I’m sharing ten tips for wrapping Christmas presents that are a major upgrade from slapping a simple sticky bow on the top (and they’re super easy to do too!)
One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is to sit down with loads of beautiful wrapping paper, tags, and ribbon and wrap presents while watching cheesy Christmas movies. I’ve loved wrapping Christmas presents ever since I was a kid and when I was in high school I even had a little business going where busy families paid me to wrap all of their holiday gifts!
I was always surprised by how blown away my “clients” were when they saw their wrapped gifts. In my mind, I wasn’t doing anything special and certainly nothing difficult, but I realized it was the little extra touches that they might not have thought to do themselves that left such an impression.
Today I’m sharing ten tips for wrapping Christmas presents that will take an ordinary present to “next level” status. (post includes affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here})
1. Use a Chalk Marker Pen!
For darker colored gift wrap, white chalk marker pens (such as {these}) are great for writing messages on your packages or even just for writing who the present is “to” and “from” without the need for a gift tag. They’re simple to use (they work just like paint pens) and definitely add a little something special.
I often pull up one of my favorite fonts and write my message on my laptop and then reference that when writing it out on the present but using your everyday handwriting is just fine too!
2. Add a Pre-Made Bow or Embellishment
This idea is perfect for wrapping Christmas presents if you don’t want to mess with ribbon. Simply choose a gorgeous paper and place a pre-made bow or other little “extra” on top! With this gift on the left, I added a premade curly bow – simple and quick but also beautiful!!
3. Stack ‘Em!
There’s something about stacked gifts that makes them irresistible! Simply wrap two presents (one slightly bigger than the other) in the same gift wrap and tie them together with ribbon, leaving long, cascading tails. Wire-edged ribbon like {this white ribbon} works best because it’s easy to add those pretty waves to the tails.
4. Layer Your Ribbon
This is one of my favorite ideas for wrapping Christmas presents! Layering a thinner ribbon over a different colored thicker ribbon makes presents look luxurious! I usually choose two colors that are both found in the gift wrap so that everything coordinates. For this gift, I used a thinner gold metallic mesh ribbon layered on {a 1 ½″ black satin wire ribbon} along with a cute jingle bell wreath tie-on.
5. Clip It On!
An easy way to add embellishments and tags is to simply clip them on with a mini clothespin and as a bonus, it’s super cute and makes your present unique! For this present I clipped on one a metallic gift tag and a cute glitter snowflake with a plain mini clothespin like {these}.
6. Add a Treat!
Adding a little sweet treat is one of my favorite ways to make a wrapped present special, especially for kids. You can simply tie a candy bar or other sweets on top with ribbon or buy an embellishment like this mini stocking and tuck your treat inside. Just be mindful of pets and don’t leave gifts with chocolate or other food anywhere that they can get to them!
7. Tie It Twice
This is one of my favorite tricks for wrapping Christmas presents when you’re working with rectangular/narrow packages. Instead of your typical bow, simply wrap two lengths of ribbon or decorative cording around your present lengthwise and then tie both pieces in knots with the first knotted piece a little higher up than the second.
For my gift, I used a wood grain glitter wrap with a sheer gold ribbon like {this}, and a glitter snowflake gift tag – such a simple Christmas present wrapping idea but so beautiful!
Here’s another present from a few years back that I wrapped the same way but with braided twine:
8. Use Your Gift Wrap Scraps
This is the perfect way to keep the scraps of your favorite gift wrap from going to waste! Wrap your present in plain kraft paper and then take a long scrap of wrapping paper, fold it along both sides to give it clean, straight edges, and wrap it around the length of your present. Then simply tie a bow on top to hold it all together:
9. Use What’s Outside
Adding natural elements from your own backyard is another favorite idea for wrapping Christmas presents. It can be as simple as tying on a few sprigs of greenery clipped from your yard. Or if you want to spend a few more minutes, hot glue gun 2-3 small pine cones to the ends of ribbon and tie them on!
10. Throw It In A Bag or Box!
There’s no shame in using a gift bag, especially when it’s a super pretty one! Using tissue paper that has a decorative edge such as {this scalloped edge tissue paper} takes it to the next level!
Or you can buy pretty gift boxes that don’t require any wrapping such as these white and gold scalloped edge beauties (I got these a few years back from Target – they have beautiful new designs every Christmas – check them out {here}):
I try to wrap as I go throughout the holiday season so I have pretty presents to put under our tree and sprinkle around our home too.
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Where to Buy Gorgeous Gift Wrapping Supplies
My four favorite sources for gift wrap, ribbon, and boxes are (1) The Container Store – every year they have a Gift Wrap Wonderland section that has gorgeous wrapping paper and ribbon options along with lots of fun little embellishments. The only downside? It’s pricey!
I also find a lot of great supplies at (2) Target – especially online where they have better selection than in the store. My favorite things to buy at Target are their beautiful decorative boxes from Sugar Paper – you can see their current offerings {here}.
I also find lots of great wrapping paper and ribbon online at (3) Amazon. A few current favorites are {these plaid wrapping papers} and {these darling kraft papers}. They have a huge selection of ribbon too! And last but not least I’ve found some of the cutest papers at (4) Minted – you can see their current holiday gift wrap options {here}.
I hope you all picked up a new trick or two to use while wrapping Chrismtas presents this year! When you’re buying your gift wrap, ribbons, and other supplies this season keep in mind that…
- Wire-edged ribbon works best for making bows because you can shape it to make your bows full and the tails wavy.
- If you’re using glitter paper like {this gold glitter wrap} I used, regular tape won’t hold well. In the past I’ve always used my hot glue gun to stick down the ends of glitter paper but for the first time this year I tried {this double sided clear super tape} and it works really well too! So if you get glitter papers like one of the three that I used, be sure to have a glue gun or super tape on hand.
- If you wrap your presents early, you can use your presents to decorate your home for the holidays! Along with putting them under the tree, you can stack pretty presents on shelves, use them as coffee table decor, few small presents sticking out of the stockings hanging from your fireplace mantel, or even stack a few in a chair or two:
Happy wrapping!
Susan Barney says
Our holiday tradition is to make German Potato Soup….a tradition that my in-laws started more than 30 years ago. We share the soup with our friends and family. Great post with simple ideas that look amazing!
E.J. says
Your gifts look amazing! I too, love to wrap when “time ” makes an appearance.
We have four children,and have always had an ornament with each child’s name hand lettered on the front. As each got married, the spouse ornament was added. Now we have “the grands ” and each has a baby shoe ornament with name and birth date hanging on our tree.
Thanks again for all your decor ideas!
Maree Sperle says
Our family’s favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies for friends and family. We have a special sweet potato, raisin and pecan cookie that has become our Christmas cookie that we save for the holidays. We get our tins from the Container Store because they have so many shapes and sizes that fit our cookies perfectly.
Your presents look amazing.
Jen says
Fabulous gift wrapping ideas! We actually have a Container Store in the next town and love shopping there, especially this time of year. Great for buying gifts!
Chrissy says
Love all of your ideas… you’ve got the natural knack for making everything look extra special – beautiful display!!!!
One of my favorite traditions is making breakfast casseroles and potatoes on Christmas Eve… we all eat after presents and when family pops over on our lazy morning everyone can enjoy some!!
Mary says
Love getting out my vintage shiny brite ornaments and remembering them on my grandma’s tree.
Karenann says
My favorite holiday tradition is giving my entire family new Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve. We all change into them and sit around the fireplace enjoying hot cocoa and Christmas cookies, waiting for Santa to arrive!
Karen Houston says
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is to go to the tree farm the day after Thanksgiving to cut down our tree. We walk a good bit of the farm to find the perfect tree. And even though our children are grown and have moved out they always come home to pick out our family Christmas tree. Also, we have been collecting the name of our extended family on ornaments for the past 33 years. We have 30+ names on our tree! It truly is our family tree.
Mandie says
Christmas movies and hot chocolate with the kids and midnight Christmas donuts at the donut shop downtown!
Val says
So fun!!!! I️ don’t have just one, but wrapping presents and watching Home Alone 1&2 with my daughter is totally a ‘thing’! I️ love The Container store….it’s perfect!
Fira says
I absolutely love this post. Such beautiful choices on color of paper and the rest of wrapping pieces!
Our favorite tradition is to pile up with kids in the car, make some hot chocolate to go, and drive around the neighborhood looking at people’s Christmas house lights! So fun and doesn’t break the budget)))
Angie Riley says
Wonderful post on wrapping special gifts. My daughter wrapped all my gifts when she was young, and she was amazing! Such wonderful memories! My children are older now and spread all over the country so traditions have had to change over the years. But we still manage to all be together Christmas morning for a big brunch. We then retire into the family room and watch “29th Street”, one of our favorite Christmas movies about the first New York lottery winner. Since we are half Italian, it really hits home. Thank you for sharing your talents once again, Kris!
Bree says
Kris I LOVE your ideas for gift wrap!!! I would have never thought of some of these things and I always appreciate your great tips!! As always thanks for the inspiration ?
Dana says
My favorite holiday tradition is going to see The Nutcracker.
maryann says
This post was perfect timing for me as I am getting ready to wrap this weekend. Love all of your ideas Kris ~ thank you! My favorite holiday tradition is unpacking and displaying my collection of nutcrackers – over 50 of them! Each one has a special meaning or story and even my teenagers are eager to help. Thanks again for the wrapping inspiration!
Kelley Nan says
Holy cow, this is one of my favorite posts ever. And I wish I had been your client! 1. I just gave up on my glitter paper (I literally unwrapped a failed gift and swore off glitter paper until now). 2 your embellishment ideas are amazing.the clips?! 3. Your double long ribbon- genius! I’ll admit, I didn’t know they had all that gorgeousness hiding in their organization heaven. Ok- so to enter, I will say my favorite tradition is riding around in pajamas with hot chocolate to look at lights!