When I have the time, wrapping gifts is something I actually enjoy doing. I love getting creative with it (again, if I have the time and the supplies). Plus, I think even the most perfect gift is ten times better when it comes in a pretty package. By now, you all probably know how much I love things that match. So it's probably no surprise then that my favorite way to wrap is to make all of my packages coordinate. This is especially true at Christmas time because I love for all my matching gifts to be displayed under my tree. This past weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to a bridal shower for my good friend Kendra, and since three of us went in together for our gift, there were lots of boxes to wrap. Allison did the shopping for us so I, of course, volunteered to do the wrapping.
I sure hope Kendra liked my wedding colors because that's the theme I went with! I have enough of this wrapping paper to last me forever. Seriously, why did I think I needed to much at the time? The green ribbon on the package to the far left (the bow that's a slightly different shade) is a ribbon that I saved off a gift that Doc and I received when we got married. I knew I would be able to use it again, and I'm glad I was able to pass it along to Kendra.
Besides making my gifts match, my other favorite thing to do is to think outside the box and get creative. I like to use things other than ordinary wrapping paper and curling ribbon. When Allison invited us over for a birthday dinner a few weeks ago, I had several gifts to take with me. I still had my felt yarn out from Kersten's bedroom makeover and, wanting to do something different, decided to use it instead of ribbon. I also had a box of cardboard letters that I found in a clearance bin at JoAnn's a long time ago. I thought they could work for gift tags.
This package was for Chris.
"S" is for Sarah.
Since I already had a "C" gift, Charlie got his first and last name initials.
I was pleased with how these turned out, especially considering I had no idea what I was going to do when I started.
As much as I like wrapping and enjoy giving (and receiving!) pretty packages, sometimes things don't work out that well. My most disappointing wrapping jobs are the ones where I'm already running late for the birthday party I'm headed to when I realize I still haven't wrapped my gift. Unfortunately, that happens more often that I'd like for it to. Then there are also those times where your faced with wrapping an odd shaped gift with no box to put it in (I personally prefer not to use gift bags). In those instances, like this past weekend when I was wrapping my sister-in-law Erin's birthday gift, you just have to flash your biggest smile and tell the recipient, "Well, I tried."
It did not take her nearly as long to get that tissue paper off as it did for me to get it pieced together and all bundled up like that.
So what about you? Do you like to wrap? What's the most creative thing you've used to decorate a gift?