Finding the perfect gifts for all your loved ones over the festive season is cause for celebration. Here are some savvy ideas to keep you celebrating while adding a pop of creativity to your wrapping.
Ever thought of decorating plain gift bags?
If you’ve ever followed instructions on how to fold a paper jet then you’ll be a pro at folding bags in no time, but how? – YouTube University, of course? Whether you make your own or buy gift bags, make them unique by drawing or painting a festive design. Include the kids in the creativity by using finger art to decorate your bags. Use coloured ink pads to make finger print strings of lights, reindeer, snow men or angels to name a few..
Looking for an eco-friendly option for your festive wrapping?
Look no further than Furoshiki – an ancient Japanese practice that uses a square piece of cloth to wrap or transport items. This fun, versatile and environmentally friendly practice now uses dish cloths and scarves as wrapping to enhance the gift in look and function. There are many different folding options depending on the object you are wrapping.
Experiment with ribbon technique
It’s hard to imagine a beautifully wrapped gift without ribbon. To enhance the look and feel of your gift with a dash of love, learn how to fold ribbon or coloured paper in an array of different styles. Use ribbon to make your gift look as unique as the person it’s intended for. Broad ribbon is best to fold with while layering thin ribbon over thicker ribbon adds visual appeal.
Glitter dipped baby pinecones.
Do a family scavenger hunt for baby pinecones at your local park. After gathering a few little gems lightly spot brush them with glue and then sprinkle them with your preferred festive colour glitter. Alternatively for a full glitter coat, paint the glue on the pinecone with a small paintbrush and then pore the glitter over your pinecone while turning it. Tie a ribbon or cord onto the stork of the pinecone and then attach the ribbon to your gift.
Decorate with fragrant herbs.
Lavender and rosemary are common household herbs that are both beautiful and fragrant. Before delivering your gift, use ribbon to fasten on a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or lavender to awaken the senses.
Shaping your gift.
Opening up any shape gift is exciting but imagine opening up a dinosaur, rabbit, or lion. Wrap your gift in plain paper, cut out the arms, legs, tails or any other part of the animal that you need to add to the main shape of the gift. Once these have been added, draw on the facial features and whiskers (if needed).
Button things up
Different sized and coloured buttons hanging by thin ribbon can mimic Christmas balls and make your gift pop. Buttons can also be arranged to form a Christmas Tree or be threaded onto ribbon and wrapped around the gift.
This year let’s find joy in blessing our loved ones with gifts that have been lovingly designed and created just for them. When decorating you are sure to find a job for both young and old where everyone walks away with a sense of achievement. The joy of creating takes out the ‘work’ of wrapping and is a great way to get the family around the table making memories.
Date Published: 01 December 2022
