Monday, December 20, 2010

Wrapping Presents: Keep it Simple

I tend to get a number of comments about my wrapping paper. I think I need to let it be known that I would love to spend more time on my wrapping. The idea of giving a beautifully wrapped gift is an important element of gift-giving to me. 

However, when it comes to Christmas wrapping, it’s a matter of survival for me. How can I wrap 6,319 gifts without drowning in the time it takes?

Here’s how…

polka dot wrapping paper

I keep my paper and tag choices to a minimum, and I use jute, twine (are they the same?), and yarn to wrap them.  In the past, I found that half of my wrapping time was spent choosing the paper for the person or finding different coordinating bows to wrap them with. Indecisiveness, be gone! It’s so much easier now.

gift tags

And here’s the result I get from it…

easy gift wrap  easy wrapping

I can’t tell you how much easier and faster this process is, and I highly recommend it. What I do NOT recommend is to continue buying different holiday papers because you just can’t help it when you see them in the store.  It kind of defeats the financial benefits.

simple gift wrap

So when wrapping Christmas presents, perhaps you could consider the three F’s 1. Festive 2. Fun 3. Fast. Of course, maybe your F’s are 1. Fondue 2. Floral wire 3. Fushigi. That would be just as acceptable, I’m sure.

easy christmas wrap

35 comments:

Decorchick! said...

Haha I totally agree! I stuck with just 2 papers this year and it was way easier. The glittery ribbon on the other hand, um, not so much. And yea, I want to know if jute and twine are the same thing too?!

Kristen said...

It's really called Jute Twine but the name was shortened - so now it's mostly called twine.

It's one and the same.

Do I win free wrapping for knowing that?

Chelsy@ Sweet Pea Kisses said...

I always love your wrapping jobs:) I do pretty much the same thing, I buy one roll of wrapping paper and when it's gone I buy another. I have a hard enough time making decisions, no sense making it worse at Christmas!

I also found paper ribbon at Dollar Tree and I've been using that on all my gifts...very cute!

Estela @ Weekly Bite said...

Gorgeous wrapping jobs!! I love that you used yarn instead of ribbon :)

Anonymous said...

Love the wrappings. I love to make a beautifully wrapped gift and think no gift is complete without a bow. I like the simplicity of the twine.

Kendra@My Insanity said...

Love the yarn idea! I've seen twine a bit, but haven't thought to do yarn. Have it on hand and so much better than shiny ribbon.

Kate Riley said...

So so so pretty! I love the way you tie your twine and yarn, simple, perfect and lovely!
xo
Kate

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

...Well yes, Fondue IS one of my F's...but always such a mess to wrap.

Loverly!

kristin said...

I was going to buy some cute wrapping paper that I saw the other day and everytime I am at the store, but I have like 10 rolls from previous years that I need to finish up. I LOVE wrapping presents and will wrap each and every one individual so that I have more to wrap.
I need to use up the paper that I have though before I buy new stuff.

Moore Minutes said...

Love this idea! I'm going to use it for SURE next year. Thank you. And your packages are beautiful.

The Dreiers said...

I also went with yarn instead of ribbon, and just two Christmas paper plus brown craft paper. So easy and I am loving the way it looks under the tree!!

Colleen said...

I may have to steal this idea . . . they all look so pretty. I was thinking that this year that I hated having all different kinds of paper. Will definitely be doing things differently next year.

Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia said...

So pretty! I've made a promise to myself not to buy anymore paper until I have used everything up!!! SO far I've been good for a whole year :)
XO
Kristin

Ashley @ A {Blonde's} DIY Life said...

I love making present pretty with great paper and bows! It's definitely all about the presentation!

Suzanne @ Day to Day said...

I love the polka dot paper! Where did you find the green & red papers?

Anne said...

I totally agree with keeping it simple - I actually just do one new roll of paper per year and one type of ribbon... no decisions needed besides in the wrapping paper aisle at Target. And as a bonus, I like how having one style of paper looks when the presents are all piled under the tree!

Jodi said...

I love your paper, so cute; and I like the look of the twine, I may have to try that this year!

Blessed Mommy of 2 said...

I did horrible wrapping this year. Nothing fancy at all. I usually am much better. I have to remember this. I think I would have had the time even making all the gifts I did this year. =) Thanks for sharing!

Debra said...

I love your wrapping. It looks so cute a put together. I agree about buying paper just becuase you like it- you can run up a big tab(take it from someone who knows)& it takes a while to use it so it has to be stored from year to year (again, experience).

Brianna said...

I love your tags...did you make them yourself? I tried to make some with my silhouette but I just couldn't figure it out. A tutorial would be lovely!!

Megan // Honey We're Home said...

Very pretty indeed! I found some paper at WalMart that I still love. One said "Naughty" on red paper with white letters, the other said "Nice" in red with white paper. It was fun to decide who got which paper that year!

Kate said...

This is such a great simple idea. This year when I'm buying wrapping paper after x-mas I'm going to have a plan instead of buying a bunch of cute stuff that doesn't coordinate. Thank you! :)

Unknown said...

Love the addition of the jute/twine!!! Makes it more fun! And better than a plain ol' bow!

Kelli W said...

So cute! I love to use twine on my gifts too! This year I am sticking to red and white and using red tulle to add bows!

Unknown said...

Darling! I stick to polka dot paper and twine or simple satin ribbon {I always thought "jute" was the cooler way of saying "twine"} And I am just not that cool ;) Merry Christmas!

Ali Rockwell said...

These are so gorgeous, it makes me jealous! I wish someone would give me a present this pretty... I don't even care if there's nothing inside of it, I just want the box!

Shannon said...

Love it! Where do you buy your twine?

Two Little Tots said...

I agree. I have a theme every year, which sounds like a lot of work, but it is not. The kiddos have a wrap, the men have a wrap and the women do as well...so 3 rolls and I am done. Then I like to use pretty things to tie them up with...yarn, twine, fabric and cute tags.

Where do you get your paper...I love it!

Lisa said...

I also would like to know where to find the cute polka dot paper...mine has santas and ho ho ho all over!!

Life In The Thrifty Lane said...

Love the polka dot paper together with the twine, thanks for sharing! Have a Wonderful Christmas.

Sharon-The OKI StampQueen said...

Oh NEXT YEAR IS going to be different!!! Will certainly do this!! I've also used plain brown shipping paper and twine-did "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" gold embossed tags that year-super simple-why did I stop?Thanks for sharing

Cathie said...

I must admit, I do have several rolls of (clearanced) paper left, HOWEVER a few years ago I switched to a theme of gold, so they are all mix & match, and it always looks so pretty.

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

I love your wrapped packages. You are great at it. And since I had no idea what fushigi was I had to google it :). Now I have two little boys who just saw the infomercial begging me for the darn thing!

Barb said...

Too funny..Great wrapping by the way. I agree, stick with 3 basic papers, and simple tags. Also, it's great to have a spot to do all this wrapping. Make as much a mess as you'd like, leave it, go back, finished, clean up, DONE...Love the colors. Next year I'm buying yarn!

Mom

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

I wanted to thank you for this post. When I read it I literally ran downstairs to the bag of giveaways I had on the front porch and took out the red, green, and white yarn that was in it so I could use it to wrap presents. I had lots of fun wrapping things up nice and purdy with the yarn. Thanks for the inspiration.

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