I think I've reached the end of the roll for Christmas wrapping. I try new things every year but this year might just be the only way I wrap my presents from now on.
I don't think it's just The Ick talking, when I say that I may have landed on what will now be known as my signature wrapping.
That's right. I'm the kind of fancy person that has signature wrapping and a cold water bidet attachment on their toilet.
So the fanciest kind of fancy. Britney Spears fancy.
Also, I own a poodle: Fancy level immediately elevated yet again.
But back to the wrapping. There are a couple of reasons this might be the way I wrap from here-on-in.
- It feels stupidly wasteful to buy a wax seal kit with the entire alphabet and only use it once.
- The presents look beautiful and it was fun to do.
- I can completely change the look by swapping out what colour paper, wax and ribbon I use so even though technically the present wrapping will be exactly the same, it can look different every year.
For the moment I'm pretty sold on the blue and red though.
Christmas Wrapping
You can find everything I bought to do this year's Christmas wrapping in this post. I used wax seals, gold and red metallic wax, markers for highlighting the seals and satin ribbon.
The ONE thing I didn't let you in on was the paper I was using. I ordered a custom blue & white toile wrapping paper from Zazzle. The print is huge but you can scale it back when you order it if you want to make a smaller print.
I'd never ordered custom paper before so I didn't know what to expect. For the price I was hoping for something 4 - 500 times thicker than dollar store wrapping paper.
I also wasn't sure if the quality of print would be good. It is.
And it's very thick. You'd never be able to see any box markings underneath, and it doesn't tear at the corners when you wrap things up tightly.
If you aren't convinced this is the wrapping for you, I'm so sorry, I hear lobotomy is a very painful process. When you're feeling up to it you can peruse these Christmas wrapping posts from past years that might be more to your liking.
They include materials like pinecones, leather and dinky cars.
Next week you'll get to see the rest of the house, and the presents will be tucked under the trees where they belong.
Oops I did it again.
Beautiful wrapping paper! Did you get the matte or glossy finish on the paper?
Hi. No, not me. I worked in the school system!
Karen, The wrapping is beautiful. not for my family and friends that don’t care how much love I put into the gift wrap and that it would just go into the trash not budget friendly. But how I envy you craftsmanship.
Philip is one beautiful boy.
Oh, this is lovely. And it looks special. Like you cared when you wrapped it. This would make my melted candle white elephant gift look so posh.
Your gift wrapping is truly wonderful! It's a gift alone. We have a 5 month old darling...female...black...standard poodle named Gracey. She's gorgeous in every way! We're grooming her ourselves...do you use a grooming bracket-frame....any tips for the face? She loves the bathtub, she will go and sit in it. We live up the hill.
Hello up the hill Wendy! My advice is to do what I do, which is have her professionally groomed once every few months and then just follow what they do to keep her tidy. It's much easier to trace artwork than it is to create it. I don't use a bracket, although it would definitely make things easier and go more quickly! He's pretty good about just standing while I work. I was terrified to shave his face the first few times, but now we're both fine with it. I just hold his muzzle to keep him perfectly still and always work away from the eyes. You can buy spray that will help sooth any clipper burn she might get. ~ karen!
Hey Wendy, any chance you used to work at a major utility company downtown in a previous life?
Every year you come up with my most favourite wrapping ideas. The ribbon is sumptuous. The was seal the perfect exclamation point. I checked out the paper on Zazzle. This particular paper is trending with 38 people recently looking at it. Karen, you are an influenzer. (typo on purpose).
Hahahaha! I'm on day 11 of being an influenzer. Still sick, but definitely on the mend. ~ karen!
Gorgeous! The presents and the gentleman!
Wait'll he's groomed and fluffed up pretty for Christmas. :) ~ karen!
The presents are nice, but I hate to point out that Phillip sitting up steals the whole show! 👍🎆
Comes with the territory. He's a bit of a scene stealer. And nobody ever comments on *my* hair anymore. 😂 karen!
Beautiful, however I cannot find where to purchase in US. When I click on Amazon I get big black circle warning. Help!
Hi Pat! I also set up page with everything you need here. Give this link to everything on Amazon a try and let me know if it works. ~ karen!
Thank you! Merry Christmas.
Wow. Don’t let anyone rip that gorgeous paper. So so so pretty. I love the blue ribbon.
It's BEAUTIFUL paper. And almost as thick as wallpaper. Which gives me an idea ...🤣 ~ karen!
Gorgeous!
Thanks! They seemed to be missing something, so I fixed that. It'll be shown in my Christmas House Tour post next week. :) ~ karen!
Karen,
Nobody ever *owns* a poodle. I know this from experience. I spent lots of years being happily owned by two black poodles who traveled the world with me. I now have a roommate who’s covered in white feathers and talks. He’s currently under the comforter on my lap. I’m lucky that way I guess. These lovely animals, over the years, adopted me as they all were somehow in need of a home. They came to me abused & in need - I could never understand mistreating helpless animals. We’ve met by chance perhaps but I’m the one who’s drawn the long straw every time! Imagine finding out that cockatoos are actually people? Elliott’s been with me for 15 years. He loves dancing, long drives, meeting new people and pooping unexpectedly- and pinã coladas and getting caught in the rain.
I love sulphur crested cockatoos! They visit my balcony, and dance on the railing while trying to hypnotizing me into feeding them.
How do you cope with the volume? They're loud enough outside!
He’s annoying if I dare leave him alone. They should be out in the wild in a flock, not caged indoors- but this guy was trapped in Indonesia as a very young bird then illegally brought to the US by poachers and sold to a pet store in Florida. The woman who bought him kept him for 12 years and hadn’t allowed him out of a cage for the last 6. He was a tortured soul when my son found an ad on Craigslist for him where we lived in San Diego. I was reluctant as my bird experience was limited to them hating my guts. (I worked professionally with wild animals after getting a degree in animal behavior in the ‘70’s) The thing is, my ignorant husband had told my 9 year old “sure, you can have a cockatoo” - ok, I’m pretty sure I cried and locked myself in my home office for a day or two before relenting to bird ownership. My child had just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and so this was my husband’s way of curing that disease. It did not work. I contacted the local bird rescue and asked them to give me a crash course in parrot handling. Dogs, wolves, birds of prey and marine mammals were all in my wheelhouse- parrots knew I was terrified of their beaks. They know! My son got Elliott (he was previously named Miss Ellie but he was a she so we changed it to Elliott Mess. The cockatoo did not like my poor kid but loved my husband and tolerated me. After a month of being handled daily and out of a cage he was safe enough to take to my children’s school where all the 5th & 6th graders were delighted to cuddle him and he was a reformed citizen. All it took was me almost losing a couple of fingers and a lot of patience and endless love. He is super annoying and loud. A picky eater and must be with me. His early life traumas are in there still. Poor guy.
Oddly enough, that diabetic child of mine is all grown up and now lives in Australia with his boyfriend. They call Tasmania home. The sulfur crested toos gather outside his window and scream as loudly as they can to remind him of Elliott Mess. Karma is a bitch!
Karen- yes, this cockatoo loves anything alcoholic- I don’t drink alcoholic beverages but he has been known to sneak a drink when others look away. Little monster.
Is he into champagne? ~ karen!
Does he always pose when a camera comes out? LOL!
Because he's a poodle he always looks like he's posing for a catalogue. ~ karen!
Gorgeous -- as usual!! I've loved sealing wax for decades and I'm delighted you've put your stamp on them. So yummy scrumptiously deluxe.
I did love the dinky trucks an ineffable amount, though.
They were pretty cute I know. Those would have to be my favourite "creative" Christmas wrapping. ~ karen!
How lovely …when I saw the “P” I thought she shouldn’t have (I’m a Poppie 🤗) but then it could very well be a new coat for Phillip…hmmm
My sister told me of a Dutch tradition that presents for individuals would be gathered and put under their own sheet with a pastry letter placed on top to mark it..during time of hardship/war the pastry was replaced by a chocolate letter (I know hard to decide which is better). I have received or given to myself (someone has to do it) a chocolate letter for over 60 years
I was thinking this year …I would put all presents on the table, the kids could forage and I’d drink a mimosa…simple and direct
Again you’ve made things stunning
Hi Poppie! - Honestly, they're way easier to get at on a table. Plus you can actually see them. Enjoy your choocolate this year. :) ~ karen
Beauuuutiful! The wrapping, the room, AND Lip. Obviously, Lip.
Who is that elegant gentleman in the black coat guarding those presents?!! 😗
I'm surprised he isn't eating them! :)
Those wax seals do add a splendid 'regal' touch to your exquisite paper and ribbon finesse. The custom paper IS stunning. Dare I infer that the letter you choose corresponds to the recipients 1st or last name? Just some Chicago 'cypherin' on my part. lol Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your holiday creations.