Monday, December 14, 2015

10 wrapping essentials

It's less than two weeks away, folks. So, now the wrapping and preparation begins. The parties are starting, the music is playing, and the stress is setting in for some. For people with a lot of wrapping to do for friends and family members, it can be a huge pain, but it's always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas. So, for those that are stressed when they walk into a store and see tens of patterns of paper, glitter and ribbon, cheap and expensive kinds of wrapping, here is a guide for the wrapping essentials. These are 10 things that you should have for wrapping all your holiday gifts, and a few things you need to make it a pleasant experience. The holidays are supposed to be the most joyous time of the year!


1. Wrapping paper // If nothing else, you need wrapping paper! To wrap everything from small to big, it's a total wrapping essential. There are so many kinds out there, from thick to thin, bold to simple, and finding it isn't a problem, but picking out the right ones for you can be the hard part. I tend to lean towards simple or cutesy, nothing that says straight out "MERRY CHRISTMAS" , in case I'm gifting to someone that doesn't celebrate. I stick to holiday trees, cold weather animals, wintery designs, something with a holiday feel that will work for everyone. Target has some great options starting around 1.99 (best bet is to stop in the store instead of buying online). Don't sweat it, the paper is going to get ripped into pieces anyways!

2. Gift bags // For those gifts that are shaped too awkward to wrap, or for the days you just don't feel like messing with all the fuss, gift bags are a great option for throwing a big wine bottle or a bunch of little things into a gift bag together. And, best part? You can reuse them next year!

3. Sticker labels // This is my go-to for labeling gifts during the holidays. They're much cheaper than tie on gift tags, easier to keep track of, and they stay on. I can't count the times that tie on gift tags have fallen off a bag, been ripped off, or I've just straight up lost them! Target sells large packs of sticker labels for really cheap every year.

4. Scotch gift tape // This is my favorite wrapping tape! It might seem silly to have a gift wrapping specific tape, but this stuff really does work wonders compared to regular scotch tape when gift wrapping. 

5. Holiday music // What better way to cheer yourself up from the holiday stress with a little music in the background? Laugh all you want, but I'm a Christmas music junkie. I love the classics. Burl Ives, Eartha Kitt, Frank Sinatra, those are my jam. I go for the old Rudolph and Frosty soundtracks, or find a classic Christmas album. It's hard not to get in the Christmas spirit when you know all the lyrics!

6. Gift boxes // Gift boxes are a great option when you need to disguise the shape or size of a gift. It's also another great alternative to wrapping, if you just want to tuck it into a box, wrap a ribbon around to keep it shut, and slap on a gift tag. And, same bonus as gift bags, you can recycle them for the next year!

7. Decorative ribbon // Ribbon is great for dressing up a gift for someone special, or for keeping a gift box sealed shut so there isn't any peeking under the tree! There are many types, colors, and fabrics of ribbon, but my favorite is a silk or velvety red. It's a classic holiday color, and it will pair simply with any gift box or wrapping paper. It's also great for decorating, like adding to a wreath, putting bows around the house, or on the Christmas tree.

8. Holiday tea // Another way to spruce up (haha...holiday pun) your holiday wrapping experience. Sit in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot tea next to you. All the holiday spices and flavors are bound to make you feel the holiday spirit a little bit more!

9. Tissue paper // A necessity if you'll be gift wrapping in bags or boxes. For gift bags, roll your gift up in a piece of tissue and place it into the bag. Then take another piece of tissue and fluff it up outside of the bag to hide its contents, and make it look pretty. For gift boxes, roll the item in tissue, or cover it with a single piece of tissue so that the gift is still a little bit hidden when the box top gets popped off.  Paper Source can be pretty spendy, but if you need just a few sheets of tissue you can buy them there by the piece, and they have so many cute options!

10. Journal // A journal around the holidays is a great way to keep track of your spending (it gets dangerous quickly) and keep track of all the gifts you have purchased or made for your friends and family. It keeps you organized, thus less stressed, and you can keep track off all gift receipts and records there as well.

What is your favorite part about the holiday season? Do you like wrapping or is it something you dread when the season comes close? What are your wrapping essentials?

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