All Wrapped Up

It's getting towards that time of year again!

find the tutorial for this bow - HERE

As much as I try to pretend it's not happening, the dreaded C word is starting to crop up more and more.  The shops are already stocking cards and chocolates.  I find myself pushing my trolley past those aisles with a certain quickness to my step.  The past few years I've begun to dread Christmas more and more.  The sheer commercialness of it all totally depresses me. 

What happened to the Christmas of my childhood?  Carol singers and candle-light.  The nativity play when we could all have a good snigger at the crappy home-made costumes, and the child (usually one of mine) who said something wholly inappropriate half way through.  It's not that long ago - but already things have changed.  Nowadays the costumes are available to purchase from every supermarket. 

Where's the fun in that?  Who wants to see a cloned Nativity?  

Personally I'd much rather see a tea-towel head-dress or grandads tweed flat cap called into service.  And nothing beats a shepherd wearing his dad's Barbour down to his ankles (because his dressing gown is too ratty for public viewing).  Or a king wearing a wonky paper crown that slips over his head at regular intervals.  I could go on here at great length......  can you tell just how bad my costume efforts were?  I'm not prepared to divulge my Mary disaster.  Maybe one day, after wine.  And I may also slip in the bit about the rehearsal when a child (thank goodness it wasn't one of mine) actually did a poo in the middle of the church aisle.  That was hilarious!

Image found on Pinterest, via google - no link available

Anyway - perhaps I should actually start writing about what I intended to when I began this post.  Christmas wrapping.  I did my own DIY wrapping last year and was rather pleased with the result.  It's amazing how good a cheap roll of brown wrapping paper and household string can look with the minimum of time spent.  The addition of a stamp here and there and the odd button or two - and the finished package can look particularly classy.  And seeing as my efforts involved PVA glue in lieu of sticky tape, my gifts were also virtually impossible to open, and made for much amusement (on my part) come the great Christmas Day present opening flurry.

I can't do exactly the same again this year, so I've been merrily pinning away on Pinterest to source some inspiration.  And what loveliness have I discovered!  Not sure I can be bothered with the faff of making soming of these - my goodness, there's one or two that are so beautiful I doubt I could be parted with them.  What do you think?  Wouldn't these all look lovely around the Christmas tree. (until the cat gets hold of them anyway). 

If there's a tuturial for any of these makes, I have included it as a link under each photo.

from The Party Studio

 

How sweet and simple is this little wrapping?  I'm loving the edging to the bags, and assuming you need special paper scissors to create it.  I don't possess those, so my version would replace this edging with a strip of vintage lace glued into place.

by Nora Griffin

Another simple, yet very effective wrapping.  The link provides no instructions - but should be very easy to replicate.  I'm loving the little coloured doily.  I haven't come across any of these locally, so may have to do some online investigation.  I suppose a white one would look equally pretty, particularly if I replaced the wool bow with a festive length of ribbon.

No tutorial - but DO check out the fabulous blog post. ADORABLE!

This is my favourite wrapping so far.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Incredibly simple - and just so effective.  The simple doily, the naive tag with it's cut out heart.  The gingham tie and ribbon.  The newspaper wrapping!  Now wrapping doesn't come much cheaper than this - and it is hard to beat on attractiveness.  Don't forget to look at the link for this photo, it's darling.  I've found another blog to add to my reading list!

*My own newspaper wrapping tip!

Throughout the year, if you see any amusing headlines, articles, or cartoons that you know would appeal to a friend or relative, rip them out and save in a box.  These are truly brilliant for adding to a brown paper package as a way of personalizing a gift.  The one I'm most proud of at the moment is the "YOU OLD GIT" headline that I found for my father-in-law.

by L'il Magoolie

 What about these sweet little packaging boxes?  They're quite charming, and wouldn't they be perfect to hang on the Christmas tree?  I don't think I have the patience to make them myself, but I do think they're lovely.  The tutuorial is on the link, and they look quite simple.  I can see so many uses for these.  On the tree, hanging on a garland - or with chocolates inside and stacked as a pyramid on a pretty plate.

You know what - I've talked myself into making some now!

by Miss Fancy Pants

Another great little packaging idea.  Okay - so the photo may be an Easter theme - but would look delightful in Christmas guise.  The template with clear instructions are beautifully written by Miss Fancy Pants (great title for a blog - may change mine to Mrs Big Pants).  These boxes are really dinky, and ideal for tiny gifts or tree treats.  

I'm not into paper crafts at all - and yet I find myself fighting the urge to go out and buy Christmas papers this afternoon!  Will be sitting on my hands for the rest of the day.

by Tara Anderson?

Now if you have the patience of a saint, and far too much time on your hands - you could be making some tags like these.   I absolutely LOVE this.  Forget any present - just give me the tag.  Beautiful, dainty, pretty, vintage, shabby chic, inpsired awesomeness.  I could go on.  I found this little lovely on Pinterest, and had a devil of a job to trace back the original post via half-baked links.  I am hoping that I have found the source in Tara Anderson.  Now click on my link to her flickr page - and try and tell me you haven't fallen instantly in love!  ................. toddling off to find her Etsy store later!

It's hard to follow that one, and I've been blathering on for ages as per normal.  So I shall bring this blog post to a close.  Sorry if I've depressed you about bringing you Christmas in September, but if you haven't been bombarded yet - where have you been?  

And where is it exactly - I'm coming to join you.

I have to be organised this year.....  I will not find myself wrapping presents in a snivelling sorry-for-myself drunken manner on Christmas Eve AGAIN.    Everyone is having a home-made pressie whether they like it or not.  It will be wrapped beautifully (at least the first few will.  After those the wine effect will no doubt take it's toll.) 

I shall end with these luscious little labels, which are available for free download...... and if you can't find something you like out of that little lot, it's a bad job!

over 135 sheets worth of printable labels!

 My final "Desperate Measures" wrapping tip 

If all else fails on the wrapping front......

If you've run out of sticky tape......

You've bought awkward presents impossible to wrap.........

or you're just too sozzled to care if it's wrapped or not........

Do not despair!

You can always do what I did one year......   Wrap everything in Bacofoil.  Nothing else required.  It squidges around everything beautifully, and sparkles wonderfully under the tree.   You'll get a few funny looks from superior relatives, but you'll have everything wrapped and ready in under half an hour.  Result!