordinate gifts for the same person, then tie them up together.

Just another way to pile one person's gifts.

 

One of the boxes I had saved, was a sturdy orange box. It was only the lid that gave away what it was from and so I thought I'd just wrap it up like a little storage box. You can do this with both top and bottom if your lid is not as deep as the box.

1. Lay the lid on the paper, nice side of paper down. Measure sides and cut paper about an inch larger than the depth of the lid all around.

2. Keeping lid centered appropriately, cut in at an angle on each corner.

3.Starting on one end, bring paper up the side

4. Fold over the edge and tape on the inside.

5. Repeat with other end and then the sides.

6. Your finished lid should easily slide over the box.

 

Part of the joy in giving is the anticipation . . . I remember boxes being shaken . . . wanting to know, yet not. When the hour comes to open our gifts, my favorite being Christmas Eve or a pretend Christmas Eve, we sit in a large circle and only one person at a time can open a gift. We all like to watch and enjoy the giving and the receiving together . . . making this most special night of the year . . . last as long as possible.