(Warning: trivial issue alert) To ask what's happened to giftwrap?

KimberleyClark · 2024-09-11T13:07:22+00:00

You used to be able to buy it in a pack of 2 sheets with matching tags. Which meant minimal waste Now it's all rolls, gift bags and tissue paper. And the choice seems much more limited.

DilemmaDelilah · 11/09/2024 19:14

I buy sheets of good quality recycled and recyclable wrapping paper from Amazon (Glick brand) or from Whistlefish. Really nice paper, I usually get it when it's on offer.

stripybobblehat · 11/09/2024 17:03

Hallmark do gift wrap sheets

I hate gift bags.

Talipesmum · 11/09/2024 16:54

KimberleyClark · 11/09/2024 16:07

To those who use gift bags, do you leave on that plastic tag that's used to hang up the bag on the shop? It's very difficult to get it off without tearing ithe bag. And presumably you leave the gift tags blank?

I snip it off at the point where it sticks up above the edge of the bag. There are often useless semi perforations along this point, but they don’t tear very well.
eta, I would write on the gift tag but if I get a bag where the tag’s been written on, I remove it before using the bag again. Might attach a generic gift tag if I was using one. I don’t mind at all if gift tags don’t match - I have a few silver and gold ones that go with everything.

Tooty78 · 11/09/2024 16:48

KimberleyClark · 11/09/2024 16:07

To those who use gift bags, do you leave on that plastic tag that's used to hang up the bag on the shop? It's very difficult to get it off without tearing ithe bag. And presumably you leave the gift tags blank?

I usually blast the tag with my hair dryer on the hottest setting and it just peels off.
Card Factory do sheets of single gift wrap, and for a pricier option so do Waterstones.

suburburban · 11/09/2024 16:41

CountingCrones · 11/09/2024 14:44

Gift wrap frequently couldn’t be recycled, especially foil or shiny stuff. We’ve moved on as a culture so what we have available has evolved too.

I like a gift bag with a piece of tissue paper in the top to hide the contents. Or plain wrap with really nice (reusable) ribbon and a spray of foliage.

I have an old biscuit tin with lengths of ribbon in for doing parcels. The Christmas stuff has used the same red or green satin ribbons for about 10 years.

Yes that's what I do

monicagellerbing · 11/09/2024 16:40

Tesco sell two sheets and two tags in a pack

Original poster

KimberleyClark · 11/09/2024 16:40

cardibach · 11/09/2024 16:23

Seal by threading the ends of the handles through the opposite holes. Nifty trick.

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That's clever!

OP posts:

JudgeJ · 11/09/2024 16:30

RollerSkateLikePeggy · 11/09/2024 15:43

Out best local shop for individual bits of gift wrap is actually our cheap "bit of everything" shop. Not quite an ironmongers, but the kind of shop where you can by a plastic box or a picture frame or a pack of 5 felt tips. It's not the best quality, but it's only going to get torn open and thrown away, so that's fine by me!

We have a shop like that, some things I had forgotten ever existed, e.g. bra extenders! Great place for stocking fillers, colouring books for 50p etc.. Every High Street needs one, if you can't get it there, it doesn't exist!

cardibach · 11/09/2024 16:23

KimberleyClark · 11/09/2024 14:39

Do those of you who just use gift bags seal the bags? Or just put the gift in and leave it open?

Seal by threading the ends of the handles through the opposite holes. Nifty trick.

Hollyhocksandlarkspur · 11/09/2024 16:14

We’ve started using cloth bags and pieces of material rolled up Japanese style with recyclable luggage labels and ribbon. All in a box and used many times over. Either returned by recipient for reusing or passed on with another gift to someone else. It can still look lovely and be exciting to undo and can colour theme. We have red gold and green so good for Christmas too.

For really big presents we use duvet covers. pillow cases, cushion covers and cloth or hessian bags from purchases also work well. Much less messy on Christmas daytoo.

Original poster

KimberleyClark · 11/09/2024 16:07

To those who use gift bags, do you leave on that plastic tag that's used to hang up the bag on the shop? It's very difficult to get it off without tearing ithe bag. And presumably you leave the gift tags blank?

OP posts:

Ineedanewsofa · 11/09/2024 15:56

It could well be part of plastic reduction schemes in retailers, those two sheet, two tag packs were often plastic wrapped.
Am in 2 minds about gift bags, we rarely chuck them but I’ve never got a suitable one for re use, so they are accumulating alongside the carrier bags for life 🙈

Barefootinthecarpark · 11/09/2024 15:51

Don’t you mean ‘wrapping paper’? Since when have we called it ‘gift wrap’ in the UK?

TheFlis · 11/09/2024 15:48

I still see those packs in most supermarkets, M&S, the Range etc. Where are you looking?

RollerSkateLikePeggy · 11/09/2024 15:43

Out best local shop for individual bits of gift wrap is actually our cheap "bit of everything" shop. Not quite an ironmongers, but the kind of shop where you can by a plastic box or a picture frame or a pack of 5 felt tips. It's not the best quality, but it's only going to get torn open and thrown away, so that's fine by me!

bluecomputerscreen · 11/09/2024 15:33

haven't bought wrapping paper in a while now apart from artistic ones from a museum shop which I used to decorate furniture.

gift bags or gift boxes. can easily be reused.

Talipesmum · 11/09/2024 15:00

Those “two sheets with matching tags” packs never came out even for me - I’d always end up with leftover tags, or leftover paper with no tag. Plus they’re plastic wrapped for a small amount of gift wrapping, and places are trying to move away from this. Get a roll and a pack of generic tags if you need them - tbh I find tags annoying anyway, apart from Xmas when there are loads of things that need labelling, and I prefer the stickers ones as the tags are always coming off and getting lost.

SonjaBarkerFinch · 11/09/2024 14:59

Couldn’t agree more. The range of gift wrap is a lot more limited these days.

Lincoln24 · 11/09/2024 14:56

I actually dislike gift bags, people say they're reusable but I bet most end up in the bin after a use or two as no one wants to give a gift in a non-pristene one, and then they're worse than paper (being plastic coated in most cases).

BobandRobertaSmith · 11/09/2024 14:50

Both. Sometimes I seal with easily removable tape (for kids that peek 😂). I usually wrap gifts in tissue paper, then scrunch more tissue paper on top so the bag is open with the tissue paper showing. You can get bags that tie with ribbon to keep them closed. Boxes are even better, we tie them with fabric ribbon. Some of ours have been going since the last century! 😂

I confess to using recyclable gift wrap for Christmas stockings though. There is a joy in excitedly ripping off paper on Christmas Day 😂

YouveGotAFastCar · 11/09/2024 14:50

There's loads of individual gift wrap where I am. Usually above all the bigger rolls.

CountingCrones · 11/09/2024 14:44

Gift wrap frequently couldn’t be recycled, especially foil or shiny stuff. We’ve moved on as a culture so what we have available has evolved too.

I like a gift bag with a piece of tissue paper in the top to hide the contents. Or plain wrap with really nice (reusable) ribbon and a spray of foliage.

I have an old biscuit tin with lengths of ribbon in for doing parcels. The Christmas stuff has used the same red or green satin ribbons for about 10 years.

BeachHutsAndDeckchairs · 11/09/2024 14:40

Seal with a bit of washi tape so it comes off easily.

Original poster

KimberleyClark · 11/09/2024 14:39

Do those of you who just use gift bags seal the bags? Or just put the gift in and leave it open?

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SocksFlyingEverywhere · 11/09/2024 14:21

I've been really wondering this too. I didn't know gift bags were now the thing. I've ended up printing gift wrap sometimes.