I really love gift wrapping. I love it so much that I wish I could do it for a living. In fact, shortly after college, I had a brief (and mostly unsuccessful) stint in retail, which was so lovely--I handled all their gift wrapping for the store. Unfortunately, I also bungled the cash register and never could figure out sales tax and broke out in hives when I had to make change. You know, math. But with the scotch tape? I was a wizard.
Here are a few fun (and cheap) gift-wrapping tips I've learned over the years, especially for Christmas, when you're gift-wrapping on a large scale.
Consider using only one style of wrapping paper. This is mostly a matter of personal preference, but I think it's lovely when all the presents under the tree match. Plus, it makes it easier to piece together leftover scraps when you get to the end of the roll.
The dollar store is your friend. Those stores where everything costs a dollar are great places to buy wrapping paper, though if hyper-frugality is your thing, you might want to check the amount of paper you're getting for your money (i.e., it would make more sense to pay $3 for 75 sq. feet of paper than to pay $1 for 10 sq. feet. Thank you, math.)
Use address labels. I slip a sheet of plain white address labels into my printer, and I type up one page with every label I expect to need this season. For a custom look, you can use a pretty font, colors, and even clip art, and, best of all, all your labeling is done. Slip the sheet of labels into the place you keep your wrapping supplies to use all season.
Let kids wrap the gifts they give. This requires a little deep-breathing if you tend to be particular about how your gifts look, but it's a satisfying thing for a kid to be involved the process. Especially if the gift is from them. (And, incidentally, the dollar store is another excellent place for kids to buy gifts for siblings.)
Make your own paper! One year I wrapped everything in plain brown shipping paper and let the kids go crazy with stickers and markers all over the packages. It's a fun activity for them.
Tulle is cheap, easy and pretty. Tulle--you know, the type of fabric netting you might see on a bridal veil--is incredibly cheap. I bought some last week, on sale at the fabric store, for only 75 cents a yard. Cut a strip about 6-8 inches wide, and tie up your gift with that, instead of some other kind of ribbon. I wrapped a gift yesterday to demonstrate:
Have a marathon wrapping session. I know plenty of people who gift wrap throughout the month, as they go. True, this helps keep your gifts concealed, if nosy little creatures go snooping. But I find it to be a real handful to be constantly lugging the gift wrap supplies in and out. I hide my gifts, and then I have one big gift-wrapping session (with the door locked!) when I'm finished with my shopping. If you are inclined to wrap as you go, though...
...consider keeping all your supplies in one place. Find an out-of-the-way corner and stash everything together: scissors, tape, ribbon, paper, labels, pens, etc.
What am I forgetting? Have you stumbled across any helpful giftwrapping tips over the years?
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I too, love a matching tree! One year I bought colored electrical tape from the Hardward store, it was fun and different for taping the paper together.
Posted by: Audra Krell | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Too funny -- my WFMW this week is kind of a gift wrapping tip. (It's a gift suggestion that has to do with gift wrap.) Hmmm...wonder why we're thinking about gift wrap? ;) LOL (Says the girl who just had four boxes from Amazon.com arrive by UPS today.)
Posted by: Angie @ Many Little Blessings | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Oh dear I hate gift wrapping! But my mom loves it so she helps out-- with 4 kids, it is nice to have someone helping. Also, my husband is great at odd shaped packages.
Leslie
Posted by: My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Oooh, the tulle looks beautiful ... much prettier than ribbon! I had no idea it was inexpensive.
Posted by: col @ gigablonde :: things to do in ny when you're [alive] | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Great tips!! I haven't started wrapping yet and now I think I better get started!
Carrie
Posted by: Buzzings of a Queen Bee | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Great tips, thanks! I love those little paper cutters (I think they are made by the Scotch tape people) at this time of year, they may seem gimmicky but they save a ton of time. I also like to get a type of wrapping paper for each family member, eliminates the need for labels and keeps kids in suspense until the last minute. (Less chance of them figuring out whose is whose and what is what)
Loving your tulle!
Posted by: Kirsty | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Ah, Tulle! I've used it for "ribbons" but not wrapping. I like that.
I've actually spent time as a professional gift wrapper, and my favorite tips from the long-term pros:
Posted by: aunt mommy | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:38 PM
I love the tulle idea!
We've used butcher paper and then brown shipping paper too. One year I cut star and tree "stamps" out of potatoes, painted them with craft paint and let the kids stamp all over the paper.
I like to use real satin ribbon (WMrt has cheap ribbon) to tie up the packages with.
I wrap every body's presents the same too. It's easier and looks nice. :)
Posted by: Blue Castle | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:39 PM
I love the Dollar Tree, too! Their gift bags are wonderful! The only thing I can add is to invest in a tape dispenser. It makes wraping go so much faster!
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Raise Them Up | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:40 PM
I tend to buy plainer wrapping paper, rather than season- or holiday-specific paper. That way, I'll always have something on hand for an unexpected gift.
Tissue paper is my friend! You can wrap the inside, outside, crush it to fill up a box, and even layer the patterned ones.
Posted by: Amy @ Experience Imagination | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Happy Wednesday!!
Posted by: Lorie | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:42 PM
I usually assign one paper to each person I'm wrapping presents for. That way I can keep track of which presents are for which person. Plus, it helps the kids pass out presents on Christmas morning.
Posted by: Hillary - The Queen I Am Not | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Okay, I posted twice, because the first time i put in the wrong link? Boy, it is too late for me to be up!
Newspaper! The colored comics.
Posted by: anhelpmeet | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:44 PM
The tape dispenser is my friend when wrapping. I too love to wrap. Thanks for the tips =)
Posted by: Julie From Inmates | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:44 PM
I love using tulle, too! :) I also love reusing old magazine pages, etc. as wrapping. Keeping Christmas simple is so nice. :)
Blessings,
Michele
Posted by: Michele @ Frugal Granola | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Oops... sorry for the first link. I forgot to put a subject and I was afraid I'd be deleted, so I did it again. Sorry. It appears I got overly excited about your wrapping tips =)
Posted by: Julie From Inmates | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:51 PM
I do not like gift wrapping.
I do not like it, Mom I am.
I do not like it in a box.
I do like your tips, thank rocks!
Posted by: We are THAT family | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:53 PM
The comics from the Sunday paper may be my Christmas paper of choice this year. Think I will tie a cute bow, hand make a card, and watch the GRANDS tear it apart quickly with no appreciation of the energy, time,or effort made.
Personally, I LOVE wonderfully decorated packages like Grandchildren and their parents hand prints on a grocery paper bag with a hand written note.
Sorry Mom's this is kinda messy.
Gego
Posted by: Gego | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I love the tulle. Great idea.
I've also discovered the joys of wrapping small gifts in tissue paper. It's super cheap, very forgiving for even the most bumbling of wrappers :), and if you buy it in white, looks beautiful with any color ribbon. Last night I pulled out my "star" stickers (you know, those old fashioned ones you had to lick?) and stuck those all over my white tissue-wrapped gifts. Covered them with clear packing tape so they'd stay on. The packages looked like they were straight out of winter wonderland :)
Posted by: lynn@queenofthecastlerecipes | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Here's a great tip. Save old Christmas cards from the prior year - esp. those at the office if your office just dumps them in January. Of course, keep sentimental ones. But the others - cut the card down the fold and keep the decorative front. Now wrap a gift - solid colors work well. Wrap around once with a wide ribbon, then tape or hot glue the card front on top of the ribbon. It is smashing. Also, if you travel with the gifts, they will stack well - no bows to smash. When I wrap gifts this way, it's always complimented. You can also make small sprays of greenery and such from nature for free bows.
Posted by: karen | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 11:26 PM
I am terrible at wrapping. My husband is the happy, wrapping elf in our house. This year I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 2 coordinating rolls of paper, thinking it would inspire me to wrap gifts tastefully and artfully arrange them under the tree. Then I got my sons' Christmas list. Gift cards. Cash. A movie. Not too many things that need wrapping. I guess I can wrap gift cards in various-sized boxes just to practice wrapping and so that I can tie bows made of tulle on them!
Posted by: marina berryman | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Or, marry a man who works for Hallmark.
Posted by: Everyday Mommy | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 11:45 PM
I love, love, love, love the Scot.ch paper cutter to cut wrapping paper. I bought it last Christmas and my love for this item is still going strong one year later.
I also like to use double-sided tape, so that no tape shows on the wrapped gifts. Very perfectionist, but it makes me happy. I should email 3M everyday until they make refills for my big tape dispenser in double-sided variety.
I also buy some of those very small folded cards for gifts, because sometimes you need to write a little something about the gift, or where it's from, and those gift labels don't give enough space.
I can't wait to try the tulle idea... thanks so much!
Posted by: Abbey | Tuesday, December 09, 2008 at 11:52 PM
"...watch the GRANDS tear it apart quickly with no appreciation of the energy, time, or effort made."
Sheesh Gego! Maybe they are just excited about Christmas? ;)
The BEST value at the Dollar Store are the gift bags, hands down! You can't beat $1 for a gorgeous gift bag! Especially for those hard-to-wrap action figures they place in those clear, impenetrable plastic bubbles.
Posted by: AprilMay | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:12 AM
This is my first WFMW, and I posted one of my favorite recipes which also happens to be my favorite Christmas Tradition/gift. Enjoy!
Posted by: Stephanie | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:45 AM
I LOVE to wrap, but try to let my kids do there own wrapping (but I SO want to intervene and rescue the present from it's fate!).
Love the tulle idea - thanks for the inspiration (as always).
Posted by: JanMary, N Ireland | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:58 AM
The Dollar Store is a wonderful place to shop at Christmas. Thanks for the heads up on tulle... what a great idea!
Blessings,
e-Mom @ Chrysalis
Posted by: e-Mom | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 01:22 AM
Thanks!! You can get 25 yards of tulle in 3inch wide ribbon spools under 2$ at Nashvillewraps.com AND they have a slew of boxes, papers etc. (and some of it is eco friendly). We just do cute boxes tied with ribbon at our house. I know, I'm such a wrapping Scrooge
Posted by: jen TuTu's Bliss | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 01:25 AM
I never thought about tulle as ribbon replacement. Thank you for that!
Not that I am recommending this but last year my hubby made us all crack up because instead of gift boxes, he used food boxes (cereal, frozen entree, etc...) and wrapped them in gift paper.
It was the funniest thing!
There were nice presents inside but the packaging was our favorite part. It was his way for bulking up gift cards/iTunes cards, etc...
Posted by: Lainie@ Mishmash Maggie | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 02:17 AM
Happy Wednesday to you all, I popped in a post full of ideas for a kids Christmas craft party... Myself I am all for the marathon gift wrap, and if I can get it organized for a wednesday night when my mother in law comes for dinner - all the better! Otherwise I forget what's in them and just can't keep track... gotta hang on to that sanity at this time of year!
Posted by: se7en | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 02:37 AM
I love tulle for wrapping. I just wrote a post on frugal gift wrap a few days back. This year I am trying to use all recycled material. Brown paper bags are my first choice. I did buy some ribbon, the packages look cute and they wrap will hold up better in shipment.
Toni
Posted by: The Happy Housewife | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:06 AM
Thanks for the tips. I hate wrapping. I think there should be a gift-wrapping fairy who comes and does it for me.
Posted by: Annie Jones | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:17 AM
I actually posted on this last week! Brown paper packages are the way to go in my book. http://everydaywylie.blogspot.com/2008/12/brown-paper-packages.html
Posted by: emily | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:19 AM
We have a local charity that wraps gifts every year for a donation. I take all the BIG hard to wrap stuff to them. It never costs me more than about $25 to get EVERYTHING wrapped & the money goes to charity!
Posted by: Denise | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:32 AM
I love pretty presents under the tree! :) My favorite wrapping paper is at Hobby Lobby - they have guidelines on the inside of the paper so I can cut a straight line! the rolls are 1/2 off right now! I like all of the presents under the tree to match - so that when we bring them to the big family gathering to unwrap everyone knows which ones are from us!
Posted by: Christa | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:41 AM
I LOVE the label idea! That's terrific!
Posted by: Amblin | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:50 AM
I love gift wrapping! I love making them pretty, and I keep all the ribbons and bows that I get all year to reuse. Does that make me petty?
But one of the best wrapping papers for kids is the comic section of the newspaper. You can save them up and use them, and they're free, colourful, and look great with ribbon!
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
Posted by: Sheila Gregoire | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:55 AM
Beautiful wrapping ideas. I love tulle for wrapping. Thank You!
Posted by: Kathy | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Thanks for all the great information...We have always gotten the "sharpie" out and just written names on our gifts. Maybe this year I'll step it up a bit :) LOL!
Posted by: Kara | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Great ideas - thanks!
I know it's a little crazy, but I buy my Christmas wrapping paper when it's on sale for 90% off after Christmas, put it inside a big garbage bag and store it with the Christmas stuff. It doesn't take up much room, and I don't spend much!
Posted by: jen | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:02 AM
I wrapped gifts for a local dept store during and after college too. I really miss those nice columns of roll after roll of long, shiny, crisp paper and the perfectly aligned cylinders of ribbon, all neatly organized and so easy to just tear off and use - it all really appealed to my OCD side, you know? The home gift-wrapping experience just can't live up to that kind of gift-wrapping nirvana. Last year I tried to fashion my own nice neat roll display with my mop and broom handles held up by two bar stools, but the whole experiment wound up with in a wad of crumpled, unusable paper and a general feeling that well, sigh, you can never really go back, sigh. But these are all great tips and yes ma'am, tulle's the be-all, end-all of present garnishery, in my book!
Posted by: Megan (FriedOkra) | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:10 AM
I use pink (daughter) and blue (son) to wrap the stocking gifts. That way I don't have to label them and I know who gets what. LOVE the tulle...super cute!
Posted by: Traci | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:11 AM
I like to stick a floral pick in the knot of the ribbon. Very festive and can be reused from year to year.
Some great tips here!
Posted by: Carol | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:21 AM
My Mom likes to wrap each grandchild's gifts in a different paper. I love the tulle idea!
Posted by: Melene | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:37 AM
the tulle looks so pretty--great tip!
Posted by: suzannah | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:47 AM
I love utilizing our Christmas bags year after year. I also use packing wrapping paper. We can write on the paper or rubberstamp it, etc. It's fun.
Posted by: Rona | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:48 AM
I love the tulle idea!! I did a gift wrapping wfmw, too. My grandmother taught me how to make an awesome bow from gift wrap!
Posted by: oh amanda | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:52 AM
I find the best deals to be after-Christmas shopping. I like the papers that Target sells - quality paper, and you can get rolls for as little as 19 cents after Christmas.
Posted by: Melanie | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 07:55 AM
I'm a stamper, so I tend to buy the plain one-color wrapping paper and then stamp flourishes on it. Turns out very pretty, but it's a lot of work. I do that more for the gifts for my folks, and for the kids I make sure to use LOTS of tape!! I'm an evil auntie! :)
Posted by: Rachel Joy | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:03 AM
WHOOPS! Forgot to mention that I linked to some puppy treats I made for the Canine Kiddies in the family! Have Fun!
Posted by: Rachel Joy | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Two ideas. One, I bought one of those tall rubbermaid gift wrap centers. It has a small box type thing inside it for the tape, scissors, ribbons, labels, SHARPIE markers etc. Then everything is together.
Two, I go to walmart the week after Christmas and buy out their solid colored wrapping paper to use all year. Hello, Mrs. Cheapo! Gold, silver, red, green, Christmas when all together, but a great way to cheaply wrap birthday gifts through the year!
Posted by: Tara | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:09 AM
What great tips! I usually just slap some paper on my presents and call it good. Not sure that's going to be changing, but I LOVE the idea of printing my gift labels. What a time-saver. Thanks!
Posted by: Rainy @ More Gravy | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:28 AM
I use different paper for each member of the family instead of gift tags. It makes sorting presents so much easier. I also recently learned to wrap with a paper pocket on the front to hold a card!!!
Posted by: Gwyn | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:36 AM
I find the best deals for wrapping paper...FREE...when I shop in my closet for rolls that I purchased post-Christmas and forgot about! LOL
For small gifts, I love to recycle kids artwork. We also use this to make our "cards" year round.
Posted by: uppervalleymom | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:47 AM
The Christmas after we got married we had tons of white tulle leftover and used it to dress up very plain wrapping paper. I'd have to say that was our most beautiful stack of gifts ever!
Posted by: Aimee | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:49 AM
I have been wrapping gifts in the pages of old road atlases this year. Then, I tie them up with some green ribbon I found hiding in a drawer.
Posted by: Martia | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Thanks for the tulle idea. I have always used cheap bows that get smashed or come of the package. Seeing your picture made me think, "Why don't I just use tulle or some other ribon?" Thanks so much!
Posted by: Linda | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Oh man..Hobby Lobby had tulle on sale last week and I just didn't get down there. What a fine idea about it, though.
Posted by: AmberStar | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Love the tulle idea...need to go shopping!
Thanks!
Cheri
Posted by: Cheri | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Beautifully wrapped gifts is not my area of expertise! Thanks for these tips!
I also wrap everything at once instead of a bit at a time. It just works better for me.
Last year at our youth auction a lady donated Christmas gift wrapping for all your gifts. I did not win this item, but if I had, that would have been my gift wrapping tip! :-) It would have been one year of beautifully wrapped packages.
Instead, I will once again do perform my humble wrapping and know that it is the thought that counts...
Posted by: Donnetta | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Thank you for all of the great tips. I have always wished that I could create beautiful packages, but I usually don't have the time. Someday.....
Posted by: Kristen | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:11 AM
I love your wrapping ideas...and I love tulle. You should see the amazing things my mom did with it when she decorated my Little One's Ballerina nursery:)
Posted by: Kara | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:14 AM
I've found that you don't get a very good deal on wrapping paper at the dollar store (but they're great for stocking stuffers, cheap baskets for gifts, etc.). My favorite place to get good quality wrapping paper is Sam's Club. We got a very very large roll for $10. It will last us several years. The stuff I got from Walmart a year or two ago was horrible! The corners on boxes kept breaking through the paper!
Posted by: Sarah | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Don't know if you've checked out the wrapping paper at Hobby Lobby or not- but I bought some this year for the first time and I LOVE IT! It's $6.99 per roll, but is half off for most of the Christmas season. The quality is excellent (nice and thick) and the roll size is 100 sq ft. I also love that all of the rolls that I bought have the cutting grid/cheat lines printed on the back. Makes cutting a breeze. I just thought I'd share...
Posted by: Holly @faceforgrace | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 09:48 AM
I was just wrapping some presents...I do them in spits and spurts. I buy 3 coordinating papers and lots of real ribbon (not the plastic stuff) and it makes it so easy)
Posted by: Lisa Q | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I love the idea of using the tulle!!! Great wrapping suggestions!!
I made a post about how I ease my decorating anxiety!!
~Tidymom
Posted by: Tidymom | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Just a quick note on the tulle... you can actually get it already cut into 6 in. strips on a roll at craft stores in the bridal dept. or if you have a Flower Factory near it is really cheap there and they have tons of colors.
Posted by: Kori | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I LOVED retail. . .of course, I worked in a Christmas store, so that may have been it. I was much better at the cash register than the wrapping, however. . .
Posted by: rachel k | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 10:42 AM
and I totally have a marathon shopping spree. The hubby and I make the shopping/wrapping a getaway. (It's detailed on my blog.)
Posted by: rachel k | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 10:44 AM
What great ideas!
Posted by: Southern Mama | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Instead of using one paper for a more unified look, I use a different paper for each member of the family. (you can even coordinate them if you want) It helps the little ones who can't read yet to know who each gift belongs to. (my daughter absolutely loves to hand out the presents!)
Posted by: Stefani | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Great tips! I really need to get started!
Posted by: Mama Zen | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:13 AM
I love to look through all the hints and tips. Thank you for continuing this effort for the sake of all.
Posted by: Jewel | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I have 2 kids, and learned early on that I hated writing out gift tags from Santa (though I LOVE your idea of address labels). Anyway, I wrap all of my daughter's Santa gifts in girly paper, and all of my son's Santa gifts in boyish paper, and then I cut out a square of each. I tape the squares to the note from Santa, and then the kids know who's gifts are whose!
Posted by: Shawna | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I love to wrap gifts, and love to use neat wrapping paper. For Christmas paper...I go shopping the weekend after Christmas to buy discounted paper, ribbons, bows, etc. That way I'm stocked up for the following year and didn't pay full price. Last year we were between houses, so not having to worry about a house payment kinda made me go a little crazy. I think I'm stocked up on Christmas wrapping paper and boys and ribbon for about 5 years. haha!
Posted by: Kris M. | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:13 PM
My first grade son and I loved wrapping gifts together last year. He wrote out all the tags...it was great handwriting practice, and it was fun to see how he decided to spell things! (Unkl Scad was Uncle Scott)
Posted by: Michelle | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Love the toule idea on the packages. It works well, too, to tie around the backs of chairs for an inexpensive holiday decor idea!
Posted by: Dawn W | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Love the ideas, esp. the tulle for the bow challenged... ha! My hubby thought of the whole label thing and I balked at it, wanting color. So silly. Yours look great!
thx, Ginger
Posted by: Ginger | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I accidentally left last week's link up when I put my new title in Mr. Linky this morning. It is all fixed, though, so if you want to check out a awesome, fun grammar and punctuation, head to my site!
Posted by: Melissa | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 12:55 PM
We use drawstring fabric bags (this post has pics and details http://liletsyshop.blogspot.com/2008/11/fabric-gift-bags.html )
Easy to use, no waste, no mess...they last for YEARS, are washable, and always look good!!
I buy holiday fabrics on the after-christmas sales and so it's cheap too. :)
Posted by: Mommy Bee | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 01:18 PM
I am very bad at wrapping my hubby takes all the botheration! isn't it cool!
Posted by: Ameda | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 01:39 PM
That is a great idea about having matching/similar wrapping paper. I will keep that in mind when I am buying wrapping paper after Christmas this year.
Posted by: Trish | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 01:50 PM
My 2-ingredient fudge will have to wait until next week... Had to use today's WFMW to spread the word about saving handmade children's products-- lots of us would hate to lose this income in this economy!
Thanks for the reply back this morning, Shannon.
Posted by: Diana (Ladybug Limited) | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 01:55 PM
I love wrapping gifts, too. I started wrapping things in similar paper a few years ago. It looks nice under the tree and is easier to find matching ribbon and bows.
Dollar General brand tape is the very best!
Posted by: Melanie | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Thanks for the great idea!
Posted by: Reading Rosie | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Great tips! I always use brown kraft paper and buy really pretty wired ribbon for my bows........
Posted by: Tendrils | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I've used old Christmas cards for labels (cut them to size and use a hole punch for ribbon), but I like the idea of using them for decoration. I haven't bought gift wrap in years. I do buy tissue paper and reuse gift bags. Everything else is wrapped with old calendars, magazine pages or newsprint. No one has ever complained!
Back when I did buy paper, I loved matching gifts. I'd buy two complimentary rolls.
My mom used to only put numbers on the presents and have us kids wrap them. She didn't want us trying to guess which presents were for whom and what they were. One year, she lost the key and we were all opening random presents. It was awesome! (Really, it was really fun and a great Christmas memory.) But after that she didn't use the numbers anymore.
Posted by: Kansas Mom | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Those are great tips!
Posted by: susieshomemade | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:32 PM
I love the tulle idea! How great does that look?! And by the way, great name for a blog. I really have found rocks in my dryer before. I guess that's what I get for having a boy.
Posted by: Allison | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Great tips! I especially like the idea of wrapping all the gift in one paper and using the tulle!
Posted by: Jules from The Roost | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Great ideas. Might have to splurge on the scotch wrapping paper cutter this year! I do marathon wrapping sessions too, but this year I vow NOT to do it Christmas Eve at 10 pm!
Thinking of scheduling a wrapping party...that way I'll HAVE to get it done before Christmas. And way more fun!
Finally, here's a gift wrapping tip I saw YEARS ago on Oprah: before taping the paper, fold the cut end of the paper under about 1/4" so that it looks smooth and professional. I don't ALWAYS do it myself, but I do if the present needs to look good (showers, etc.).
Thanks for hosting Works for Me Wednesday. LOVE IT!
Posted by: Sandwiched | Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 09:36 AM
I love your tips. We've gone the route of no more wrapping paper. It's Sunday comics for all of our gifts. The only problem I have is I still have Santa-believing children. I doubt he gets the San Francisco Chronicle in the North Pole. So I'm going to go the route of the brown shipping paper and decorate the presents.
Posted by: patois | Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I love the roll-on tape-usually used for scrapbooking. Really easy!
Posted by: Headless Mom | Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 01:35 PM
awesome tips, i am a horrible wrapper i think i lose focus to quick.
Posted by: Mel | Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM
I color code the gifts by family. I wrap my side of the family in one type of wrapping paper and my husband's side of the family in another style of wrapping paper. It makes it much easier to find and take all of the appropriate gifts with us when we go to that family's house during the holidays.
Posted by: Condo Blues | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Pssst! I totally stole the tulle idea for my book club grab bag gift last night. Thanks!!
Posted by: Sandwiched | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 11:00 PM
My mom has this plastic container with two sections stacked. The bottom is for the wrapping paper (save for next year, keep birthday present paper in there too) and the top is a smaller section for scissors, tape, ribbons, labels, and such. She usually puts the bag of bows in the bottom on top of the rolls.
Posted by: Becky | Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 03:04 AM
My momhad a camping table she uses to wrap gifts on. It is lightweight aluminum and rolls up into a fabric case. Since it rolls up, there are lots of slats of the aluminum, with a little space between each slat. This makes it super easy to cut a staight line, just place your scissors in the space, hold the paper taught, and cut away.
Posted by: Angie | Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 04:50 PM