Easy and Beautiful Christmas Gift Wrapping

Christmas is such a busy time of the year! A good busy, but busy nonetheless. Because its so busy, I like to be as organized as I can. So today I thought I would let you in on one of my Christmas organizing secrets. It’s all about creating easy and beautiful Christmas gift wrapping.

“In the midst of the shopping and the wrapping and the arranging of presents under your tree this Christmas, may you not forget the gifts you cannot yet hold in your hands.” T. D. Jakes

Wrapping gifts for my family and friends is one of the things I love to do the most, especially at the holidays. My mother has always paid extra special attention to details when it comes to gift giving. As a little girl, I remember how beautiful my gift packages always looked. To this day, receiving and giving a beautifully wrapped package brings me so much joy!

With just a little effort you can create beautifully wrapped gifts as well!

History on Wrapping Gifts

Believe it or not, making gifts special dates back to the 1600’s in Japan where they used Furoshiki. It is a traditional fabric used to transport goods and wrap gifts. Here in the United States, using paper has been around for a very long time. It started with the upper-class Victorians who used elaborately decorated paper, adding ribbons and lace.

Wrapping Paper and Ribbons

As with all of my decor choices, each Christmas I pick out a color theme for my wrapping paper. I love the look that you get under your tree when all the packages coordinate. Also, when you pick a theme and stick to the same few papers and ribbons, you are organized and know in advance what you have to work with.

On a side note, I do stray from the scheme when it comes to wrapping for my granddaughters. That has to be wrapping paper that is fun for them and a lot of times it is pink Christmas paper! It brings so much excitement!

Sometimes, it just depends on what color ribbons I already have on hand. When it comes to wrapping paper and ribbons, one thing I do not compromise on is the ribbon I use. I always purchase a wide, wired edged ribbon, for my gifts. You may think that putting a pre-made bow on your package is so much easier and it might be, but I promise you, the wired edged ribbon is not hard to work with, at all!

The only draw back to using wired edged ribbon is the cost. It can be pricey. I usually always purchase my ribbon on clearance right after Christmas. I can sometimes get it up to 75% off. Another option…you may get lucky at your local dollar store, but you have to get there early enough in the season.

Wrap Your Gift

Now that you know what color theme you are going to use, wrap those gifts!

Once I have my package wrapped, I take one piece of ribbon long enough to wrap around the package once and then tie. You can tie it on vertically or horizontally. I usually do it in a way that I will use less ribbon. Make sure you leave plenty of ribbon on each end. You will need the excess to tie on your bow.

I don’t know the “correct” way to make a bow. Today, I am showing you the way I make them and they have never failed me.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” – Burton Hillis

I start by taking the end of the ribbon and fold it over, gathering it at what will be my center. Next I take the longer part of the ribbon and fold it into my center. I continue making the loops, depending on the size of my package. I securely gather it in the middle and tie to the ribbon I started with around the package.

Make sure you double knot it so it doesn’t come undone.

Spread out the bow and cut the ends on an angle to make it look fancy.

That’s it!