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Well it’s officially Fall so it’s time to start thinking about ~ Christmas wrap! (I really need to learn to live in the moment and not forever be scanning the horizon for the next season)
I just received Carolyn Roehm’s book on the subject. Pretty pictures but I’m not certain it’s worth the price. She tends to repeat ideas quite a bit. Anyway I wanted some inspiration and I do get that out of the book. She also has access to (and the money for) really swishy ribbons and Italian hand printed papers. I have Target.
I have a bit of a reputation when it comes to gift wrapping. It started back in the 80’s when one Christmas I wrapped all the gifts in cobalt blue wrap and tied them up with black satin ribbon. They were really striking. I don’t actually like the process of wrapping, fighting with tape, folding everything precision like – I like the end result. It’s fun to find interesting paper and ribbon combinations.
I did a present last year that I wish I took a picture of. I used glossy black wrapping paper and the same wide, green satin ribbon you see up on the right – I bought an assortment of faux flowers from Michael’s (pink peonies, pale yellow snow drop looking flowers, springs of lavender) and made a little posy that I tied to the top with the ribbon. I’m going to have to do that one again.
I like starting off with plain paper ~ even white butcher paper works great ~ then add the color with the details. My niece got a present last month where I tied a glittery tiara with the ribbon. Oragami papers are another good thing to decorate a plain box with. Oh ~ and rhinestones! Hot glue them on. Who wouldn’t love a sparkly present?
I know Carolyn probably spends as much on the wrapping supplies as she does the gift itself but you can wrap economically and still have spectacular looking presents. I like Target (plain wrapping paper), The Container Store (boxes and special wrapping paper), Costco (for ribbon), Michael’s and JoAnn’s (for embellishments and ribbons) for my supplies.
I also stock up after Christmas on supplies – last year I happened to be in the White Barn Candle store and they had gift boxes that were about 75% off – I bought 20 of them.
A great place for inspiration is Flickr – not for pictures of presents but I look at the color combinations in pictures and get ideas for wrapping. If you look at my Flickr favorites almost all of the pictures there are ideas for wrapping. I’ve been on a Kimono kick lately – I love the colors and constrating patterns of Kimonos and think it would translate really nicely into gift wrapping.
For this year’s Christmas wrap I’m thinking of glossy red paper and the pale green ribbon. I just need to find something else to gussy it up – a sprig of something white. Or maybe just a candy cane. Hmmm, maybe some vintage sparkly snowmen…
I’ve been on the search for pale pink and gold harlequin wrap – so if anyone ever sees anything like that let me know. I want to do a I. Magnin theme Christmas one of these years.