A Little Gift Wrap Cheat Sheet and a Surprise! (Okay, the surprise is DIY Gift Tags!)

Don’t you just love Christmas? Being able to give little things, big things, or in-between things to all the people you love in this world – it’s just a wonderful opportunity to bless friends and family. But what is almost as enjoyable as seeing their faces on Christmas morning? Putting love, creativity and careful thought into wrapping each and every delight! (Yes, I love to wrap Christmas presents!) However I know there are some who think I’m crazy and would rather stick each gift in a brown paper bag. Please don’t! Instead, here is a fun, picture filled, cheat sheet of some of my favorite ways to gift wrap!

First lets mix some fun Christmas prints. You’ve got that book or DVD wrapped up in the cutest reindeer paper ever, but it’s kind of plain in a way. Snag some inexpensive slim ribbon from the Christmas aisle or a craft store (an inch or less wide, make sure it’s unwired). Do a simple tie with a knot in the corner and make this gift extra darling!

If your giftees are anything like me, they get excited when one of their presents is a new ornament for their tree. I love these simple Christmas words for a festive touch. Snip a length of Christmas colored raffia, (so that you don’t use traditional ribbon on every single package under the tree)! Wrap the raffia around the middle of the gift three or four times for a fun textural look. Tie off and add the ornament of your choice with a small bow or even tape.

You can also do this for a toddler or child with a little twist. First tie on your ribbon wherever you’d like. Then use an additional length of ribbon to tie on a small toy. You can see I chose to do this for my sons birthday gift with a new car for his little fleet and a new squirt toy for his bubble baths on his Christmas present. (You can use good condition hand-me-down toys from an older child to make the younger feel special!)

Gifting cookies, treats, or hard to wrap items this year? Use decorative tubs, buckets or handmade gift bags for a quick wrap up. Leave a corner or two of fun colored tissue paper sticking out, as a teaser. Add a length or two of festive ribbon or a jingle bell.

Use slim wired ribbon, floral wire, and decorative ornaments to put together several gorgeous Christmas gift bows. Handmade bows will make your packages look elegant and they far surpass the offerings of department stores.

First step, trace the cookie cutter shapes onto the card stock. Having trouble tracing the corners and turns? Tip: Trace around the outside of the cookie cutter, not the inside! Second step, cut ‘em out! Next use the rubber stamps and ink to press fun colors and designs onto your tags. (Perhaps you want to use washi tape to decorate your tags, how fun!) Use sharpies to write Christmas messages, carol lyrics, or To: “Baby” From: “Daddy”. A hole puncher and ribbon finish the tags and tie them together.

(Extra TIP: Use a length of packaging tap, rolled over on its self, sticky side out. Lightly touch to the package and add the tag. Do not press down. This will give your tag a raised, “three D” look.)

Here you see an adorable “Frosty Says Merry Christmas!” tag. I used a silver fine point sharpie marker to add a snowfall scene around frosty. It was quick and easy, and turned out so cute! (Even though I am NOT artistic!)

So, what do you think? Piece of cake, right? Go ahead,
spend a naptime adding some fun festive touches to your Christmas gifts and enjoy a beautiful Christmas scene beneath your tree!