Gift wrapping is more than just a way to conceal a present; it is an art form that adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness to any gift. Whether you are preparing for a birthday, anniversary, or holiday celebration, the presentation of a gift can enhance the experience for both the giver and the receiver. Let us dive into the selection of gift-wrapping materials that will make your gifts stand out. Building a gift wrap kit at your home is a wonderful way to make sure you have what you need on hand to make any gift have a special touch.
Selecting your materials:
Pick high quality gift wrap paper. This paper is usually a bit thicker than rolls you find at the grocery store. It can come in plan colors or with beautiful or fun prints. When you think about buying your paper also consider color coordinated ribbon.
I love a nice grosgrain ribbon, or satin ribbon. I prefer the ribbon to be at least an inch wide to really make a statement. Again, color coordination is key with the ribbon and paper; you can match, or accent and you can use opposite colors on the color wheel to provide a great pop of color and added natural excitement to the package. If you want to go for an upscale look velvet ribbon is another great option and adds a vintage elegance to the package.
I am an enthusiastic fan of sharp scissors. I keep several pairs in my house for paper, fabrics, and general utility. I strongly urge that the paper and fabric scissors that should be sharp for nice cutting be kept in a special place and reserved for those cutting activities. Have good utility scissors available in your "everything" drawer in the kitchen so your nice ones stay sharp. Sharp scissors will enable you to make clean cut lines in gift wrap paper, and fabric scissors work beautifully on higher end fabric ribbon which needs a sharp cut to keep from fraying and make beautiful ribbon tips.
Handwritten gift tags are a beautiful detail on a package. I love manilla tags with holes in them, or kraft paper tags. You can stamp them with rubber stamps or practice your best cursive writing on the gift tag. You can be sure this small detail will be sentimental and very personal when you give your gift. If you want to add something a little special to your gift you can always add a flower, bell, confetti, spring of lavender to finish the wrap.
Other tips:
Store your materials in a special dust free spot, which is even better if the space is dark so that you will not get sun fading on ribbon or paper. I love bins with tops for this and I believe you can find gift wrap storage containers that help you organize all your beautiful wrapping tools.
Buy in advance. When building your tool kit think about the most common occasions for gift giving birthdays, host/hostess gifting, thank-you gifts, and of course the marathon wrapping season of the seasonal holidays.