Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

Greggers · 19th Dec 2009, 11:11 AM

Now i dont know about everyone else, but for me wrapping my presents is an art form. I like to make it look REALLY pretty. Granted it just gets torn off right away, sob, but i still for some reason feel the need to pretty it up.

So anyone have their own special way to spice things up from the traditional Christmas theme bag or single wrapping + bow?

Here are some things i do:

- Flip the wrapping paper around if the "Wrong" side looks kind of cool (I have this red paper that when its flipped glitters all funny)
- Wrap my gifts in white paper and stamp/color/decorate it myself
- Wrap my gifts in Tin-foil (then use felts or metalic bows/ribbons. Mmm, cost effective!)
- Decorate with origami (This is an easy one to spice up your wrapping: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/Origami%20Heart.pdf)
- Gift my presents in a keepsake box/tin/ect. (This year i have these cute little decorative paint cans)

Shevanel · 19th Dec 2009, 11:14 AM

When it comes to wrapping, I do the minimum xD I don't really see a point in me doing extra work for anything else

mmilam75 · 19th Dec 2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SurferDude420

When it comes to wrapping, I do the minimum xD I don't really see a point in me doing extra work for anything else

Ditto. Since the paper will get torn anyway, I go for the minimal effort for maximum payoff route

**Corny** · 19th Dec 2009, 11:49 AM

Just usual wrapping paper.

**Ben** · 19th Dec 2009, 12:30 PM

I know someone who takes their wrapping off carefully and irons it to use for other things.

mmilam75 · 19th Dec 2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

I know someone who takes their wrapping off carefully and irons it to use for other things.

Wow - so much more effort than I would ever feel like putting in

pikachu1 · 19th Dec 2009, 08:18 PM

I actually wait till my mom and sister are done wrapping their gifts and use whats left of their wrapping paper(the scraps and ends and whatnot). My gifts always look terrible because of this but I can't stand to really waste anything.

flymetothemoon · 20th Dec 2009, 10:28 AM

I did something special for my boyfriend's but I'm not sure if I will do anything special for the others. For his, I wrapped it first in green scrapbook paper. I attached a note on another shade of green scrapbook paper to the top of the gift and wrote a note on it in red paint pen. Then I wrapped it again with regular wrapping paper and put a white ribbon on it. I decided to do this because the note was cute/cheesy/romantic-ish so it gave that side to a gift that was maybe not so romantic (a GPS). But usually I do gift wrap, ribbons, and personalized name tags made from scrapbooking stuff.

zoeee · 20th Dec 2009, 02:59 PM

use old newspapers as wrapping paper

looks pretty cool

**Lexington** · 20th Dec 2009, 08:41 PM

I remember last year, I printed out a bunch of pictures from the 70s/80s kids show Tomorrow People, taped them all together, and then used that as wrapping paper for my sister. The weird thing is I don't remember WHY I did it - I'm sure it had something to do with the gift, but I don't remember what that was, either...

Since most of my family uses standard Xmas wrapping paper, I sometimes use Hanukkah wrap instead. The blue makes my packages stand out in the sea of green and red.

For tags, I create my own using (oddly) a CD labeling program. The CD label sheets have these generic stickers on them that are ideal for To/From tags. Last year, I did a Google search for everybody's name, and picked whatever picture was on the main page that looked the coolest - that became the image next to the "To/From" info.

Lex

Astaroth · 20th Dec 2009, 11:06 PM

One year, when I had lost my mind, I bought white sheets and took food dyes and sort of sprinkled drops of color all over the sheets and then used that as wrapping "paper" of sorts. They ended up looking like square easter eggs for the most part, lol.

20th Dec 2009, 11:15 PM

i'm planning to not put my sisters gifts in a box and just crinkle up wrapping paper around it so that it looks like trash. then i'll put a nice sticker-bow on top.

the other one...normal.. last year though i gave her about 20 fake presents that was just stuff i found around the house, and hid them in various places so she had to find them all. it just so happened she opened the real present last.

the year before that i wrapped a present in solid duct tape.

**Maddy** · 20th Dec 2009, 11:20 PM

My dad once gave my mum a necklace, but he put it in about 6 different-sized boxes, wrapped the jewellery box in about four layers of paper, then wrapped the necklace in a tissue inside the jewellery box. Myself, I'm fairly traditional. I'm horrible at wrapping.

excuseyou77 · 21st Dec 2009, 08:16 AM

I've grown so dead set against wrapping... maybe it's because I suck at it. But I usually just get tissue paper, wrap the gifts in that and put them in gift bags.

But as anti-wrapping as I am now, I don't know what to do with the present for my 2 year old cousin. Part of me just wants to use a gift bag. The other part of me wants to see him tear open the wrapping to see the present; if that makes any sense, lol.

step49x · 21st Dec 2009, 02:35 PM

If it's an obvious gift (gift certificate, book, CD, etc), I try to disguise it. Last year, I gave both my siblings gift certificates. One was wrapped with a soup can. The other came in a prism-shaped box, and I'm pretty sure I included a few dead batteries.

My brother likes to shake the boxes and guess, so I like to make that difficult for him. :-D

Black Cat · 21st Dec 2009, 03:20 PM

As much as I love wrapping gifts, I am notoriously bad at it. I like to get creative with giving them out instead. I also like to give my siblings super complex clues about whatever I may be getting them that year. It's fun to watch them trying to figure out what they mean.

Mickey · 21st Dec 2009, 04:08 PM

Gift bags and gift boxes! I suck at wrapping!

rachob1 · 21st Dec 2009, 04:33 PM

i tend to make the gifts as difficult as possable to get into so they are all wrapped a tight as possable with foil type wrapping paper, then every edge is taped down so theres nowhere for the person to get hold of.

21st Dec 2009, 04:50 PM

I love wrapping gifts. There is nothing more satisfying than choosing out pretty wrapping paper, hearing that wonderful noise as you cut the paper so that it's just the right size. Then wrapping the gift perfectly so that all of the folds are crisp and the nice. Then you get to top it off with some ribbon and/or a bow. 'Tis glorious, and in the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a good thing."

21st Dec 2009, 05:15 PM

Me wrapping a present is like a cack handed goose trying to do it. Plenty of tape especially with some DVD that I bought for someone.

Stuck them together with industrial sticky tape because I'm that nice to her.

Also every nook and cranny in the paper has a bit of tape on it too.

19th Dec 2009, 11:11 AM	#1
Greggers Sunshine & Optimism ...also Angels. Full Member Gender: Theatre Queen Orientation: Disco Sticks Out Status: Everyone and a few more Location: BC, Canada Age: 21 Posts: 3,528 Join Date: Dec 2008	Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! Now i dont know about everyone else, but for me wrapping my presents is an art form. I like to make it look REALLY pretty. Granted it just gets torn off right away, sob, but i still for some reason feel the need to pretty it up. So anyone have their own special way to spice things up from the traditional Christmas theme bag or single wrapping + bow? Here are some things i do: - Flip the wrapping paper around if the "Wrong" side looks kind of cool (I have this red paper that when its flipped glitters all funny) - Wrap my gifts in white paper and stamp/color/decorate it myself - Wrap my gifts in Tin-foil (then use felts or metalic bows/ribbons. Mmm, cost effective!) - Decorate with origami (This is an easy one to spice up your wrapping: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/Origami%20Heart.pdf) - Gift my presents in a keepsake box/tin/ect. (This year i have these cute little decorative paint cans) __________________ "It's a male duck."

19th Dec 2009, 11:14 AM	#2
Shevanel One Is Light. One Is Dark. Full Member Gender: The Dude Orientation: Bi-Winning Out Status: Everybody and Your Mom. Location: Bolivar, Ohio (From NY though) Age: 21 Posts: 7,672 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! When it comes to wrapping, I do the minimum xD I don't really see a point in me doing extra work for anything else __________________ If there were no rewards to reap, No loving embrace to see me through this tedious path I've chosen here, I certainly would've walked away by now. Gonna wait it out... Be patient.

19th Dec 2009, 11:49 AM	#4
Corny Administrators EC Tech Admin Gender: Male Location: Germany (old europe) Age: 30 Posts: 799 Join Date: Dec 2004	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! Just usual wrapping paper.

19th Dec 2009, 12:30 PM	#5
Ben Was Invisible. EC Moderator Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Age: 20 Posts: 3,704 Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! I know someone who takes their wrapping off carefully and irons it to use for other things.

19th Dec 2009, 08:18 PM	#7
pikachu1 Well Known Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Family and Friends Location: Elgin,IL Age: 24 Posts: 110 Join Date: May 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! I actually wait till my mom and sister are done wrapping their gifts and use whats left of their wrapping paper(the scraps and ends and whatnot). My gifts always look terrible because of this but I can't stand to really waste anything. __________________ "It's all or nothing. There is no in between."

20th Dec 2009, 10:28 AM	#8
flymetothemoon EC Addict Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: It's not about gender, I just like people... Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Albany, NY Age: 25 Posts: 467 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! I did something special for my boyfriend's but I'm not sure if I will do anything special for the others. For his, I wrapped it first in green scrapbook paper. I attached a note on another shade of green scrapbook paper to the top of the gift and wrote a note on it in red paint pen. Then I wrapped it again with regular wrapping paper and put a white ribbon on it. I decided to do this because the note was cute/cheesy/romantic-ish so it gave that side to a gift that was maybe not so romantic (a GPS). But usually I do gift wrap, ribbons, and personalized name tags made from scrapbooking stuff.

20th Dec 2009, 02:59 PM	#9
zoeee Well Known Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: undefined Out Status: a few Location: Europe Age: 20 Posts: 174 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! use old newspapers as wrapping paper looks pretty cool __________________ All I want is you, will you be my bride Take me by the hand and stand by my side All I want is you, will you stay with me? Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

20th Dec 2009, 08:41 PM	#10
Lexington The gay gargoyle EC Advisor Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Colorado Age: 42 Posts: 12,371 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! I remember last year, I printed out a bunch of pictures from the 70s/80s kids show Tomorrow People, taped them all together, and then used that as wrapping paper for my sister. The weird thing is I don't remember WHY I did it - I'm sure it had something to do with the gift, but I don't remember what that was, either... Since most of my family uses standard Xmas wrapping paper, I sometimes use Hanukkah wrap instead. The blue makes my packages stand out in the sea of green and red. For tags, I create my own using (oddly) a CD labeling program. The CD label sheets have these generic stickers on them that are ideal for To/From tags. Last year, I did a Google search for everybody's name, and picked whatever picture was on the main page that looked the coolest - that became the image next to the "To/From" info. Lex Last edited by Lexington; 20th Dec 2009 at 08:45 PM..

20th Dec 2009, 11:06 PM	#11
Astaroth ❀ Byakuren Hijiri ❀ Full Member Gender: Genderqueer Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Federal Way, WA Age: 30 Posts: 1,299 Join Date: Nov 2007	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! One year, when I had lost my mind, I bought white sheets and took food dyes and sort of sprinkled drops of color all over the sheets and then used that as wrapping "paper" of sorts. They ended up looking like square easter eggs for the most part, lol. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~

20th Dec 2009, 11:15 PM	#12
paco Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! i'm planning to not put my sisters gifts in a box and just crinkle up wrapping paper around it so that it looks like trash. then i'll put a nice sticker-bow on top. the other one...normal.. last year though i gave her about 20 fake presents that was just stuff i found around the house, and hid them in various places so she had to find them all. it just so happened she opened the real present last. the year before that i wrapped a present in solid duct tape.

20th Dec 2009, 11:20 PM	#13
Maddy Free Hugs EC Admin Gender: - Orientation: Into girls Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 21 Posts: 7,704 Join Date: Mar 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! My dad once gave my mum a necklace, but he put it in about 6 different-sized boxes, wrapped the jewellery box in about four layers of paper, then wrapped the necklace in a tissue inside the jewellery box. Myself, I'm fairly traditional. I'm horrible at wrapping. __________________ how strange it is to be anything at all [Victor] 2:09 pm: and then halloween happened and I was outside in a skirt.

21st Dec 2009, 08:16 AM	#14
excuseyou77 EC Addict Regular Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: my mom, few friends Location: Duluth, GA Age: 26 Posts: 834 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! I've grown so dead set against wrapping... maybe it's because I suck at it. But I usually just get tissue paper, wrap the gifts in that and put them in gift bags. But as anti-wrapping as I am now, I don't know what to do with the present for my 2 year old cousin. Part of me just wants to use a gift bag. The other part of me wants to see him tear open the wrapping to see the present; if that makes any sense, lol. __________________ "I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does."

21st Dec 2009, 02:35 PM	#15
step49x EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Anyone who cares Location: Michigan, USA Age: 24 Posts: 1,051 Join Date: Aug 2006	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! If it's an obvious gift (gift certificate, book, CD, etc), I try to disguise it. Last year, I gave both my siblings gift certificates. One was wrapped with a soup can. The other came in a prism-shaped box, and I'm pretty sure I included a few dead batteries. My brother likes to shake the boxes and guess, so I like to make that difficult for him. :-D

21st Dec 2009, 03:20 PM	#16
Black Cat As Seen On Hoarders... Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: This cat is out of the bag - I mean closet Location: Pennsylvania, with the cows Age: 21 Posts: 2,391 Join Date: Jun 2009	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! As much as I love wrapping gifts, I am notoriously bad at it. I like to get creative with giving them out instead. I also like to give my siblings super complex clues about whatever I may be getting them that year. It's fun to watch them trying to figure out what they mean. __________________ "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it." - Mr. Magorium

21st Dec 2009, 04:08 PM	#17
Mickey Older and bolder! Full Member Gender: Female Orientation: Lesbian Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Massachusetts Age: 50 Posts: 1,775 Join Date: Aug 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! Gift bags and gift boxes! I suck at wrapping! __________________ We don't choose to be gay...we're CHOSEN!

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21st Dec 2009, 04:33 PM	#18
rachob1 Member Regular Member Gender: Female Orientation: Gay Out Status: to everyone that matters Location: Liverpool Age: 33 Posts: 55 Join Date: Dec 2008	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! i tend to make the gifts as difficult as possable to get into so they are all wrapped a tight as possable with foil type wrapping paper, then every edge is taped down so theres nowhere for the person to get hold of.

21st Dec 2009, 04:50 PM	#19
Kevin42 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! I love wrapping gifts. There is nothing more satisfying than choosing out pretty wrapping paper, hearing that wonderful noise as you cut the paper so that it's just the right size. Then wrapping the gift perfectly so that all of the folds are crisp and the nice. Then you get to top it off with some ribbon and/or a bow. 'Tis glorious, and in the words of Martha Stewart, "It's a good thing."

21st Dec 2009, 05:15 PM	#20
Jiggles Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Lets all share our CHRISTMAS WRAPPING ideas! Me wrapping a present is like a cack handed goose trying to do it. Plenty of tape especially with some DVD that I bought for someone. Stuck them together with industrial sticky tape because I'm that nice to her. Also every nook and cranny in the paper has a bit of tape on it too.