RIBBONS & WRAPPING PAPER

BY CHARITY BISHOP & NOTED BEST FRIENDS

You might not realize it, but presentation is as important as the gift. If you hand someone a gorgeous package with a pretty bow, or a hand-made card to go along with it, it tells that person that they are worth the time it took to make that package pretty, that you love them, that you wanted to give them something that expresses how much you are glad to have them there with you over the holidays. Make them regret opening it. Make them hold the package and look at it for awhile before ripping off the paper. 

Prolong the moment. 

It'll make them feel awesome, and you feel proud that you managed to halt the busy hustle and bustle of the holidays long enough to bless someone's life. Here are some creative ideas to make gorgeous packages!

Buy Wrapping Paper That Doesn't Clash.

Let's face it, no one likes a mess. You cannot wrap one present in blue and another in Ho-Ho-Ho paper without it looking like a 4th of July explosion. When shopping for wrapping paper, go for the good stuff. It costs a dollar or two more, but makes all the difference when you're going for a sophisticated look. Choose three or four different papers that compliment one another, or at least don't clash. Then rotate them on gifts so no one gets a gift wrapped in the same paper twice from the same person.

Use Double Sided Tape.
Trust me, it makes all the difference. Tape never blends into the paper. It's ugly. Use double-sided tape!! You can find it in the craft section of any store, and usually get a good deal on it, which means you can put it in a box with other holiday supplies for next year. (They usually sell them in boxes of three.) Put one in your desk, and use it when wrapping other gifts throughout the year. You'll never want to go back.

Fold over excess paper.

We've all been there. You cut out the paper and find out there's two inches extra. Prevent ragged edges by folding over the excess edge to create a smooth line when you tape it down. When you come to the end of the package, where you have to do multiple folds, cut off the extra paper so that it covers the gift but you can fold up the bottom fold and not have a big fat wad of paper to deal with on the ends. Your goal is SMOOTH EDGES.

Ribbon Bows
These are easy to create. Just wrap the present around the middle with the ribbon, knot it, and then depending on the length you have left, you can either do a quad bow or a single bow. You will need to bunch up the very end of the ribbon and sew it to the other end, then you can just slide it underneath the knot and have a natural bow. If it's too big, bend the wire in the ribbon to create multiple bows. (See picture on the right. And yes, I wrapped those presents... aren't they amazing? You can do it too! Just follow my suggestions and be creative with ribbon!)

Name Tags
One thing has driven me nuts for the last fifteen years: where to put the name tags. Most of them have to be taped to the package, or are stick-on. If you're trying to create a pretty package, that ruins it. Then I realized something that has been blatantly obvious to me all these years: ... put the name tag underneath! It'll still say who it's for, but you'll still have a beautiful package! 

Tips From My Friends:

Casey says: "If you want a simple, white (and dramatic) look, use white craft paper, thin ribbon or string (colored, preferably) and small paint chips for the tags. Easy, inexpensive and cute" for minimalists or arty types.

Susan says: "For larger presents, cut a silk flower off just under the base and use hot glue to attach it to your ribbon. You won't need a pretty bow. Or use your imagination and create a bow that compliments the flower."

Kari says: "One thing that's fun is making your own wrapping paper or gift tags. You can use ordinary computer paper for small packages, buy some cute holiday stamps, and stamp something like a snowflake or candy cane repeatedly on the paper. Then you can make a matching card or gift tag using the same stamp. Very fun. I like to make holiday cards with stamps and cardstock, too."

Heather says: "Get creative with name tags - Paint card paper tags, or use those cards that have the meaning of the name of the person you're giving the gift to on them. Use a cookie as a name tag -- write the name on the cookie (in frosting) and then put it in a plastic bag -- not the baggie kind, but more like the kind that you would get in a candy store -- it's shiny and sturdier. You might be able to put the cookie in an envelope too if the paper is transparent enough. I'm considering using tiny paper doilies for my name tags this year, if I can think of a creative way to make them look nice."

Avoid gift bags. As Heather puts it, "They seem so impersonal to me. Unless the presents inside are wrapped in paper, I feel like I'm telling the person that I don't have time for them." Gift bags are okay for things that are impossible to wrap (like little gift baskets you find in stores) or pre-semi-wrapped gifts, but if you can, wrap it. If you really want to be creative, give someone a gift bag with a wrapped present inside. That prolongs their excitement in wondering what the gift is.

Consider using fabric. It takes a lot more talent to wrap with fabric and it can be more expensive, but it gives some of your gifts a different texture than paper and can be a joy to unwrap if you tie ribbon or add a flower or two to the arrangement.