Tired of your Christmas gifts looking like clones of last year’s? Here are a few gift wrap tips to steal the show and save some time and money along the way.
Mix it Up: To wrap a gift that’s going to stand out under the Christmas tree, you may need to look beyond the sea of paper rolls you’ve collected. Have you considered fabric? Not only is a gift wrapped in fabric beautiful but it’s sustainable (hello, reusable!) and can be wallet friendly. This year I found fabric in the most unlikely of places–Walmart!
The superstore sells fat quarters–albeit relatively small at 18″ x 21″–that quickly and easily double as gift wrap. The Waverly samples sell for $1 a pop. You can, of course, have yards cut of any fabric but if you’re anything like me, I want to check items off my list as quickly as possible. How great are these Waverly patterns for Christmas?
Dish towels make a great alternative if you don’t have access to fabric swatches. Tip: Buy holiday dish towel multi-packs at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx when they are discounted after the holidays and split them up–they’re great for dressing up a wine bottle for a hostess gift.
Have a Little Fun: Let the spirit of the holidays shine through and act like a kid again! Chalkboard wrapping paper is all the rage this year–have you tried it? I wanted in on this trend but wasn’t prepared to part with the $8 some places are charging for a roll. Luckily, I found a roll of black paper in Target’s Dollar Spot section. It’s a bit shiny, and I’m not quite sure it’s intended for chalk, but this gift wrap seemed to work just fine. So grab your chalk, and get creative!
Reuse & Recycle: Growing up, my mother always kept the stacks of lovely Christmas cards we received from friends and family. I began doing the same about 10 years ago and I will never buy a holiday gift tag again! Not only is it fun to revisit the cards from year to year, but there are so many ways they can be used. Grab some scissors, tape, hole punch and twine or ribbon, and get to work! The best way to use old photo cards? As gift tags for that person–no writing required!
Make it Personal: Homemade gift tags make Christmas, and the spirit of giving, that much more special. Better yet, what about a gift tag that doubles as an ornament? The possibilities are endless, and the recipient will have a keepsake to hang on the tree year after year. This ornament (made from a wood scrap and hand-painted) will dress up a package and adorn any tree with charm:
Keep it Simple: Gift wrap doesn’t have to be extravagant to be beautiful. With quality paper as a foundation, twine and a bit of greenery will enchant every time:
