Holiday Gift-Wrapping Tips

A good friend of mine recently texted asking if I had plans to post any holiday gift-wrapping tips. Honestly, I had not, but I thought I could whip something out. As I got to thinking about what I might say about wrapping gifts, I took an unexpected trip down memory lane as I came up with these 15 (or so) holiday gift-wrapping tips.

As some of you may know, I am former “Cleo’s” girl–and damn proud of it. To many locals, Cleo’s Flowers, Gifts and Daily Grind was a bit of an institution in Chadron. While the business has gone through some ownership and name changes in the last few years, 219 Main Street will always hold a special place in my heart.

I started working at this iconic location unofficially around the age of 13. My mom helped to open and manage the Daily Grind, the first real coffee shop in Chadron. She would let me run the cash register during her shifts and while I was there, the girls in the gift & flower shop next door took me under their wing. Eventually, I got old enough to actually get on the payroll.

And the holidays tend to make me a little nostalgic for the old Cleo’s days. If you ever had the pleasure of visiting during this time of year, you know what I mean. Christmas coffees were brewing, Yankee candles were burning and every inch was covered in white twinkle lights and holiday cheer.

So much of who I am, I learned at Cleo’s.

It was here that I started to stretch my design wings when they tasked me with putting up the holiday decor and creating window displays. It was here that I planned a Holiday Open House where I made appetizers and goodies from recipes in the cookbooks we were carrying that year. And it was here that whenever the local radio station wanted to do a live feed, I was one of the girls they wanted on the mic.

I have Cleo’s to thank for life-long friendships, a love for floral design, a taste for a great latte, experiences that helped me build my career (and now a blog!) and the reason for this post–the ability to wrap a present quickly, perfectly and without wasting any paper.

Many a husband breathed a big sigh of relief when they finally came in to shop for their wife . . . on Christmas Eve . . . to find out that we would happily do the wrapping for them.

So to make a long story short, which I am NEVER very good at, here are a few of my holiday gift-wrapping tips, some brought to you from my days as a Cleo’s girl. And as an added bonus, you can also apply many of these tips to your wardrobe. You are welcome.

I have provided affiliate links to items in this post. I may earn a small commission if you follow the links I provide, at no additional cost to you. Just a way for me to make a few extra bucks to maintain my wine-drinking habit (oh, and this blog). Thank you in advance for your support. My name is Danielle and I like wine.

Wrapping Paper Tips

The best presents start with pretty paper . . .

Luckily, really pretty paper for holiday gift-wrapping is never very hard to find. However, I do not typically purchase wrapping paper during the season. Instead, I buy all of my wrapping goods (tags, bows, ribbon, etc.) after the season is over, on clearance. This helps me to replenish what I used during the season and at 50-75% off the original price.

It’s all about the color

Looking to recreate that magazine photo with all the fabulous presents underneath the tree? Start with a cohesive color palette. In keeping with my holiday decor, I lean toward papers in reds, browns, golds, black, and white.

Classic patterns like stripes or plaid are great staples to have and will mix well with trendier prints (trees, Santas, reindeer, etc.)

Look for papers packaged together like they do in big-boxed stores or papers that are printed on both sides. It takes the guesswork out of mix and matching. Do pay attention to how many feet come on each roll. Sometimes the packaged papers come with less length on each roll–so buying them as single rolls may end up being a better deal.

Think outside the print

Never underestimate a nice solid, neutral paper.

Wrapping with kraft paper is very chic these days. It’s not only affordable and easy to obtain but also allows for more creativity with the “frills.”

Another option is plain white paper–basic freezer paper makes for a heavy-duty, high-quality and budget-friendly option (at around $7.00 at Walmart for 150 square-feet).

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Don’t be afraid to spend a little more on a really beautiful print and/or a high-quality paper if you really love it. Wrap only a few gifts in your specialty paper (maybe only those for your really best girlfriends or your mom) and fill in the rest with your other paper options.

Whatever you do, don’t waste paper

One thing I learned on the gift side of Cleo’s was to never waste wrapping paper. We had these large rolls of very nice (and expensive) wrapping paper and it was a cardinal sin to tear off more than you needed.

Any excess was to be saved if it could possibly be used for a future wrapping project. I still use these same principles at home.

The key is to eye-ball measure your box and align the paper so that you efficiently use just enough to cover without having to trim.

In the first photo below, the box is positioned vertically on the paper. You can see I would have quite a bit to trim on both ends if I started this way. However, by turning the box horizontally, I only need to cut once–along the roll to fit. The ends at the top and bottom of the box fit perfectly.

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Anytime I do need to trim the paper and there are larger pieces left over, those are saved for smaller boxes. The same goes for ribbon. It may feel a little “pack-rat” but you just never know when you might be able to use it!

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Ribbons & Bows: Remember to accessorize

Shopping for ribbons, bows and other present “accessories” (if you will) after the season will save you money and have you ready to start wrapping for next year as soon as those Amazon Prime boxes start to arrive.

Saving the planet one bow at a time

I prefer to use fabric ribbon on my packages, saving and reusing it from year-to-year. It looks prettier and has to be more environmentally-friendly than tossing out the plastic bows each year (or that’s what I tell myself).

Once all the unwrapping is complete, we go through the torn paper, pull out the ribbons, bows, and boxes, sort and redistribute amongst us to take home for the next year.

Sometimes you get your own bows and boxes back, sometimes you don’t. Think of it as the Christmas Hungar Games . . . may the odds be ever in your favor.

More gift-wrapping tips for the pretty stuff:

• Look for “non-holiday” ribbon to match your color-scheme which may go on sale throughout the year. Apply some of the same tips on pattern and print I mentioned above about wrapping paper when shopping for ribbon.
• Avoid the wrapping paper aisle and look for present accessories in the craft and fabric section. Often you will get more bang for your buck and better quality.
• Pick up some hemp or jute twine or cotton string. All options often come in very long lengths so they will last for a long time and are very easy to work with.
• Check out the ornament aisle. Ornaments are a fun addition to the top of a gift and something that the recipient can actually use.
• Use left-over greenery from your DIY wreaths or garlands (real or faux) to give a natural look.

The box that keeps on giving – how to make a reusable gift box.

Another way to save time and money year-over-year is to make reusable gift boxes.

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First, you need to have a box that has a top that is separate from the bottom.

Second, choose a paper that is a bit thicker/more durable so it will hold up over time.

• Start by measuring the paper. Pull the cut edge up over the side of the box, leaving a few inches of overhang, to make sure it will cover.
  • I love this paper from Walmart, it has a grid on the backside that makes it easy for measuring, marking and cutting to prevent waste.
• Once you have cut the paper to fit, put a roll of tape on the bottom of the box to secure it to the paper–this way it doesn’t shift as you cover the box.

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• Pull the edge of the paper up over the side and cut on the inside of the box, back toward the two corners.
• Tape the flap on the inside of the box.
• Repeat on the opposite side.

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• On the remaining sides, fold the paper over so that a triangle forms at the base. It’s important to pull the paper tightly to ensure a straight crease and even fold.
• Pull the triangle taught and tape to secure.
• Tape the flaps on the inside of the box.
• Repeat on the opposite side

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Repeat the process on the top of the box.

Place tissue paper and your gift inside and slide the top of the box over the bottom.

Tie a bow around to secure.

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Skip the paper! Show off your box

I found these great printed gift boxes at Dollar General this week–6 total in a variety of sizes for $3.50. Printed boxes can be reused from year-to-year and you can either wrap them or not. Rather than taping the box closed, I tied a ribbon around it so as not to damage the sides with the tape.

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I hope you can put these holiday gift-wrapping tips to good use. Craving some more holiday inspiration? Check out: https://highway20collective.com/category/design/

Happy wrapping and Happy Holidays!

Cheers,

Danielle