Gift Wrapping Tips and Tricks

by Lindsey McCord

5 Materials

If you're a procrastinator like me I'm sure you still have some wrapping to do before Christmas--so I'm sharing my favorite tips and tricks for wrapping unique presents and crafting festive toppers with you below! Over the years I've tested all of the gift wrap blades and tape dispensers, but I've found nothing works as well as a sharp pair of scissors and a quality roll of double stick tape. I prefer wrapping with double stick so no tape is exposed on the outside of the paper, leaving you with a professional, clean edges. I like heavy weight wrapping papers with a faint grid line on the back--these are great for keeping striped papers and patterned motifs square on the box you're wrapping.

If you're in a pinch, grab some recycled cardboard from the recycling bin and trace whimsical ornament shapes for kids to color in or paint for cute tags and tie-ons. They'll love having a part in decorating the packages with their own artwork!

Looking for an alternative to bows? Pom Poms aren't just for hats--you can find special tools in the yarn/knitting section of most craft stores to help you wrap large and fluffy pom poms that make the BEST present toppers.

My favorite wrapping technique for this year is wrapping with vintage silk scarves. you can find them for $1-2 at goodwill and can be re-used by the recipient after unwrapping! Tuck in a sprig of fresh greenery or tie on a cute tag before placing under the tree. Don't have any silk scarves in your drawer? Scrap fabrics work just fine!

I painted a few fun textures and turned them into a free printable on my website--find the link below and print out these patterns on a heavy weight cardstock and use a large circle punch to cut out tags!