Monday 14 December 2009

The Christmas wrapping dilemma!!




Each year I spend far too long thinking about my wrapping paper.

Now I don't know about you but I must confess that I am a wrapping paper snob. I truly believe that the way a present is wrapped indicates the thought and care that has gone into it and is just as important as what is inside!!

And for Christmas, the present also becomes part of our decorations, spending several days under our trees before being unwrapped.

Last year I bought a giant roll of brown paper along with 100 metres of brown grosgrain ribbon and a circle punch to make my own gift tags out of cream card with buttons and hand drawn stitching. Quite a rustic look, and I was really happy with how the pressies looked, but oh my god, the tags alone took forever and I really don't think anyone really appreciated it apart from my sister who is a fellow crafter! 




This year I planned to make my own paper (red paper with handprinted white polka dots) but had to admit defeat last week when I accepted that I really didn't have the time to do this. So then I searched around for unusual and beautiful (and affordable) handmade or designer wrapping paper - to no avail!! If anyone knows of a good supplier do please let me know!!

My search ended up in Sainsburys where my other half made me choose there and then (knowing how fussy and annoying I am about wrapping paper!!). My final choice was half green damask foiled paper and hot pink and green damask to compliment. The tag selections were awful so I bought plain silver and am jazzing them up with bits of the wrapping paper. Then of course there is the ribbon - a costly detail, but I just couldn't resist - this year I opted for thin velvet ribbon in pinks, purples, greens and kingfisher blues.

Am I one of the last remaining gift wrap snobs? Is it crazy spending so much time and money on something that just gets ripped open and thrown away!?

7 comments:

  1. No...I love to wrap well, to see all the prezzies sparkle, I must admit it is a let down when you get something in cheap paper (not saying the prezzie isn't cheap), no tag, bow, string, or anything. I would even prefere my prezzies came wrapped in newspaper and and a string bow! anything different.Kx

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  2. I'm with you all the way! I start to hyperventilate when my other half starts shoving the discarded wrappings into a bin liner after family gatherings!

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  3. I agree -- wrapping paper is a very important matter!

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  4. Do you know what? I used to care, but after one too many Christmas Eve wrapping frenzies, I now LOVE in store gift wrapping.

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  5. Absolutely not! You are not alone. We're pretty much obsessed with wrapping to the point that my bf laughs at me. I've hand stamped my paper, stitched, cut, sewn, baubled, & bedazzled, and it's exactly like you say, no one really appreciates it (except for fellow crafters in the family) but really it gives me such IMMENSE satisfaction to see a pile of gorgeously martha-esque presents that I pretend it's for others when really it's for me :)

    HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!! & Yay for beautiful things at special times of year. I figure the more effort the more special it is, otherwise why bother right?

    thea.
    xx

    www.spoonfulzine.com
    www.forthevisionaries.tumblr.com

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  6. Thanks everyone for the lovely comments! The presents went down a treat - even though I in some way felt like I had copped out by buying high street wrapping paper - I realised that it isn't about where your paper is from - it's about your choice of paper, how you team it with other papers, what tags you use, how neatly you wrap and any ribbons you decide to use. All these little elements can add up to a wonderful and exciting gift (as opposed to something that looks like it was wrapped by the dog!!) :0)

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  7. I'm totally a wrapping snob. I printed red snowflakes onto brown paper this year. Wrapped each parcel with red ribbons and finished with a couple of big jingle bells. I know my family appreciated it, and everyone hung the bells on their Christmas trees afterwards.

    I have received many a present that looks like it was wrapped by the dog mind you!

    Happy New year (I'm very late with my blog reading!)

    Monda
    x

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