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It’s A Wrap! Get Christmas gift wrapping like a pro

b. wrap the present the same way as the smaller boxes, but use a most substantia ribbon as it is a biggish box, add a beautiful card, like this one from Hallmark and the 'crystal' bauble, from Woolworth's

Do you want a few tips and secrets about gift wrapping that I learned working behind the stationary counter at Grace Bros (an old department store that became Myer)? I wrapped hundreds and hundreds of presents, making sure every customer had wrap, ribbon, bow, can, sticky tape, scissors, making me the add on sales leader the the company that year.

I am OCD when it comes to 2 main things. Wrapping presents and making beds. The principle is the same. Clean folds, tight, smooth, free of wrinkles, enough bling or decoration to look inspiring, but not over the top (although my husband may disagree).

With gift wrapping it’s all about the theme. This Christmas I have elected for a ‘brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things’: recycled paper, with silver, gold, rose gold and aqua details.

Below I have images of the stages of wrapping plus some comments about the technique and details:

You will need:

  • roll of recycled brown craft paper
  • good medium sized scissors
  • sticky tape
  • varieties of ribbon and string in the silver/gold/pale blue green colour palette
  • gift tags and cards (my larger cards come from Target and Hallmark)
  • a selection of small baubles or ornaments
  • a large flat clean surface, such as the dining table.

Pro tip: Fold the visible long seam edge at the back for a cleaner look

Fold over about 2 cms of the paper, using your fingers to create a tight crease. Now bring this side up so it just overlaps the first one and affix with tape.

Small Book/Journal (My Niece)

Small Book in silver and pale blue, with matching card
a. Small Book in silver and pale blue, with matching card
how to fold the edge
b. how to fold the edge
do both sides the same way for symmetry
c. do both sides the same way for symmetry
put the card on the bottom, and wrap it with the silver ribbon
d. put the card on the bottom, and wrap it with the silver ribbon
this is the front: add the baubles (small) asnd tie up the ribbon
e. this is the front: add the baubles (small) and tie up the ribbon
f. the final result
f. the final result

‘Lifestyle – Hopewood’s recipe for wellbeing’ for my Mother in law

a. larger book with white wired organza ribbon and blue star with "Peace" pale Blue card to match the star wrapped in brown paper
a. ‘Lifestyle – Hopewood’s recipe for wellbeing’ is a largish book with white wired organza ribbon and blue star with “Peace” pale Blue card to match the star wrapped in brown paper
b. after wrapping, this is the way to get a bow on the front
b. after wrapping, this is the way to get a bow on the front
c. on the front create the bow
c. on the front create the bow
d. add the bauble with white cotton
d. add the bauble with white cotton
f. tie and adjust the bow (card goes in the back with the name facing out for identification
e. tie and adjust the bow (card goes in the back with the name facing out for identification) and voila, finished product

The cord roll – Mike (hubby) – wrapping cylinders is tricky

wrapping a cylinder
wrapping a cylinder – key is to use as little paper as possible.
decorating the cylinder - final product with wire and snowflakes and a small tag
decorating the cylinder – final product with wire and snowflakes and a small tag

Nana’s Jeans New Sunnies for ROC Eyeware

a. how to wrap a perfect box
a. how to wrap a perfect box containing ROC Sunglasses
b. use the least wrap you can possibly cut, with the ends 3/4 of the height of the box
b. use the least wrap you can possibly cut, with the ends 3/4 of the height of the box
c. fold the top edge down and diagonally fold in the corners and create a clean trianlge for the flap. Tape immediately. Secret is to use the back of your nail to sharpen folds
c. fold the top edge down and diagonally fold in the corners and create a clean triangle for the flap. Tape immediately. Secret is to use the back of your nail to sharpen folds
d. add 2 layered of gold curling ribbon to give it substants and have the front and back showing for texture
d. add 2 layers of gold curling ribbon to give it substance and have the front and back of ribbon showing for texture
e. write on the tag before adding, then tie in the white bauble, curl the ribbon using the blade of a pair of scissors and running along the back of the curling ribbon
e. write on the tag before adding, then tie in the white bauble, curl the ribbon using the blade of a pair of scissors and running along the back of the curling ribbon
a. ROC sunglasses for Nanny Nel, wrap like the above sunglasses, just mix up the ribbon for variety
a. ROC sunglasses for Nanny Nel, wrap like the above sunglasses, just mix up the ribbon for variety
b. make sure you keep those corners clean on the folds
b. make sure you keep those corners clean on the folds
c. The finished result. Add some bling with some left over small christmas tree ornaments
c. The finished result. Add some bling with some left over small christmas tree ornaments

Me! iKotton organic cotton camisole with matching briefs plus a kikki k diary

a. multiple items need to be folded cleverly into a rectangle shape
a. multiple items need to be folded cleverly into a rectangle shape: ikotton hipster panties 2 pack $25.99 // v-neck camisole in pink //  kikki k a5 leather Notebooks & Journals at kikki.Kshow?id=0lsp0F9Hnlw&bids=546303

 

b. fold each item so you can stack them. In this care ikotton undies and camisole with a kikki k note book are a tough call to wrap
b. fold each item so you can stack them. In this care ikotton undies and camisole with a kikki k note book are a tough call to wrap
c. everything fits into a neat rectangle for wrapping like a box or book
c. everything fits into a neat rectangle for wrapping like a box or book
d. use shiny/matte curling ribbon in 2 layers due to the size of the package. Don't tied so tight that it crinkles the paper
d. use shiny/matte curling ribbon in 2 layers due to the size of the package. Don’t tied so tight that it crinkles the paper
e. voila, add a star bauble to the front and tuck the card in the back, name facing out.
e. voila, add a star bauble to the front and tuck the card in the back, name facing out.

Nana Nel’s iKotton waistline briefs from ikotton and jewellery from xx

a. again, solft and multi shaped objects need to be foldedin a way to make a rectangle that is easy to wrap.
a. again, soft and multi shaped objects need to be folded in a way to make a rectangle that is easy to wrap. iKotton waistline panty
b. use as little paper as you can because it ends up cleaner and less bulky to fold
b. use as little paper as you can because it ends up cleaner and less bulky to fold
c. carefully fold the sides, making sure you don't squash the soft gift and keep the rectangle shape
c. carefully fold the sides, making sure you don’t squash the soft gift and keep the rectangle shape
The finished result. I changes the ribbon to the wide organza
d. The finished result. I changed the ribbon to the wide organza

My daughter’s multiple presents

a. some presents need to go on a box for ease of wrapping: in this present we have an ikotton camisole and bikini briefs, along with ROC sunglasses, an extra pair of headphones, some The Soak Life body oil and a rose gold trackr for her keyring
a. some presents need to go on a box for ease of wrapping: in this present I have managed to fit a grey ikotton camisole and bikini briefs, along with ROC sunglasses, an extra pair of liquid ear headphones, some Tropical Glow Body Oil and a rose gold trackr bravo for her keyring
b. wrap the present the same way as the smaller boxes, but use a most substantia ribbon as it is a biggish box, add a beautiful card, like this one from Hallmark and the 'crystal' bauble, from Woolworth's
b. wrap the present the same way as the smaller boxes, but use a most substantial ribbon as it is a biggish box, add a beautiful card, like this one from Hallmark and the ‘crystal’ bauble, from Woolworth’s

My daughter’s belt – a tricky wrapping test

a. this belt is really tricky to wrap and kept unravelling. I tied it into a coil and wraped it into a rectangle shape.
a. the “Jasmine” Women’s Leather Belt is really tricky to wrap and kept unraveling. I tied it into a coil and wrapped it into a rectangle shape.
b. this is how to tape the back of a package.
b. this is how to tape the back of a package.
c. the final result: silver star ornament, and small gift tag to match the size of the package
c. the final result: silver star ornament, and small gift tag to match the size of the package

For a sweet friend, a book on how to overcome perfectionism

a. small book, wrap just like the journal
a. Signed copy of ‘Keep it super simple’ by bronwen sciortino is for the recovering perfectionist. Wrap just like the journal.
b. using a double layer of curling ribbon, create the bow on the front, tie in a sparkly star ornament, and use a full sized card for the back with a special message
b. using a double layer of curling ribbon, create the bow on the front, tie in a sparkly star ornament, and use a full sized card for the back with a special message
c. the end result: pretty and simple
c. the end result: pretty and simple

One of my My Aunts who loves pretty things

a. now this is an awkward shape because the shop didn't have the box. But I loved the product I took it anyway, this is how I wrapped it.
a. Cocco Maine Beach Rose Mt Macedon – 500ml Hand & Body Cream  is an awkward shape because the shop didn’t have the box. But I loved the product I took it anyway, this is how I wrapped it.
b. I folded the botton in stages like any cylinder, but the pump top proved difficult so I tied it to look like a rose/bon bon with lots of ribbon and a bow.
b. I folded the botton in stages like any cylinder, but the pump top proved difficult so I tied it to look like a rose/bon bon with lots of ribbon and a bow.

FINISHED IMAGE TO GO HERE

For my love, Mike, the Sukin Men’s Skin Care Trio

a. Mike's christmas/birthday – sukin skincare for men
a. Mike’s christmas/birthday – sukin skincare for men
b. I wrapped this using the brown paper but found some string so it was a brown paper package tied up with string
b. I wrapped this using the brown paper but found some string so it was a brown paper package tied up with string. Sukin kindly sent me sukin for men set  in an easy to wrap box.
finished product with string and red card
finished product with string and red card

My Sister-in-law who lives on an island…

a. the soak life bath crystals "island life"
a. the soak life bath crystals “island life” – perfect for Jane who lives on Scotland island, Pittwater
b. folded and wrapped like the others but wire string with snow flake shapes, and adding a snowflake tag
b. folded and wrapped like the others but wire string with snow flake shapes, and adding a snowflake tag

For My Cousin, a relatively new mum, Chocolate Cleanser: a treat for face and hair!

a. 'Get Dirty With Me Cleanser' for hair and body, is a simple rectangle so very easy to wrap
a. ‘Get Dirty With Me Cleanser’ for hair and body, is a simple rectangle so very easy to wrap
b. after wrapping and folding those nice crisp lines, add a big white bow
b. after wrapping and folding those nice crisp lines, add a big white bow
c. I added a contrasting bauble and the card is tucked into the back
c. I added a contrasting bauble and the card is tucked into the back

A friend of my daughter who is exceptionally sweet

a. you have to love rectangle boxes! So much easier. For this Jurlique Lavender Mist I chose the gold curling ribbon and
a. gotta love rectangle boxes! So much easier. For this Jurlique Lavender Hydrating Mist  I chose the gold curling ribbon and swing tag
b. the finish result
b. the finished result

So there you have it. How to wrap a variety of Christmas presents in a unique, rustic look. If you have any ideas to share please use the hash tag #wrappingwithdi

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Diane Penelope Challis

Diane Challis is currently completing a Master of Marketing and Digital Communications at Monash University. She is a digital design and digital marketing leader with over 10 years of experience in creative direction and digital marketing. Diane has helped a range of businesses from start-ups to multinational corporations achieve their creative and digital marketing goals and has a passion for beauty and health-related brands.
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