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!
Esther says
Love your gift wrapping ideas. Nowadays, I’m in to gift bags, although they are all color-coordinated.
I have several traditions.1) Making tamales. Family & friends help, & the reward is eating them on Christmas Eve. 2) Giving my 4 godsons their annual Christmas ornaments. They’re now ages 25-37, so they’ve got quite a few! 3) Decorating my own tree using ornaments I’ve inherited from my mom & grandma. Some of them are 80+ years old! And of course, watching It’s A Wonderful Life!
Lisa says
I love wrapping gifts, too and you’ve shared some wonderful new ideas that i’m going to try. Thank you! One of my favorite Christmas traditions is taking Christmas cards to a nearby rehab center and visiting with the residents who don’t have family living nearby. It’s the highlight of my December.
maureen richards says
My favorite tradition is going to Macy’s in downtown Chicago to the Walnut Room where a two-story Christmas tree is displayed! The Walnut Room is a classic and iconic restaurant for lunch and it has been operating since the old Marshall Field days.
Kelly says
Oh I used to love going to Chicago for Christmas shopping…glad to hear some of the traditions are still maintained even with corporate changes.
MONISHA says
A favorite tradition is the day after thanksgiving getting out all of the decorations and decorating the house while sipping on hot cocoa and listening to christmas carols.
Rebecca Addison says
Love all the gift wrapping ideas! I have always loved wrapping presents at Christmas too..I need to be like you though and wrap as I go so I won’t be dreading the 50th or so present I wrap on Christmas Eve.? I guess my favorite Christmas tradition is putting my nativity up..it just doesn’t feel “Christmas” until I see that sweet scene on my piano.
Karen Davies says
Inspiring gift-wrapping ideas! My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating gingerbread houses, a tradition that began 15 years ago with my 5-year-old niece and continues today with my grandchildren!
Deb says
Love your wrapping tips!
One of my favorite new traditions is going to the craft fair in Frederick MD with friends on Black Friday to do some Christmas shopping. There are many handmade items like jewelry and a ton of small businesses selling their wares with unexpected and unique items that make great and often very useful gifts that I never would have expected to find or even thought of.
Stephanie R says
Decorating the tree while listening to Christmas music
Cope Kamlowsky says
Favorite Christmas tradition – early mass on Christmas Eve, followed by family dinner, and everyone gets to open one gift! Christmas morning breakfast of “monkey bread” and opening gifts, then later brunch and the best Bloody Marys ever made by my oldest son! The rest of the day is spent chillin’ with the family and enjoying our time together!
Anne says
I love to wrap presents and really enjoyed seeing your wrapping ideas! I am always on the lookout for inexpensive ornaments that I can use to embellish presents when wrapping!
One of my family’s traditions was to have my dad wrap a present that we were allowed to open early IF we could guess what it was by reading the clues he had prepared for each day during the week leading up to Christmas. We rarely guessed, but his clues were always genius! He continued the tradition with the grandchildren until he passed away. When my grandchildren get older, I hope to carry on this tradition!
Lucy Whitehead says
Love your wrapping ideas! At our house we know the Christmas season is here when we receive our wreath from my sister-in-law. She has been sending them for years and it’s how our decorating begins.
Alison Lawrence says
Merry Christmas and thank you for encouraging your readers to share their traditions! What great ideas! Crafting cards and small gifts for Meals on Wheels recipients has become my favorite holiday tradition. At the library where I work, patrons of all ages gather one night each December to “craft for a cause”. It always puts me in the holiday spirit.
Julie Spear says
This is the best wrapping how-to post EVER! No wonder they loved your beautiful gifts, so many clever ideas here – plus i am always LOVE sparkly metallics, so i totally indulge that weakness for the holidays! My favorite holiday tradition is decorating our tree with ornaments we have had since my 3 (grown) boys were babies, and so many that they made when they were little! They love pulling them all out, finding their favorites, and sharing our memories…i hope they will always come home and do this with me – and then bring the future grandbabies!!
Danielle England says
We have a tradition of making ornaments out of felt. This year my son and I made polar bear ornaments with scarves on. So cute.
Nancy Dempsey says
My favorite Christmas tradition is baking the nut rolls that have been enjoyed by my family for decades. Lots of work and great memories.
Thanks for sharing the gift wrapping ideas. I especially like numbers seven and eight. I think I’ll have to give them a try!
Joanna says
I love to wrap gifts! I sit on the floor with all my presents, wrapping paper and accoutrements, my Christmas in the background, and a rum & eggnog. Oh, it’s a merry time!
Love all your wrapping tips! That gift bag would make any gift special and the recipient can use it next year (recycling – bonus).
Christmas is all about traditions. Cutting down our fresh tree and coming home to hot chocolate. Driving around looking at all the Christmas lights. Christmas Eve church, Christmas morning stockings while Bing sings those old Christmas songs, and a big turkey dinner that leaves is all too full to move.