http://pinterest.com/pamhowcroft/wrap-it-up/

This Pinterest board has all sorts of ideas for gift wrapping and color combinations.

Here is my inspiration (actually a cake) for gift wrapping paper color and I love the POP of dark brown in the cones with faux snow! (Martha Stewart)

Beautiful wrap ideas. Love the "map wrap"!

I like that one too annie!

A little mind exercise is good for us before planning our decorations and what to do with last year's stuff!

There were some interesting ideas and great color combinations on that page. Thanks for sharing it.

Gracie,
I know, good to look at things with a different purpose.
I love seeing the creativity that people come up with!

I like that blue one -- that is really pretty. I'm a traditionalist. Buy BIG rolls of gold paper and then find pretty ribbons at Costco in reds, golds, greens to tie into bows on the package. I like a unified look. DD likes a hodge podge and almost no two packages looking alike!

Martha

I just HAVE to comment how awesome that cake is!!! I sure would hate to cut into such an incredible work of art and that's coming from a cake-a-holic.

Martha,
I have a large roll of my standard paper in silver, I was using silver and gold ribbons or red.
I have also used brown paper bag type paper and natural decoration on it.

Froo,
I AGREE! I thought that cake was awesome!

This year I bought both white and brown (shipping) paper. This is cost effective and versatile. I splurged on pretty, seasonal, wired ribbons to embellish tho I saved 50 percent per spool. The white paper is more "dressy" while the brown is more. "Homespun". I bought red/green plaid and red deer on tan ribbon for the brown paper. I can use any color ribbon on the white paper. Btw, I can add things like pine branches, pine cones, holly, to the brown packages. Raffia, braided trim, rope, shoe laces, rick-rack are some of the optional ties for the brown paper. Lace ribbon or trim, velvet, metallic cords or ribbons, bead edged ribbon, lame ribbon, satin ribbons, curly ribbon are some options for ties on the white paper. Including a gift on the package creates a gift in a gift. Examples of those are...
WRAPPING A PACKAGE IN A SCARF, HANKIE, OR FABRIC BAG
USING A JEWERY BOX OR COOKIE TIN TO CONTAIN A GIFT
ATTACHING AN ORNAMENT OR MINI PICTURE FRAME TO THE BOW (BTW, BOTH CAN SERVE AS NAME TAG)
ATTACHING A BROACH TO THE CENTER OF THE BOW
ATTACHING A COOKIE CUTTER, NAPKIN RINGS, OR OTHER SMALL THEME GIFT TO THE BOW
PLACING GIFT ITEMS INSIDE A BOWL, MUG, TRAY, MASON JAR OR OTHER RELATED VESSEL(COVER W/SHRINK WRAP OR PRETTY DISH TOWEL
PLACE A GIFT CARD TO A HOME CENTER INSIDE A TOOL BOX
ETC.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Froo Froo,

In years past I used to make corsages ahead of time. I would use card stock and make oval shapes, some I covered with tin foil others got painted or covered. Then I would hot glue ribbons and all sorts of stuff (in my 'stuff box' was all kinds of glittered items and seasonal ribbons, etc.) and I would create these corsages and save them. So, when I had a gift to wrap, I wrapped the box or whatever and put the basic ribbon on and hot glue the corsage on the ribbon and was done! The gift tag would match and the string get glued at this time as well.

I also made mini corsages and sometimes added them to the top as well for larger gifts.

I did this one year and was asked to make some for a few stores in my area. It was FUN to make them all ahead of time. The customers just pointed to the 'bow' assembly I had made as a corsage and the paper, made gift wrapping fast and easy but looked complicated when all put together!

I till use this for my gift wrapping, where I can put layers of decorations as a corsage and then just add to the top after wrapping.

IF I put together a corsage, I will post a photo of it. My Christmas stock of 'stuff' is not reachable at this time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

Mary Ruth, I was going to add that I like the juxtaposition of combining brown wrapping paper with lace, satin or velvet ribbon. It's unexpected and refreshing. Your idea to add a corsage is a pretty idea too. It can later adorn a collar or simply placed on a vanity alongside perfume bottles on a mirrored tray. Optionally, a single silk stem or flower head can be added to a gift package. In the case of a flower head, a pin or hair comb can be attached to the back to wear on a fabric purse, hat, coat or in the hair. A small bouquet can take the place of a bow atop a ladies' or young girl's gift.

Great ideas Froo!

quote:

I like a unified look

I do too but the problem is when others bring gifts in and the wrappings are not unified with your wrappings. . . so it is an impossible task!

I will do the photo present wrappings again this year as it makes transporting, identifying and everything else so much easier.

I realized last night that I first did this in 1992, which is when this pic is from. See the bathing beauty in the middle? That is DMIL, so she was still with us then. This first year I spent a lot of time embellishing the pictures and the packages. Now it is just one photo!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

LOS,
I remember you showing this style of yours before. I LOVE IT! What a great way to wrap and identify who the gift belongs to! You did use all sepia/black and white (greyed) then red and white. It all matches so beautifully!

I did that year but have changed it out. Now I just keep the pics and re-use. But I am working on another photo idea which I will post when done.

LOS, I love the personalization via photos on wrapped gifts too. Very special!

A slide show of more ideas...
http://www.countryliving.com/c...apping-ideas#slide-1


Martha Stewart's inspiration:
http://www.marthastewart.com/2...ntas-workshop#232742


Etc.
http://www.topdesignmag.com/30...gift-wrapping-ideas/

http://myblessedlife.net/2011/...-wrapping-ideas.html

http://www.goodhousekeeping.co...ay-gift-wrap#slide-1


THAT'S A WRAP!

where did you get the beige and white shipping papers? How much did it cost.

My college roommate and her husband were very imaginative. One year they wrapped all packages with the beige paper and put red and white checked ribbon on them. The effect was STUNNING.

The brown wrapping paper is really shipping paper or butcher's paper and is found in dollar stores, Walmart, Staples and others. The white might be found in these places too.

Found another idea that would work with the brown paper! this could be done for ANY occasion!

Stamp 'photos' can be found online, printed and glued to the package.

http://www.thenester.com/2012/...imple-gift-wrap.html

I found this blog that showed an example of the 'corsage' type gift tops I mentioned here. The top corsages can be made ahead of time and then just use double tape or glue as each gift is wrapped.

Love, Lu

I get mine at Michaels, always with a coupon and it's not expensive at all. They have both natural tan and white and it's fabulous quality, generous rolls and can be used for gifts other than Christmas. I have faux gifts for decoration only in the white paper under a bedroom tree toward the end of this blog post.

http://alwaysnesting.blogspot....ug-in-their-bed.html

http://www.eddieross.com/eddie...wrapping-paper.html#



Had to post this idea for gift wrapping! Could be done with brown paper as well. Great idea for year round quick way to get special custom paper!