I love wrapping gifts. Naturally you want to choose a gift that you think will delight the recipient, so why shouldn’t the presentation have the same effect?
Each year I choose a theme for my Christmas wrapping. Actually, I hesitate to use the word “theme” here, because I always think of theme rooms (Jungle safari! Circus! Beachy/nautical/seashells aplenty!). What I mean to say is that I am my own art director. Yes, hello – I am persnickety.
Anyway. This year’s “theme” was metallic and pink. I’m using silver, copper, bronze, and gold wrapping papers (from Target and IKEA), and various silver, bronze, and pink ribbons.
The gift tags I made are simple, but with enough possible combinations to make them interesting. First, the necessary tools…
I have a very heavy-duty circle punch (the big black thing), but any craft punch would work. I also used a couple of Sharpies, a pencil, scissors, a hole punch, decorative scissors (for children, judging by the brightly colored plastic), and scraps of pretty paper.
I started by punching out circles in my shimmery stardream papers. I then used the leftover scraps to trace onto my other papers, and cut out a slightly smaller circle with my decorative scissors.
After making many circles, you can put the gift tags together in different color combinations, punch a hole, and you’re done.
The gift tags are the most labor-intensive part of the wrapping process, but they’re actually pretty easy. Once they were finished, I just mixed and matched everything. Choose a paper, choose a ribbon (extra points for off-center placement and criss-crossing!), add the gift tag, and that’s it.
Don’t they look nice when they’re grouped together?
50 comments
Judi
Do you know where I can purchase copper colored wrapping paper? I change colors every year and this year it’s the copper tree, but I am finding it harder and harder to find copper! I love theme trees!
Milagros
Hola soy de Argentina!Me encantan tus diseños son muy hermosos y novedosos!! te felicito!!
Amy Jo
Oh my stars!!! I thought I was the only one who themed my holidays!!
Susan
making it lovely indeed!
i am a total gift wrap lover. it is one of my favorite things about giving a present. the presentation – ha ha – of the present, to me, matters just as much as the actual present. both should delight and show the person just how much you really care. and i think your gifts certainly do that :)
emilie
absolutely beautiful!
ashlina
that is impressive wrapping! nice job
Jaye (Harvest Furniture)
Love the gift tag idea. We offer gift wrap in our home furnishing and decor store, and have been looking for ways to make our holiday packages unique. We will certainly consider this inexpensive DIY project in doing so! Thanks for the great ideas!
patricia
I must tell you that I did these tags for my holiday wrap and they were such a hit. I am saving them from year to year. (for my family :)
Paula
Just wanted to say thank you for the lovely ideas! I took inspiration from your post, and here’s what I came up with:
http://welcomingspirit.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-christmas-eve-updates-on-presents.html
Paula
Louise
Where did you get all of your wrapping paper from?
Becky W
Hello… Your presents look Gr888..!!!
Can you give me any websites where i can buy some decent wrapping paper for this year , i have looked everywhere i cant think of where else to go ?! Ta ..
Emily
I remembered this style idea when wrapping gifts for a friend’s twins’ fourth birthday and came back to get a good look. I think the little girls will like it because they’ll be able to recognize their own initials and pick out which gifts are theirs.
It would also be great for my family at Christmastime. We have a tradition of writing ‘clues’ on our tags, and there is plenty of room on the back of the circle for writing very complex and challenging hints!
becky
oh my gosh, martha’s got nothing on you!!!!
elizabeth @ elizabeth anne designs
these look great! i love the pinks with the metallics!
M&Co
Your gift wrapping is so gorgeuse!!
DawnMarie
When I close my eyes this is what I want my gifts to look like. Then I open my eyes and see the gifts I wrapped that look like a 5 year old did them. Seriously, give me a gift that loks like this……it could have dental floss inside and I would be happy.
Mary
beautiful! I’m so jealous… I can’t use ribbon anymore. My cat eats it. Then the litter box is all sparkly… LOL
julie (jane's apron)
very nice “theme”…love the colors.
CastoCreations
Oh good grief. I am now officially depressed. I thought my gifts were wrapped nicely.
I love love love wrapping paper. This year I have pink and lime green purse themed Christmas paper and I LOVE it. Yes it’s not “traditional” (which I usually am) but it’s so fun.
Your gifts look amazing. I wouldn’t even want to open them! :)
Making it Lovely
The good thing about using paper that doesn’t scream Christmas is that you can use it for other occasions too.
And yes, I suppose my gift wrap is a little excessive (and therefore not the most eco-friendly). Leah at Uplifting Arts has a nice wrapping option: eco gift wrap.
casacaudill
i bow down to your creative skills. i gave up with the themed wrapping when my husband insisted i had to use up all of the leftover paper from years past.
– casacaudill
http://blog.casacaudill.com
Nicole R.J.
So pretty! I love doing a theme with my wrapping, and I love that yours is not following the traditional Christmas colours!
I’m definitely going to try your criss-cross ribbons next year :)
drey
yeah i actually thought about being ecologically friendly as well.. my in laws recycle their wrapping paper every year (until it gets given to someone who rips it apart)… forces the no-theme-no-fancy thing happening…
Raven
That is exactly how I would love to wrap my gifts. Alas I have run out of time again. I still have time for ribbons though as I save those for last because of my dogs.
So lovely.
Anonymous
They’re totally gorgeous. But you are clearly so creative I would think you could come up with some rocking ideas for more ecologically friendly gift wrapping! I always feel guilty about the waste involved with the wrapping paper. I have a friend who has sent me gifts wrapped awesomely in festive xmas dish towels tied with raffia and with evergreen or dried flowers tucked in the bow which I can’t seem to duplicate in as attractive a manner.
any other ideas? a crafty challenge for you next year maybe?
perfect bound
Brilliant. I would have to think long and hard before I opened a present like this. What could possibly be better than the gift wrap itself? Are they empty? I wouldn’t blame you. P.S. Who needs Blueprint when we have you?
pozzynette
very very nice !!!!
http://pozzynette.canalblog.com
Making it Lovely
Thanks, everyone!
My circle punch is from American Button Machines. They run $160-$350 though. I bought mine when I bought my button machine.
drey
hey where did you get your heavy duty circle punch? The ones I’ve come across don’t do the work on cardboard/thicker paper… can you share your secret? ;)
Btw, I LOVE your wrapping work!
Amanda
They look amazing!!!
Renee
Absolutely fabulous darling!
Adriana
oohh so pretty! I love the “theme” idea… and your circle puncher! I’ve been searching for a good one! If you dont mind telling me where to look… :D
http://onebluechocolate.typepad.com
dottie
i just love your blog! it’s inspiring, you have wonderful taste.
raya
So beautiful! I have been trying to think of my “theme” for this year. I think it might be “whatever I have in the wrapping bucket” + some baker’s twine..I just have so much Christmas paper from years past I feel bad buying more. But for me the wrapping is half the gift – I’m sure everyone will be so happy to receive these from you ; )
miss.supafly
These are so lovely and personal. I really enjoy non-conventional wrapping this time of year.
Zanne
Beautiful. It makes me feel I need to pay more attention to giftwrapping!
Making it Lovely
Anna – I don’t go that far at least! ;)
lfw1031
Thanx, Nicole!
Those combos are gor-JUSS! And your tags are a work of art.
Anna van Schurman
I was told presents brought to my sister’s house must be wrapped in red or silver. Damn you, theme women!
Valerie
Lovely! I’ve also been doing the «obi» thing (in your mom gift) with recycled kraft paper. On the downside, my family tend to not want to ripped the nice gift wrapping when I make it look so nice! Except for my 3 year old nephew; he just doesn’t care about the gift wrap! Happy Holidays!
Princess of Power
Can I tell you that I both hate and love you. Ha! The gifts are wrapped gorgeously!
Kay*
Gosh your gifts look fantastic! And I thought I did a good job – I clearly need to step it up a notch… :)
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