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Christmas

Wrapping presents!

(88 Posts)
threexnanny Tue 14-Dec-21 08:37:05

I made a fabric drawstring bag for each of the grandchildren during the Nov. lockdown last year. It did save a lot of hassle and they didn't seem to mind as I'd still put small gifts in their stockings for them to unwrap. The stockings were homemade when each was born and they are handed back each year. Their parents have a large paper gift carrier which is also handed back and reused. As does OH.

MissAdventure Tue 14-Dec-21 08:22:03

I like gagagrans idea.
It sounds easy on the old back.

MayBeMaw Tue 14-Dec-21 08:21:37

kittylester

Where do you get you bags Maw? Sounds like a large initial investment but is very tempting.

I buy recyclable paper from a charity and also use brown paper with ribbon.

But, I have over bought paper cloths this year so I might use those.

Long river company I am afraid.
I like the tea towel idea too.
D3 and SIL had their wedding invitations screen printed on tea towels 9 years ago, I loved the idea and whenever I use mine, it brings back happy memories.

Calendargirl Tue 14-Dec-21 08:20:18

I don’t give many presents, so not a lot to wrap, which is a good thing, as I am rubbish at it.

An international payment sent to DD and family overseas, hard cash put in envelopes for DS and family.

Chocs and biscuits for 90 year old widowed neighbour, a family organiser calendar for DIL along with the cash, (probably not used much as they all have their phones) and a new address book plus hairdresser voucher for a cousin. All easy to wrap.

DH and I agreed long ago not to give each other anything, all our money is ‘joint’ and we just buy ourselves what we need (want) as and when.

Given up on the tit for tat present giving long ago. Just seems pointless and angst making.

My opinion only. If others want to give and receive lots of gifts, up to them. The gifts I do give are just wrapped and sellotaped, no fancy bows, ribbons, decorations. Don’t get me wrong, a beautifully wrapped gift is a joy to behold, but no can do.

?

Hetty58 Tue 14-Dec-21 08:19:14

MayBeMaw, What do I do? I order all the toys from Wicked Uncle, gift wrapped with a message - and delivered to their address - easy.

Teenager presents are wrapped in brown parcel paper with real ribbon and the secret Santa gift for an adult is usually wrapped in a new tea towel, as people can always make use of them. (We all have naughty pets and/or toddlers so gifts don't go under the tree for long anyway, maybe late on Christmas Eve, then keep the door shut.)

Gagagran Tue 14-Dec-21 08:17:44

I buy a large paper gift bag for each family group and wrap individual presents in red or white or green tissue paper with a stick on name label. Sometimes need an individual bag if the gift is large in size but still use the same system.

I got some brown paper bags with stencils of outlined Christmas trees on them from The Works, so quite festive and also recyclable - as is the tissue paper.

MissAdventure Tue 14-Dec-21 08:15:40

They have lots on Amazon.
40 bags for £20.
Pretty hessian ones with hearts on, bottle bags.

HowVeryDareYou Tue 14-Dec-21 08:13:44

What a good idea! I always have a different paper for each person, so that we know at a glance whose is whose.

MissAdventure Tue 14-Dec-21 08:12:26

I'm off to have a look at some fabric bags on Amazon.

kittylester Tue 14-Dec-21 08:12:14

Where do you get you bags Maw? Sounds like a large initial investment but is very tempting.

I buy recyclable paper from a charity and also use brown paper with ribbon.

But, I have over bought paper cloths this year so I might use those.

Oopsadaisy1 Tue 14-Dec-21 08:08:34

That’s an excellent idea, I’ll start making some for next year, I already have some Christmas fabric upstairs.
I always use recycled Christmas paper, it’s easy to buy, but this year I’ve found it very hard and stiff to fold neatly with my Arthritic hands and the sellotape starts to peel off so I’ve used coloured string to keep them all from coming unwrapped.
Fabric sounds an excellent idea, although as you say I’ll need them back for next year, it’s a good idea for Birthdays too.

MissAdventure Tue 14-Dec-21 08:06:14

It's one of my most hated parts about Christmas, so I use any old paper, shove sellotape here there and everywhere, and complain a lot.
I really like the idea of the bags, though.

Someone mentioned some made out of sari material, but I don't think my boys would like that so much.

Wrapping presents really gives me a back ache!

MayBeMaw Tue 14-Dec-21 08:00:36

Over the years I have gone from shiny Santa or Star paper with glittery bows to brown wrapping paper with narrow tartan ribbon (very tasteful) and even garden twine or raffia (v cool) to heavy cream paper tablecloths from JL cut up to make gift wrap with black ribbon - very Jo Malone.
I always tried to use the same paper for everybody, (maybe Santas for the children ) and wrapping the presents to Christmassy music on the radio or a CD with a festive glass of something mulled was part of the Christmas ritual.
But last year I discovered fabric bags!
Not only are they reusable, thus ticking the environmentally friendly boxes, but all you do is put the item in the bag, pull the drawstring, tie it in a bow (knots can be harder to untie) and it’s done! No sellotape, crumpled spoiled paper, problems with awkward shapes, or the frustration of a piece of paper not being quite big enough.
Job done!
(But you do have to make sure you get the bags back or cone to an agreement with the family that they keep yours if you can keep theirs.
What do you do?