When it comes to Christmas presents, it's the thought that counts and nothing shows your care and attention to gift giving quite like a beautiful wrapping job. But with so many colours, designs and patterns out there, how do you ensure a wrapping theme that will look attractive under your tree as well as appealing to your loved one?
The number one wrapping theme this year has got to be the revival of brown paper. Suitable for any occasion, this is perfect for Christmas as well as any other event throughout the year, and gives you a fantastic blank canvas to add your own style and flair to. Plus it's cheap, yet always looks bang on trend.
Christmas offers the perfect time to bring the outside in, and collect pine cones, holly and berries to decorate the mantlepiece. This year, why not continue that theme to your wrapping? Delicate twigs and foliage spray painted and arranged into miniature wreaths and Christmas designs looks truly beautiful and inviting on a brown paper background and is bound to impress your family and friends as the presents are passed round.
Interesting gift tags are a great way to liven up a present. Get creative and use vintage photographs or maps, different textiles and textures or typography to produce something really special. It may be time consuming, but it'll be worth it.
Remember to think outside the box, and save the ribbons for another year. Try twine instead, cloth, buttons, paper doilies and even wax stamps for wrappings with real impact.
5 Top tips for wrapping the perfect present
Choose the right paper for the job. Select a medium-weight gift wrap and try to avoid thin inexpensive rolls that can crumple and tear easily. Be aware of the expensive stuff too though; though beautiful it can be difficult to work with as it's often a heavier weigh and can be resistant to sticky tape.
Put the gift in a box, if it isn't in one already. This optional step will make the gift easier to wrap and it makes it harder for the recipient to guess what it is. If the box has a loose fitting lid then use a small bit of tape to secure it to ensure that it doesn't fall off as the present is being unwrapped.
Measure the paper properly. It'll make the wrapping easier and ensures neatly folded ends, which give your gifts an elegant look. Plus there will be less wastage. If you mark along your cut lines using a straight edge
Sharpen your scissors. If they're are sharp enough, you can hold the paper and glide the scissors forward for a long, smooth cut with no jagged 'cutting' marks, ensuring a professional finish.
To make sure that the wrapping is as neat as possible mark along the cut lines before you take the scissors to the paper. Use a straight edge (like a ruler) or you can fold neatly along the line you will need to cut along, unfold, and cut along the fold.
For even more tailored wrapping, first tape the paper to the box itself, pull the paper taut, then tape the other side over it. This will help to give you neatly folded ends.
