What is your gift wrapping etiquette?

I can’t do gift wrapping decently to save my life. I always take things to the gift wrapping counter. They know what they are doing and make a proper and professional job of it.

Wow. That’s a lot of questions in one.

I really don’t overthink things that much. I try to get metallic type paper and solid color such as gold or silver if possible.

This way it can be used for other gifts during the year and not look too “Christmassy”.

This also enables using red or green bows for Christmas and the other ones at other times of year.

I used to bother with ribbons but don’t any longer. Everything gets torn apart in a few seconds and then in the trash so ribbons are a waste of money and time.

I just buy a package of the pre-made ones with sticky tape backs in an assortment package. Because they are invariably metallic, they go well with the metallic paper. Overall, the two create a cohesive and neat, together-looking whole without ribbons. A simple classic look.

The metallic paper is classy enough for any kind of person or gift but also fun looking. You can get a better looking crease on the edges when folding metallics than regular paper, adding to the classic look.

I basically use the KISS principle. Keep It Simple, Stupid :)

Works well for me.

I’ve had several friends and girlfriends that are very uptight about their wrapping and take it very seriously, so I roll their gifts up in newspaper and wind it up with electric tape :)

My gift-wrapping is non-existent. Non-existent, I tell you! I turn the presents around so that they are sitting backwards. If they can guess what it is by the back of the package, then good for them. I think it’s a lot of extra money and pointless to spend, which isn’t justified, considering it’s going to be ripped apart anyway. The whole wrapping event doesn’t appeal to the pragmatist in me.

LOL mine is whatever I have laying around and a lot of tape!

@phillis That is the rub, depending on the gift, i.e, birthdays, gontratulations etc, there is little time the gift is in the preson’s hands who is getting it. With Christmas as long as it is not under a tree that butt nugget thieves can see the gift will be there several days (on average on loss it is one of those homes that don’t put them under the tree until Christmas eve). It is like a meal it gets seen as some artificial barometer as to how much the pearon was thought of by the gifter. The logical side of my agrees with you, just wrap it up so it can’t be seen you don’t even need a bow because I am sure 3 hours later no one will hardly remember the wrap it came in.

We use and reuse gift bags.

That must be why, HC. We always hide the gifts until after the children have gone to sleep Christmas Eve. We can barely afford anything for anybody else, so we don’t have to worry about bringing them until our family celebrates, which is also on Christmas Eve. Viola! No butt nugget problems (which had never even occured to me before, but you’re absolutely right) :D

I use bows and ribbon. Each gift is usually unique, how I make the bow, placement of the ribbon, and colors. I try to match my bows with my paper, and even pick the name tags that match as well. I don’t know if you asked this, but I like to use thick wrapping paper, and I don’t like the cartoonish looking paper. I get my gift wrapping neuroticism from my mother.

I did a passable job along and along,growing up. As part of my last job, I learned to do professional wrapping. That is when I started using ribbons and tags. Depending on the paper, I will use more than one layer to prevent poking through.

Wrapping paper with bows and ribbons to match :)

I think it’s all a giant waste of time and paper so generally I do my very famous ‘candy’ wrapping where I put something into wrapping paper and tie off the ends that are too long with ribbons…all presents look like candy…I say I meant it that way…but I am just lazy and opposed to wrapping…

HAHAHAHA!!! Classic! I love it!

I consider the wrapping to be part of the present, and a beautiful wrapping job is to be admired and savored and enjoyed before it gets undone. This is part of why we don’t have a mad free-for-all at my house. My mother used to be the champion of gorgeous wrappings, but now it is my son.

I hate to wrap gifts more than anything. I try to do a nice job but they always look like crap. I usually stick a bow on my gifts though in hopes it will draw attention away from the horrible wrapping job. Ribbon is a no go.

My 24 year old little brother had me wrap his gifts. One was a hatchet for my dad. Which I left in the plastic bag with some of the handle sticking out, wrapped ribbon around, and put a “no peeking” tag on it. Lovely. I’m an excellent wrapper and do all the wrapping for the family, including bows, and its just something that takes practice. But sometimes its just not worth the effort. As far as paper, ribbons, bows, and so on, I tend to match it to the person more than the gift.

I hand made 10 bows, the complicated kind this year. You don’t want to talk to me about not going all out on wrapping! :D But even I use bags and tissue. So much easier.

Ask my wife, LOL!