“Wrap your gifts as soon as you buy them.” That’s what all those efficient Martha- and Rachael-types have been saying for years.
Don’t you hate them sometimes?
Here are the basics that you’ll want to have on-hand before you start wrapping:
— Gift-wrap paper in rolls (not squares, which have creases)
— Ribbon
— Bows
— Tissue paper
— Scissors or a rotary cutting tool
— Bags for odd-shaped gifts
— Plenty of tape and gift tags
Tie one on
Tying a little something extra onto the outside of a gift is a quick way to boost a package’s eye appeal, and it’s something even the most fumble-fingered gift-wrapper can manage. Possible tie-ons:
— Ornament
— Individual boxed truffle
— Parmesan spoon, citrus grater or any small kitchen utensil
— Bangle bracelet
— Small toy
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— Mini picture frame
— Luggage tags (these can double as gift tags)
— Yogurt-covered pretzel
— Wine stopper
— Reindeer-shaped cookie cutter
Kitchen kitsch
Raid the kitchen pantry for unexpected
gift containers.
— Old tins, such as fancy cookie tins, cocoa tins or the tin from last year’s fruitcake
— Chinese takeout boxes make fun packages. You’ll find them at many stores that sell wrapping materials, including World Market, The Container Store and many Hallmark stores.
— Children will get a kick out of gifts presented inside popcorn boxes. World Market sells a package of 20 boxes for $7.99. CDs, most books and video games will fit inside, as well as small toys. Add to the fun by filling some of the boxes with gifts and some with popcorn.
That’s a wrap
— For the environmentalist in the family, wrap gifts in reusable cloth grocery bags.
— Use a scarf or a large square of material to wrap a present for a woman. Center the gift on the material, then pull up the ends and pull them through a ring or a bracelet, or simply tie the diagonal ends in two knots.
— Use a string of twinkle lights as ribbon, or string twinkle lights around a large, awkwardly shaped gift such as a bicycle.
— Create a collage gift wrap with cutouts from glossy magazine pages.
— Use colored comics pages to wrap for a fan of the funnies, crossword puzzles to wrap for a puzzle player.