I think it’s funny that of all the things in the world I have to decide upon, it’s wrapping paper that comes easiest. An idea will come to me and and that is that. No flip-flopping, no weighing pros and cons, just this is what I want and now I need to go find it.
This year couldn’t have been any easier. I wanted simple kraft paper I could stamp, a thin velvet ribbon, and sprigs from the organic rosemary bush we brought back with us from our last trip to the Tuscan countryside. Not really. Forgive me for poking fun; I get a chuckle from some of the things I read online. The rosemary has been here since we moved in and is completely overgrown. Lucky for me, it thrives under steady neglect.
I wanted a thin white velvet ribbon but everything was picked over and gone. I found this red one on clearance at Michael’s, and I actually like it better. The stamp was also on clearance at Michael’s, but I swear I had a different one picked out. This is what I found in my bag, and I think it looks great. The ink is a really pretty Galaxy Gold by Tsukineko, which you also find at Michael’s. Are you sensing a theme? Clearance rack. Michael’s. Get yee there. The ink is discreet and shimmery, not at all the egg yolk you see here. I just fiddled with the color a bit so you could see the lettering.
I once read on a design blog that to keep your wrapping organized, you should create for yourself a “signature wrapping,” like a signature perfume or lipstick. Doesn’t that sound neat? I always wanted a “signature” something. The idea is to have one wrapping paper pattern or style and ribbon for all occasions. This allows you to buy in bulk and save money, but even what you buy takes very little storage as it is only one roll and a spool or two. I always thought that was a pretty slick idea. I think my signature wrapping will be kraft paper, simple ribbon, and a stamp. The stamp will allow me to mix things up a bit, as will the ribbon. Kraft paper you can buy for pennies in bulk, so it’s cost effective, but really I just love the look.
Nicholas’s teacher has a son, so I gave her a childhood classic in a snazzy cover. I hope she likes it as much as Nicholas loved giving it to her. You’ve never seen such excitement! He really got a kick out of it, even though in the picture above he was more focused balancing the book on his belly without dropping it.
What a unique gift! I love everything my students give me, but something like this would really stand out. Good job Jules, and love the paper!
We must’ve read the same book/article/blog/whatever about signature wrapping because I’m enamored of the idea as well. Except… that my current signature wrapping can be described as “Carefully recycled wrapping from previously received gifts.”
Also-Nicholas is adorable. How can you handle that face every day?
It’s gorgeous! I actually got a stamp this year as well, figuring it would be great for tags or for stamping directly on packages like this. Looking forward to using it, now that I see how great yours turned out.
I was looking for velvet ribbon the other week and kept coming up empty. Did velvet ribbon go out of style and no one told me? It wasn’t even that they were out, there weren’t any spaces for it in the ribbon area. I did manage to find some red and some maroon in the holiday area, but no pretty silvery greys or anything else. I’ll be heading over to my fancy-schmancy clothing fabric store (F&S), where I know for a fact that they still stock a ton of it.
You know, now that I think about it…only red was available and I assumed the others were sold out. I think velvet ribbon is out of fashion right now, but I love it. Another blogger and I were going to go somewhere in LA next week to buy giant supply in bulk. I wonder if it’s the same place you are going to.
I love it too. You guys are probably getting it from somewhere downtown, if you’re doing bulk (smart!). I’m usually too lazy to drive across town, so I just buy it from F&S on the westside. Not cheap, but reasonable.
I WILL not order each and every one of those books, I will NOT order each and every one of those books, I will not ORDER each and every one of those books….sigh…okay, I won’t order them TODAY.
i love kraft paper and twine together; it’s what i did last year, and the in-laws gave me rave reviews (which trust me, is rare). this look would be a way to mix it up a little, but i’m starting to panic: where can i find kraft paper last minute?? i can’t seem to find it anywhere. have i waited too late??
Michael’s has it in a big roll. You can always do parcel paper, too, which is dirt cheap and available at any office supply store. I actually prefer parcel paper (it’s thicker) but since I was stamping, Kraft was better. Parcel paper is more fibrous, and I was afraid I wouldn’t get a clean stamp.
I bought kraft packing paper too then realized all my son’s Santa gifts are wrapped in kraft paper and if I wrap our regular gifts that way, well the jig may be up. I’ll keep if for when he ceases to believe shouldn’t be too much longer. : (
:( I know, we have yucky cheap-o paper that Santa is using this year.
I was JUST thinking about signature wrapping this morning! i remember reading about it in Domino in an article about things rich/fancy people do. since i would like to be both of those things I’ve been thinking about signature paper wrapping ever since. i just can’t figure out what wrapping paper says, “Asher”. sounds so silly when i type it. :) i like your kraft paper though. hmm. as for the Santa paper mentioned in the comments…he never wraps things at our house. (nor did he for me as a kid) he just creates the best display possible from the kids’ perspective. hey, he’s been up all night dragging toys around. he leaves the wrapping for the gifts under the tree. :)
I love that! Simple, but elegantly so. Very nice. Also, as a paper fiend, I can’t believe it never occurred to me to have a signature wrapping, but I love that idea and am so glad you mentioned it! Now, to go consider my options …
I always look forward to your gifts that you give me but I truly do appreciate your wrapping talents. Your wrapped presents are so pretty, it is difficult to open them and knowingly wreck that paper perfection….sometimes :-).
“… and sprigs from the organic Rosemary bush we brought back with us from our last trip to the Tuscan countryside. Not really. Forgive me for poking fun, but I just get a chuckle from some of the things I read online. ”
This is perhaps the wittiest thing ever penned in the blog-o-sphere world! So true.
Lol, I just went to Michael’s this weekend and pretty much bought the same thing (even the ink color) we are the same same.
Ah man, I was going to do a wrapping paper post this weekend too, and I am also using kraft paper! If I decide to do it, I promise I am not copying you ;) Actually I am using painter’s paper which is almost the same except a bit thinner. I ran out of kraft paper and didn’t feel like running out to Staples to get more, so the painter’s paper is sufficing just nice. I am using grosgrain ribbon though instead of velvet in a gorgeous red, peach and chocolate brown color. I adore your take on it with the velvet and the rosemary sprigs, so chic and simple! LOVE IT! You’ve got great taste lady.
p.s. I love the bit on the organic rosemary from Tuscany. When I read that I “almost” did an eye-roll, but then I saw the just kidding and I thought, “ah, that’s better.” :) One of my biggest pet peeves is when people constantly label all their food offerings as organic, “Oh hear, I have organic coffee to serve you.” Like, would I really not drink it if it wasn’t organic?
I used to wrap in kraft paper and Zoe, queen of sparkle and sequins, said it was “barfy”. It is not barfy, I love it and think nine year olds are should not be allowed to have opinions. :)
I was totally thinking about you today and wrapping paper. Remember last year when you bought the cute paper at Staples? I went and bought all they had the day after Christmas for like 75 cents a roll.
P.S. The book is a genius gift. Love it.
Simple wrapping-check, easy is nice this time of year.
I got a chuckle out over rosemary, “a plant that thrives on neglect”! That’s the kind of gardening I do. Here Rosemary doesn’t make it past the first frost :( But I have oregano that we planted 20 years ago. No matter how many times I move it, voila back again.
I love your package … so classic and fabulous. I also love the idea of a signature look … I just can never seem to settle on one … sigh.
… I love your package … that sounds so wrong …
LMAO!
Oh, don’t worry. Have you seen my boobs? I get that all the time. ;) (kidding. please!)
So funny – I had the very same idea this year! I got everything at Michael’s as well, but used lower-case alphabet stamps to write out various holiday phrases + the person’s name instead of using tags. Then I tied them up with white raffia and a gold bell. I love the look, too! Your velvet ribbon is so pretty.
Bottom of this post, you can see: http://throughkateslens.typepad.com/blog/2010/12/beginning-to-look-a-lot-like.html
Oh, I LOVE it!
Thanks! Hoping my gift-receivers do, too.
Very elegant. I never would have thought to use rosemary. (Although, I missed the organic rosemary sarcasm at first, which probably means I need to take a hard look at the blogs I’ve been reading. Ha!)
And I completely agree about the Michael’s clearance aisle. I just posted about my gift wrap for this year and was able to stick to an extremely tight budget (less than $6) thanks to the super sales and 40% off coupons.
I’m obsessed with wrapping with craft paper too. EVERYTHING gets wrapped in craft paper – baby presents, wedding presents, Christmas presents, birthdays – EVERYTHING. My Christmas presents this year have beautiful tartan plaid ribbon and holly berry wreath picks. I’ll have to do some stamping next year.
I gotta say, it beats the hell out of a particular teacher gift I received. ;)
Love the wrapping. Also love to know that other people in the world are as OCD about wrapping paper as I am. Not only must all of my presents match each other, but they must also match my tree (silver aluminum tree with red and aqua ornaments).
Unrelated side note: Your boys have the MOST beautiful eyelashes.
I’m obsessed with wrapping with craft paper too. EVERYTHING gets wrapped in craft paper – baby presents, wedding presents, Christmas presents, birthdays – EVERYTHING. My Christmas presents this year have beautiful tartan plaid ribbon and holly berry wreath picks. I’ll have to do some stamping next year.
I LOVE this idea- my FIL often uses the Sunday paper comics for wrapping (though they are always “From Santa”) and also likes to reuse boxes…so sometimes it’s really a palm sander, and other times, a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. His gifts are always fun to open.
And I absolutely loved it! I don’t like to open gifts in front of people, so once I got home I opened it in private and started to cry- it was such a meaningful gift and you could sense the love put into with the wrapping. I admit it- I even saved the wrapping and ribbon, we couldn’t keep the rosemary for ever, but we used it as an aromatic in the kitchen… Thanks again for the great gift and the idea of a signature wrap!