Tips For Finding And Wrapping The Perfect Present
There’s a song made famous by the movie The Sound Of Music about “bright colored packages tied up with string,” and it has everything to do with the season that’s underway. The title of the song, “These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things,” reminds us that gifts don’t always have to be extravagant to be special, and that presentation counts.
Finding The Right Gift
When you’re thinking of gifts for people, some will come easily while others will be a struggle—Does a dad need another tie, or your daughter another pair of slippers? Maybe, in which case, give away! But often, we struggle to find gifts that matter for those closest to us.
If you’re having a hard time finding a gift for a loved one, consider gift ideas that don’t physically fit into a box; think outside the box. There are experience gifts to give, like a spa day, sporting event, or music concert. You could give intangible gifts like a family photoshoot or a video montage of pictures from gatherings.
Sometimes, it’s more appropriate to forgo shopping altogether and give a handmade gift. While the days of making a card with crayon and construction paper may be long gone, there are some handmade gifts that are still sweet to give like a collage of pictures or quilts made from favorite-but-old clothes like sports or college memorabilia.
Who’s On Your Gift List
Also, don’t forget to give a small gift to those individuals who make a difference in your life but who don’t have a personal relationship to you. For them, you may want to opt for food treats or a simple greeting card with a gift card. They also might appreciate gifts related to their profession, like packs of cute Post-It notes for a teacher or hand warmers for the mail carrier.
Wrapping With Care
No matter the gift you choose to give, spend some time on the wrapping. Hastily wrapped presents will undermine the good intentions of giving a gift, so be sure to allow some time for wrapping. It may help to gather all the supplies you need ahead of time, and you can even get creative.
When it comes to wrapping, give your presents style! The following ideas are ways to create stylish wrap:
Butcher Block Paper. If you enjoy creative projects, consider purchasing a roll of white butcher block paper. Thicker than most wrapping paper, you can add some dimension to your gifts with the solid feeling of this paper. Also, since it’s plain, you can add your own decorations: stamps, stickers, or drawings by children make great personalized and pretty gift paper.
Using Foils And Cellophane. The beauty of cellophane and foils as wrapping material is that they are reflective and play with light, making these bright and festive types of wrap to use. These are also available in rolls of plain colors or in seasonal patterns, so you can mix it up and be creative.
Regular Rolls Of Wrap. The regular rolls of wrapping paper are always reliable but have fun and mix your patterns. If you’re hosting a Christmas Day celebration with gifts under the tree, vary the paper so that your presentation has layers of colors and patterns. It will look abundant and festive to see so many different types of paper.
Reusable Materials. Rather than waste paper, you can opt for reusable materials like fabric bags. The upside is the variety and beauty of fabrics available, and the recipient gets an extra gift since they can reuse the bag!
Neutral Naturals. Another environmentally-conscious option is to use a recycled paper wrap. These papers tend to come in neutral shades that look beautiful with the addition of creams and browns. Think of thick brown velvet ribbon crossing the tops with sprigs of white-tip frosted holly! Recycled papers may seem simple or look more rustic, so play with more natural and neutral embellishments.
Speaking Of Embellishments…
When it comes to adding style to a gift, don’t forget that the surface of the gift wrap is an ideal space to decorate. Go beyond just scrawling a name on the gift wrap by adding ribbon, bows, and tags.
Ribbons come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. You can’t go wrong! You can even fringe and curl the edges for more impact.
Bows can be minimal and sweet or large and commanding. They are fun to add liberally or with just the right placement as a single statement piece.
Tags allow you creative freedom. From plain to fancy, you can add a gift tag for a practical as well as a more personal touch. If you punch a hole and add some string, you can combine the tag with ribbon for even more presence to your present!
Making Meaningful Gifts
As gift-giving gets underway, remember to enjoy the process and preserve the meaning. If you feel overwhelmed by all the buying and remembering everyone, then slow down. Get back to basics and recall that the meaning of the season is to celebrate together and recognize one another. It doesn’t have to be big; you can even have fun and get creative by wrapping a gift card.
No matter what you do, it will be appreciated.