We have been creating, crafting, sketching, painting, and everything homemade-ing for weeks now.  We have been little like elves, working down our lists.

Finally, Christmas is tomorrow, so today we turned the happy holiday workshop into a wrapping extravaganza…and we didn’t stop for the entire day.

I use the word wrapping very loosely.  In fact, I like to use as little wrapping paper as possible.  What I prefer, instead is to use boxes and containers that I have collected to repurpose throughout the year, and add an elegant, handmade top layer that creates a finished, chic wrap.  It is the perfect green holiday gift wrap technique.

This gorgeous gift is from Janet to Mom.  She is probably the best gift giver in the world, right next to Mom.

Don’t you love the layers of vintage postcard, cording, vintage velvet leaves, and teeny tiny Christmas bell right ontop of the natural oatmeal gift box?  Save a tree, and skip the extra wrapping paper.

The vintage postage seals it for me.  Lovely, romantic, feminine.

This is from Taken for Granite, one of my most coveted shops in the country, and right here in sweet little Stony Creek, CT.

This is my other favorite technique, the extra wrapping paper scrap “wrap”.  I am forever rolling up the extra loose ends of wrapping paper for a future use…and here ’tis.

The finishing touch of course is layering on a pretty finishing touch or topper.  You can adhere it right over the top of the paper wrap.  I like to collect vintage or glittered postcards for toppers, like a clue hinting at what is inside the box…something from a favorite vacation, or to use for a favorite hobby…

This one is for cool evening sails on Nantucket…hence the madras paper scrap wrap…the vintage nautical postcard.  I layered in a silk ribbon detail here as well.

Let me show you the step by step – so you can see how easy this is.  My kids have been folding, wrapping and taping these all day for me.

Step 1: Grab a scrap.  Here is the scrap of madras wrap.  See the jagged, uneven edge?  Guess what…you don’t even need to cut it or even it out with scissors.  That would take too long…

Step 2:  Just flip the scrap over, and fold it along the jagged, uneven edge.  This gives you a nice, perfectly straight finished edge.

3.  Wrap the scrap around the box, and tape it securely on the bottom.

4.  Wrap a coordinating ribbon ontop the wrap layer.  Tape it securely to the back as well.

5.  Choose a gift topper to adhere onto the layered ribbon and paper wrap.  I collect vintage postcards from all of my favorite antique shops, flea markets, thrifts, and more.  Don’t you love this vintage typewriter detail?  Can you even imagine putting a postcard into a typewriter, and addressing it?

I don’t know which side of the postcard accent is lovelier…the sailboat in the harbor at sunset or the typed note on the back.

The kids love to craft and create alongside, and making picture frame gift toppers is a thoughtful, personal accent to their gifts.  Again, it is adhered to the top, with a ribbon wrap for a colorful, finishing touch.

Happy wrapping, ribboning holiday to each and everyone of you.

Debi Lilly, aperfectevent.com