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!
Donna says
Just what I needed TODAY! We are wrapping tonight, and WOW! you gave me some great ideas. Going to get some supplies right now. One of our favorite traditions is going out to eat with two other couples and exchanging gifts with them. We’ve been friends with each other for 27 years.
Debra Bartels says
My favorite Christmas tradition is baking cookies with my grandson just like my grandmother did with me. Will be using some of your beautiful gift wrapping ideas.
Savvyshopper says
Kris,
Wonderful post! I guess this is one thing where we’re not alike. I can’t wrap gifts to save my life! I noticed your ribbon on the tree, and would love a tutorial on that too. Mine is just wrapped around the tree, but I love how you have what appears to be a randomness of ribbon. Do share please!
Vanessa Powell says
Great gift wrapping ideas! Your wrapped gifts and tree look beautiful.
Our favorite tradition is on Christmas Eve is to watch “Wonderful Life” with just the glow of the Christmas tree lighting the room.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Shelley Anderson says
I love all of your beautiful wrapped gifts! I’m one of those that love to give beautifully wrapped gifts and I also love to receive a beautiful wrapped gift. It just makes the gift all the more special to me. You can take the simplest gift and wrap it with gorgeous paper, ribbons, ornaments or such and it will bring a joy to that someone special.
For the past five years I have wrote numbers on each family members gifts and then the grandchildren try to guess who’s is who’s. That makes it even more exciting for everyone!
I can just imagine how gorgeous my Christmas gifts to my beloveds are going to be wrapped if I win this wonderful gift from The Container Store. Thank you for this giveaway & Merry Christmas!
Charlene says
Very creative ideas! Love them all,especially using leftover scrap paper in a thoughtful way.
My favourite Christmas tradition is making Christmas morning breakfast casserole with my family, after opening our gifts.
Kathi says
My favorite tradition is our Christmas dinner with family. I make a rib roast along with many sides and desserts.
I’ve never tried The Container Store gift wrap, but I would certainly like to.
Charlotte says
Love your gift wrapping ideas. Wrapping gifts is my favorite thing to do at Christmas, too and I’m always looking for ideas to take them up a notch. Will definitely borrow some of yours. My favorite Christmas tradition is wrapping presents and watching a Christmas movie, or baking cookies from old family recipes. Thanks for all the inspiration. merry Christmas!
Schae says
Beautiful ideas! I haven’t started gift wrapping yet, but I’m extra motivated now!
My favorite Christmas tradition is celebrating with family friends on Christmas Eve. Church, soup and appetizers, a gift swap, and games until late in the night make for a day that we all look forward to every year…and it just so happens to be my husbands birthday too!
Cindy says
Favorite game for guests! Ask each guest to write down how many ornaments are on the Christmas tree. The closet to correct wins a small gift!
People love it and it gets everyone looking at your beautiful tree!
Karina says
Beautiful gift wrapping ideas! I wish I had that kind of wrapping dedication! My favorite Christmas tradition is the tree decorating…listening to good music and spending time with family.
Jill Spencer says
I love the Container Store gift wrap, too! I have been using it exclusively for years. My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Brunch with my family.
Tamara says
Kris, your ideas are genius! I’m working on a gift wrap post and I am so inspired by all of these amazing details you covered! My favorite tip is using the scraps – that is so smart and takes the gift to a whole new level! I love all of the beautiful choices The Container store offers – your gifts are all so perfectly coordinated! You are so good my friend!! xo
Carolyn Hatfield says
I enjoy all your posts full of so many great ideas, suggestions, and shopping advice. For those of us who are not artful, you are a real inspiration. My favorite Christmas tradition is hanging the handmade ornaments made by my grandmother 50 years ago. I have stored them carefully all these years and they are just as beautiful today as the day she made them. Takes me back to my childhood.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Lindsey Murphy says
I love making cookies & sharing them with friends and family. Thanks, Kris. I love your blog!
Penny says
What beautiful gift wrapping ideas. I am a red and green gal, and I like printed kraft wrapping papers. I love making my own gift tags and I use the Christmas cards I receive each year to make tags and new cards for the next year, as well as scrapbook tags.
Our tradition is that I make candy and cookies for gift giving. We open gifts on Christmas morning, then gather in the evening with other family for dinner. I like to fix something that morning to hold us over and this year it’s eggnog French toast with apple brandy-caramel sauce.
Thank you for sharing all your wonderful decorating ideas with us all year long!