Wrapping presents!

I used to do it on the floor until my knees complained.
I now do it on the dining room table. Just nice Christmassy paper, though it’s been harder to find that this year - so much of it seems to be boring/not in Christmassy colours* so just as well we have quite a bit left from last year.

I used to buy rolls of proper ribbon from John Lewis and tie them with that (keeping and re using after ironing it!) but haven’t done that this year.

*sorry, M&S, but Pesky Pink Percy Pig is not Christmassy - not to me anyway! I didn’t even buy that paper for the Gdcs,

I posted about this a couple of years ago. I hate and am useless at wrapping. Unless my gifts are hard and square, I make a complete dogs breakfast of them. The paper tears and I have to start again. I can't cut paper in a straight line, even paper with lines to guide me.
There is sellotape on the floor, stuck to the table, stuck to me. If I try to put ribbons and bows on they just look plonked on. I got a tip recently about wrapping awkward shaped things. You make a packet out of your paper and slip the item in. It works. Hey ho. It's the thought that counts apparently.

Great idea, I wonder if Christmas fabric will be in the January sales.

That's a lovely idea, adding coins to the wrapping.

I've spent this afternoon wrapping presents to be posted so they have all been wrapped in paper rather than put in bags. However, the fabric bags sound like a brilliant idea for presents not going through the post. I will definitely investigate.
One thing that I always put on presents is a little bag of chocolate money - they just don't look "dressed" without one.

We've been passing Christmas carrier bags between families for years. I think I must receive more than I give because I always seem to have loads ?

About 10 years ago I started making bags out of old pillow cases, making a few each year for particular people. Most people give them back each year, along with the tins for Christmas cakes. The main problem of course is that gifts aren't the same size every year so I usually end up making a couple each year. I usually buy my DDs something to wear, and I've made slightly padded envelope shapes for them, so things are kept flat.

I am gradually converting to fabric bags this year. I have made sacks to replace the large gift bags and some little fabric draw string bags for small gifts. I realise that I will have to ask for them back though to reuse next time.
I am no seamstress but I found easy to follow workshops on YouTube.

I'm afraid I haven't really thought it through. I reuse as much as possible and buy more paper if needed. Next year (DV) it will be brown paper ...that's if I can be bothered with another year of present wrapping. I'm exhausted and back aches every time I do some wrapping and I grump.
I used to be very careful, paper and gift tags matched. Parcels were sellotaped neatly and tied with colourful sparkly ribbon. Now it's as quick as I can get through it and I use the first gift tag to hand. Very few get ribbon added. Don't have the energy for it all.
Having said that, I still enjoy giving presents.

I love wrapping presents that’s all part of the pleasure I miss with part of my family being overseas

I use a mix of recyclable, bought-in-Jan-sales paper and used gift bags that Amazon things have come in. I like the bags particularly for odd-shaped things and squishy items such as jumpers that are harder to wrap.

Bags I guess aren’t such fun for children who love that r-r-r-r-ipping sound of paper but I’m sure they all get something in paper, whatever I do.

Interesting how so many mention back ache from wrapping presents - I thought that was just me! I’ve tried all ways, tables, floors etc but nothing seems to stop it. I’ve realised that’s why I had a bad back over the weekend. Had forgotten I’d had a wrapping session,

I only use wrapping paper for my 2 grandchildren. All adults just get theirs in a gift bag with a sheet of tissue paper folded over the top to hide the gift. I get most of the bags given back to me each year and, as long as they are in reasonable condition, I re-use them the following year. I usually get 3 - 4 years out of each bag before it collapses, so feel I am doing a little towards recycling.

Good idea about fabric bags. I will have a look at my pile of unused pillow cases.

I was going to post a link but if you search YouTube for "sewing Christmas gift bags" you get dozens of ideas for home made bags. Of course, they don't really need a pattern, just sew a bag! If you don't have any Christmas prints, you can applique or stencil on a Christmases motif. Still 10 days to go!

Then, of course, there are Christmases teatowels - double use wrapping material!

Another one who hates wrapping, set off with all good intentions but just rush to get it over with. I got some brilliant paper from Costco that is double sided. When I do all the girlfriends/wives presents I use tissue paper and pop them into a gift bag.
Like the sound of hessian bags though

I spent Sunday afternoon wrapping presents with Alexa playing Christmas songs. It’s tiring back breaking hurts my hands as it’s tedious yes all this but it’s a tradition I enjoy.
I use a lot of recycled packing paper from previous large parcels received from Amazon. I do buy the grandchildren’s favourite character paper for their gifts.
Every year I use more bags recycled from gifts I received. I always use bottle bags I received too saves having to wrap them up. When I was young wrapping paper seemed expensive so I reuse rather than waste paper.

I love wrapping Christmas parcels and am sad that for various reasons there are so few - my parcels were a source of great pride and delighted the recipients but that seems woefully extravagant now and not what the planet needs. Still, for the few I have got to wrap this year I have plenty of left over paper so I will still get some joy from doing it.

I prefer to give money or vouchers which removes the need for wrapping paper but if it is a bulkier gift I use a paper gift bag rather than the shiny paper which cannot be recycled. Paper is scrunched up and thrown away but gift bags can be used again. I make gift tags from the old Christmas cards and the excess cards go to a local nursery where the children use them for craft.

Arthritic fingers here too, so I buy bright red pillowcases (only a couple of quid from ASDA). 1st year because each of the DGC had a large, difficult to wrap, present. Now I have enough to use one for everyone and their presents go in their sack unwrapped. A friend has copied my idea, but her sacks are beautifully embroidered with the recipients' names - mine just have a big name tag, cut from old Christmas Card.

MrJ and I will wrap this weekend, that way he’ll know what ‘we’ve’ bought people!
Recyclable paper, sellotape and bows that I’ve previously bought in bulk.

Like CalendarGirl, I don't give many presents, so very little to wrap. One for grandson, a small hamper for in-laws (which doesn't get wrapped, vouchers for daughter and son and their partners and that's it. Husband and I stopped giving each other any kind of presents years ago.

The ironing board idea sounds good. I started wrapping last night but didn't get very far. I was wrapping quite small things in brown paper and folding up the ends was quite difficult with arthritic hands. I have bought more presents than usual because visitors from afar who we don't usually see at Christmas are coming to stay at the weekend so no doubt they will bring presents for us and we need to have things for them. Hetty thank you for the tip about the tree and pets. There will be two dogs here when we have a big family gathering next Monday.

We're on brown paper now, thinking it is recyclable, although I'm not sure if it is or not.

When I was in China I bought mountains of fabric bags. They were sold as shoe bags, but I used them for gift wrapping. Of course, they don't come back when the gift is given, so I've run out now.

I hate wrapping presents, I haven’t done any at all yet. I have a day off Thursday and have allocated that day for this dreaded task…hohoho…?‍♀️

Luckily, we don’t have too much to buy as our daughter and little grandson are abroad. I buy their gifts online over there and they are delivered to her door. My other daughter wanted boots this year so she has got those plus a few bits and bobs, all easy to wrap with paper and sellotape. If I had a bigger family I’d investigate those bags others have mentioned as they sound really good. I buy my SILs a foodie hamper, again delivered to the door. I guess I get off lightly compared to most of you.

Wrapping presents used togive me a bad back as well. A friend told me to use the ironing board (well it has to be used for something) instead of a table. It works for me. Some good ideas on here though.