Hi friends.  The last few days have been a struggle.  I’ve been working on this gift wrap post up for days but my photos weren’t loading so I haven’t been able to publish this post.  I think I’ve got the bugs fixed now so here’s the long-awaited post, just in time for a weekend gift wrapping marathon. 

**disclaimer:  Reliant Ribbon sent me some amazing ribbons to use for my holiday gift wrap post, but all words, opinions and gift wrap inspiration is mine.

I’ve had a passion for wrapping gifts for years and love to go the extra mile when creating beautiful packages.  If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I have somewhat of an obsession with pretty wrapping paper and ribbon. And a fun embellishment is usually part of my gift wrap formula too.

Today I’m going to share a few Christmas gifts that I wrapped along with some tips to help you give your holiday wrap a little extra pizzazz!

May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive,
which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love.  ~ L.O. Baird

When I started planning my Christmas theme earlier this year, I knew I wanted to keep my holiday gift wrap simple.  This year it was going to be all about the ribbon, paper and fun accents.

FYI–I use my DIY Gift Wrap Crate to keep all of my holiday wrapping supplies organized and in one place. And after the holidays I’ll switch out the paper and ribbon for spring and summer gift giving.  ***Need a last minute Christmas gift?  The gift wrap crate is a simple project that would be great for someone who loves to wraps.

Ok, let’s get into the details of my wrap…

All of the wrapping paper that I used this year is from HomeGoods.  They have an awesome selection of holiday wrapping paper and you can’t beat the price.  When I’m shopping for gift wrap, especially at Christmas, I like to buy patterns and colors that can be used year-round.  Polka Dots, stripes, plaids and subtle patterns are what I shop for.   With non-seasonal wrapping paper, I use inexpensive embellishments to reflect the season or gift-giving occasion.

My ribbon this year is from one of my favorite ribbon sources, Reliant Ribbon.  Reliant Ribbon is a family owned wholesale ribbon company that sells a wide range of craft and floral ribbon.  They have over 15,000 different ribbon styles so there is literally something for every gift wrap and decorating need.

♦  CREATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP INSPIRATION ♦

One of my favorite gift wrapping tricks is to combine two or more ribbons to create a layered look. Here I layered a narrow red and white striped ribbon on top of a wide solid red ribbon.  The embellishments are mini red and green mercury glass ornaments I bought at Steve McKenzie’s.  These ornaments are great as a package topper but can also be used to decorate a small tree or wreath.  p.s.  all holiday product at Steve McKenzie’s is 50% off through 12/31 with code: MERRY50 so it’s a great time to stock up for next year!

free printable gift tags

Another fun way I like to jazz up my holiday gift wrap is by tying a double bow with pretty satin ribbon.  To do this you will want to cut the ribbon extra long.  Wrap the ribbon around your box, tie the first bow then know the ribbon on top of that bow to secure it.  Now you can tie a second bow and add an embellishment.

I love using unexpected materials to wrap gifts.  This year I had the idea of using faux fur as a ribbon substitute.  I headed to JoAnn Fabric and found this gorgeous white faux fur trim which was sold by the yard.  I cut a piece long enough to wrap around my box and secured it with a satin ribbon bow.  tip:  a brown or black faux fur is a great ribbon alternative for a men’s gift. 

Did you know that a lot of woven ribbons can be curled using the blade of your scissors.  #oldschooltrick Curls are a great way to make your gift wrap more festive.  And don’t be afraid to combine and curl multiple ribbons together which can create a really fun topper.

faux boxwood garland from Target Dollar Spot // Merry Christmas gift tags

When it comes to holiday gift tags, I use traditional Christmas tags as well as items I find in the craft aisle at Michaels.  The JOY tag below is part of a 60 piece Holiday Chipboard Quote Set used for scrapbooking.  The tiny tags are perfect for adding a little whimsy to your gift wrap.

holly leaf embellishment from Hobby Lobby

Using ornaments as an embellishment is not a new idea but how you use them can be.  Instead of tying this wreath ornament to the ribbon, I tied a knot in the ribbon and bunched the ends in the center of the wreath. I love the way this looks on a round gift box.

free printable gift tags

One of the tips I share when I teach my gift wrap workshops is to to never throw away scrap pieces of wrapping paper or ribbon.  Scrap ribbon can be used to wrap a small box or combined with another ribbon for layering.  On the box below, I used a piece of scrap ribbon along with a left over Christmas card to decorate the box. 

Creative gift wrapping is equal parts the items you wrap with and how you use those items.  All it takes to create beautifully wrapped gifts is thinking outside the box (pun intended).

  I hope you found these wrapping tips and my Christmas gift wrap inspirational.  Be sure to stop by my Instagram feed tomorrow because I’ll be sharing a few last-minute wrapping ideas.