There’s a running joke in my family about my Christmas present wrapping skills. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t seem to wrap presents. It’s probably also the reason why I can’t bake, or sew, or draw things, I’m just too heavy handed I think. However, I do always feel a bit envious of people who can make presents look SO good you don’t want to open them, so this Christmas I decided I wanted to make an effort with my wrapping. However after browsing on Pinterest, I realised that a lot of DIY ideas looked 1.very difficult when you are cack handed like me and 2. Quite expensive for all the supplies.
Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a nicely wrapped present, but let’s be honest here wrapping paper does just go in the bin, so there really is no need to spend a month’s rent on things that will get torn off within a matter of seconds. So I went on a hunt for cheap but pretty wrapping paper/accessories and I think, I’ve found some. I know that I’m probably posting this a bit too late, but hey you’ve still got a few days before Christmas and I’ve deliberately not used any internet sites so you should be able to pick everything up in time!
So I decided on my colour scheme for this year, and yes I am that person with a wrapping colour scheme, I am officially lame. But anyways, my colour scheme is pink, gold and silver, so we’ll start with those. So I picked up my wrapping paper from wait for it Poundworld, in fact most of the stuff I bought was from Poundworld. I also found paper in Primark for also just a pound and also found Sainbury’s to have amazing wrapping for just £2 a roll (in fact when I popped in last week, there was an offer on for 3 rolls for £4 which means each roll was £1.33 ish.)
So I bought some metallic paper which I love, I also bought a few packs of pink and gold present bows from Poundland which amazingly can really jazz up a present. I also bought lots of ribbon and string which also makes a big difference to wrapping. It’s amazing how nice it all looks when it comes together and I’m so impressed with how cheap it all was, I think it all looks a lot more expensive! I did find buying ribbon bit trickier, and I did end up buying my pink ribbon from a shop in Nuremberg, but you could pick ribbon up from places like Paperhcase, or a fabric shop I am sure. I also think that black ribbon would also look amazing with gold and silver wrapping paper. I picked up my gold dot ribbon from Nuremberg too, but I did see in Next that they have a gold dot wrapping set which has paper and string if you wanted to have a gold dot theme for your wrapping.
For little ones, who may not appreciate the ribbon and bows, I thought of some ideas for them that may be a little more exciting. I picked up some cute dog and star paper from Sainsbury’s, then I tied a bow with some gold ribbon and placed a candy cane, a gingerbread man (though add this on the day you give the present as it may get wayyyyy too hard if you leave it for a few days- also not the best if you have animals in your house who can get to the presents!) and finally a little bell that I got from Sainsbury’s too. (I think they’re supposed to be decorations but these ones were better value than the usual smaller bells that you use for wrapping, so I thought you know what ‘bigger is better!)’ I think they just add a little something to presents and recipients can use them as decorations afterwards.
Other ways that you could add a little something to presents, is to maybe add a little chocolate Santa or reindeer to presents, or instead of tags, pop the recipients favourite Quality Street or chocolate on the present. I mean opening a present and eating chocolate? What is not to like?
My final wrappings feature some kraft paper, because that is what all the cool kids on Pinterest seem to be wrapping their presents with. I was going to buy lots of red accessories and make these parcels really Christmassy but I struggled to find things I liked and honestly, I ran out of time. So instead, I went with the same pink and gold theme.
I bought this gold snowflake ribbon from Poundworld and think it looks so lovely layered above some pink ribbon. I also think that the pink is a nice contrast to the paper, and it still looks really pretty and girly. Pinterest has about a million ideas for kraft paper wrapping ideas, so head over there for more!
So a list of where to buy everything:
Wrapping Paper Recommendations: Sainsbury’s, Wilko, Poundworld, Primark & Asda
Present Bows: Poundworld
Ribbon: Fabric shops, eBay, poundworld
Candy Canes: Poundworld or Wilkos
Gingerbread Men: Sainsbury’s or Asda
I realise this post is very Poundworld heavy, promise I haven’t been sponsored by them, they just have a lot of good wrapping accessories haha!
That is it for my gift wrapping ideas, very simple, but I think they all look quite pretty and for once I will be a little proud whilst handing out presents. If you are a family member of mine and you’re reading this, can you make sure you act really impressed please.
Also two other blog posts that I’ve read that are 100% better than this one and have loads of cute wrapping ideas are, this one from Debs and this one from Carrie (though these will both put me to shame!)
So I hope you enjoyed this post 🙂 tell me are you a careful pretty wrapper or like me a bit of a throw it all together and hope it doesn’t look too much like the dog has wrapped it?
See you tomorrow 🙂