25 Stylish Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas
How to Host a Festive Gift Wrapping Party
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Keep Them Guessing with Gift Wrap
"This sprang from my own laziness!" Birmingham designer Iris Thorpe says about her ingenious method of wrapping presents: She desginates one color of paper per family member and uses that to wrap all of their gifts. The assigned paper is revealed at Christmas Eve dinner, when everyone receives a homemade Christmas cracker made from "their" paper.
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Coastal Inspiration
Rather than buying gift wrap, get creative and forage. Here, oyster shells (used as gift tags) reference the coast. Other options are pinecones or leaves.
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Wow with Accents
Add unexpected outdoor elements to your packages such as a twig wreath tied with a festive plaid ribbon.
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Sealed with Gold
Incorporate leftover ornaments into your holiday gift-wrapping. Tie sparkly balls and stars onto packages with ribbon for an added flourish.
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Make Gift Tags
Use a silver or gold paint pen to write someone's name on a magnolia leaf, and attach it to a present with double-sided tape.
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Craft Custom Crackers
Birmingham designer Iris Thorpe orders cracker snaps at christmas-crackers-usa.com and uses bath tissue rolls for the package. She tucks special gifts inside to open on Christmas Eve.
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Paper Trails
Newly house proud, Kristin Gish of Austin, Texas, wraps her gifts with paper that match her living room's color scheme. Sprigs of fresh greenery add life and aroma.
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Berry Surprised
Tuck a sprig of berries or greenery, either fresh or faux, on top of a present in lieu of ribbon for a simple look.
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Step-by-Step Christmas Gifts
Scatter packages along the staircase to increase the holiday anticipation. Tie on accents, like silver jingle bells, in lieu of standard ribbon and bows.
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Customize Presents
Extend the tree's color palette to the presents underneath by mixing cheery green-and-white paper with handmade tags and white ribbon.
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Make a Fashion Statement
Take inspiration from fashion design and use seam binding instead of ribbon, then top gifts with beaded flowers and vintage brooches.
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Garden-Inspired Wrap
Let your love of gardening carry over to the gifts you give. Try an amaryllis in bloom wrapped in burlap, glue pressed leaves to a gift box wrapped in kraft paper, or top off a package with a useful tool to accent your bow.
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Deck Presents in Tartan
For a fresh and stylish holiday look, cover your presents in kraft paper, and tie up with a ribbon of your favorite red and green tartan.
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Embellish with Rosemary
Rich with Christmas legend, rosemary is the herb of love and remembrance. Tuck a handful of fresh sprigs beneath the ribbon just before delivering packages.
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Use Household Items
If you're a last-minute wrapper, you still have time to make a statement. Grab office supplies you already have on hand, like graph paper and sharpies, and create a humble, heartfelt package.
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Make a Pine Impression
A bold pine print wrapping paper just needs a solid green ribbon and a mini bouquet of holly to come together.
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Embrace Gold and Silver
Skip the tree skirt and opt for soft metallic glamour in your Christmas presents. They'll reflect the shimmering lights and ornaments and provide a gleaming finishing touch for your tree.
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Get Inspired by Nature
Go all out with a nature-inspired wrapping palette (think greens and browns) and top things off with uniquely Southern elements, straight from your local florist, nursery, or—even better—your own backyard, like a single cotton boll, eucalyptus flowers, or shiny Elaeagnus leaves.
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Add Extra Sparkle
Pretty up your presents by attaching bells and shiny miniature ornaments. Use the same color ribbon on all your packages under the Christmas tree to make a cohesive look with different patterned wrapping papers.
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Create a Golden Glow
Metallic gift wrap paired with a wide wired ribbon that you can fluff up make a stunning and refined present.
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Handmake Gift Tags
Customize gift tags easily with glued-on cardboard letters. They work both on fabric and paper circles.
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Get Inspired by Nature
Mix simple, solid-colored paper with artisan prints, and don't worry about a single one of them being Christmas paper. Then, attach vintage ornaments and pinecones to packages to make them work with your other decorations.
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Top with a Monogram
Once you've found something for everyone on your list, make their gift extra-special by topping with a custom wooden monogram rather than a simple sticker.
Order these from Southern Proper Monograms
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Choose a Patterned Box
Pick up a bold patterened storage box and top with shiny ornaments for an easy presentation that's still festive.
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Wrap Candy Colored Gifts
Give your presents a peppermint-bark inspired theme with red marbled gift wrapping and creamy white accents. Gold ribbon adds to this collection's timeless look.