I want to stress that I do not celebrate Christmas just so I can decorate my house the way it was born to be decorated, or to make and eat all the cookies and bacon wraps. Those things are fantastic but I also celebrate Christmas for more altruistic reasons; the presents.
I like to give ’em, I like to get ’em, but most of all I like to wrap them.
When I hand you my gift I would like for you to gasp so hard that people try to perform the Heimlich maneuver on you. You should sound as though there is a drumstick wedged in your esophagus. Anything less than that and I’m a disappointment to myself.
Yes, I go overboard. What of it? Need I remind you that you're here too, so chances are you're a bit of an overboarder yourself.
WE are the overboarders. The collection of makers not satisfied with mediocre. We change things, fix them, glitter them and hole punch them. We have at least 3 different types of scissors and entire drawers dedicated to our favourite glues.
This round up of my wrapping ideas is dedicated to you; the glue crew.
Last year's wrapping paper was from Zazzle.
Ya, so you're going to need some tools, leather, harddware and a branding iron for this one. Not a problem I assume.
Plaid and gold paper, red ribbon ... that kind of vibe.
Black paper, black velvet ribbon, huge gold flowers and framed photos of the recipient as a kid. I'd like to do this again but with less black paper.
Gift wrapping dioramas. If you have an ounce of crafty creativity in you, you have to make these at least once in your lifetime.
I happened to find this gold fringed ribbon at Michaels once and never found anything like it again.
This one looks better in real life. And don't forget you can use the glue and sparkle technique with any colour combinations. Gold sparkles on pink paper, or brown sparkles on cream paper and on and on.
This is the time I discovered wax seals. I haven't gone back since. Looking back on this stack I can see I needed another pattern besides the toile.
Dollar store paper and greenery/dried flowers. I must have been sad that year.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Wrapping Tips
- Invest in one of these WEIGHTED tape dispensers. Because it's so heavy you only need one hand to use it which leaves your other hand for holding down the paper that's curling up. This one above is nice and heavy (it weighs just over a pound)
- If you don't have a weighted dispenser, pull off enough small pieces of clear tape for the entire present and just stick them to the edge of whatever surface you're working on. That way they're right there to grab. If you stick them to your skin, you'll have skin marks on the tape. But ya, I do that all the time anyway.
- Don't like wrapping? Use a plain brown gift bag with greenery and a nice ribbon.
- To make packages look more finished, always fold under any raw edges.
- If you're planet conscious, choose wrapping paper that doesn't have glitter, foil or cellophane on it. Plain papers, even coloured, can be recycled in most cases. (with bows and tape removed)
- Tape not holding your ribbon? Use a stapler.
- Save the boxes your online items are shipped in. They're perfect (obviously) for wrapping or for shipping unwanted items back.
- If you desperately need a box, check your cupboards for cracker or cereal boxes.
- Here's how to make a bow.
- Here's how to make a bow that looks like a tie.
- I bought the Little Elf this year. You place it over the roll of paper and then whiz down for a perfectly straight cut piece of wrapping paper. In theory. After wrapping my presents using the Little Elf, I realized even though it helps a bit with getting a nice straight initial cut, for most presents you're going to have to make a many other cuts with scissors for taking bits off here and there. That makes this gadget kind of pointless for efficiency in present wrapping.
You're welcome. That was an impromptu user review.
Coming up soon, this year's wrapping post which is a mish mash of leftover wrapping paper so I can clear out the cupboards. This is all in keeping with this year's New Year's resolution to be organized. I'm still keeping things lean and mean around here.
I might even include some pink/purple floral, non Christmas paper (insert drumstick in esophagus sound here).
Scotty Crawford
How can anything this wonderful get written? Thank you, Karen, and Merry Christmas, too.
Marcia
Your dioramas are my favorite. The year you made them, I went out and bought all kinds of things to make them, and someday I will. Also, how did you know about my glue drawer?
Hettie
I love the simple glue and gold glitter on white and intend to copy that one. Thanks, Karen! :)
Karen
Hi Hettie! I think drizzling the glue all over then adding the sparkles could create something fun. ~ karen!
Tres
I am a bit concerned that you know about my glue drawer. At least you did not mention the tape drawer!
Jennifer
It is like you see into my drawers, scissors, glues... being an overboarder. All of it is true. Ahhhh, I love being seen....wait, are you actually here? Like the Elf on the Shelf only cuter and better at growing vegetables?
Karen
You'll never know. I'm that good. ~ karen!
CathyR
I look forward to your wrapping each year. I think my fav is the diorama, especially the one with the red truck. The black was my least fav; even though you can tart up a little black dress, it just didn’t translate into gifts for Christmas for me.
Karen
Hi Cathy! Looking back on them I thought I should have used matte black paper (I probably couldn't find it) and thin red velvet ribbon to break things up. ~ karen!
ruby
Bravo, and a full standing ovation, had to get up to get 2nd cup of coffee anyway.... I, too, love to wrap. One of my fav parts of Christmas. The other is the day I call My Own Private Christmas, when I take my laundry basket outside and gather greenery and berries. I plan to use my left over paper this year also, very hard to do, as I am tempted by all the pretty paper in stores. But, there will be bling and razzle dazzle. What is your favorite tape? I always have trouble with that one....Adore your blog! You are my favorite.
Karen
Hi Ruby! Thank you! I wish I had a favourite tape, but I'm with you. I can't find a favourite one. The matte tapes don't stick and the shiny ones are shiny. :/ ~ karen!
Mary W
My favorite (you can never top the best ever scene before) is your snow scenes filled with trees, footprints, trucks. Never will I ever forget the fun I had dressing my gifts that year. Everyone said they were too nice to open but that didn't stop them. I guess they were expecting something really good as they rewrapped the actual gift for their own decorations.
Cara
Your packages are so very beautiful. This is a great post. Sorry to hear you say you are sick. I had trouble turning off the kids Pottery Barn ad, it appears x 3 within todays post and I could not get it to stop playing. It kept interupting after you spoke about 4 sentences. Oh well. Fell better. Happy Holidays.
KimW
Oh my gosh that Zazzle paper is WONDERFUL, and the artist has similar designs in colors that go with ribbon I already have! YES!
My aunt was the person who always did the "wrap things too pretty to unwrap" for many years - and her big trick is that she often used TINFOIL. Just plain tinfoil, with a sprig of some greenery she'd found on a walk in the woods near her house and a gold bow. Sometimes she'd add some glitter, sometimes not. I sometimes do the same using that brown paper that you get as cushioning in packages from Amazon or whoever - I save the big sheets and sometimes just iron them on low to smooth them out, and boom, free brown paper.
I was GOING to do that this year with twine and green ribbon or something, but THAT ZAZZLE paper in the pastel prints turned my head.
Karen
I know. Zazzle is hard to resist. They have any paper you could possibly want and you can design your own. I haven't even gone on the site this year as a precautionary measure, lol. ~ karen!
RandyP
We men try, honest...we really do.
Avril
😆🤣😂
Mary W
Got to show your comment to the rest of my family - thank you!
Karen
That's about right. ~ karen!
Lisa Roberts
Magnificent! Too good to,open, maybe that is just the gift, nothing in the box, just the box….
Seasons greetings from the U.K.
Michelle
GASPING... G ASPING... WOW! I wouldn't want to open the gift. The wrapping is the present!
Chris W.
Can I get onto your gift list? Actually, there doesn't even have to be a gift involved - just pass along a really nicely wrapped box...thanks for all the inspiring ideas. Your wrapped packages are just beautiful!
Karen
See my response to Terry. ;) ~ karen!
Terry
It’s so seldom done (and I’m guilty of gift-bagging) but your wrappings are a huge part of the gift. You are so talented plus craft-y. Great combination and thank you for your posts.
Karen
Thanks Terry! I just think it's fun. ACK! I *just* remembered my custom wrapping paper was delivered this afternoon and I haven't opened it yet. Gotta go! ~ karen
Quatorze
I love thé présents with the white pine cones. Please tell me how you got them to sit so flat on the box. You must cut the bottom off of them. But how do you accomplish that without making a godawful mess? Also, they are glued right onto the box, right? My husband and I are seniors and don’t exchange gifts. And we will have an unruly 4 year old with us at Christmas. But I really want to try this project. Thanks in advance!
Karen
Hi Quatorze - I wouldn't have pegged you for more than 14. ;) Here's exactly how I made the pinecone bows. ~ karen!
Kelley
Thank you for your response when someone wished they had the spare time that you must. I have been told that I must have too much time on my hands after my terrier demonstrated several of her "tricks". What? Spending time doing something that I enjoy is not a waste of time! Too many snarky people out there. Love your gift wrapping! Overboarders unite!
Karen
Amen to all of it. ~ karen!
Karen but not that karenj
My VERY favourite are your gifts with the snow scenes….absolutely breathtaking! ( so glad you obviously have allll the time in the world , but now with Philip, i am thinking maybe not )..
Karen
Yep. That's me!! Just sittin' around looking for something to do most of the time. Sometimes I just sit and count my toes over and over. ~ karen!
Jennifer
As a matter of fact, I DO have at least three scissors. And I keep MOST of my glues in a drawer if they’re inside glues, but I keep epoxy in the garage. One year, after borrowing different types of glue from a couple friend of ours, they gave us a present that included several types of glue and the card said “for a cohesive couple with adhesion problems.” Absolute classic!
Karen
I like that card! ~ karen
Randy P
I must admit the very few packages I have to wrap do look as though they were handled by a pair of rabid badgers. That's kinda why each year I've taken to "Saying it with meat" and letting Omaha Steaks handle everything. That does not mean I'm incapable of appreciating the skills of them what has skills in the magical world of gift wrap artistry.