Let’s talk wrapping paper

[IAmALionTamer]

I’m always overwhelmed by the choice of wrapping paper in the shops. Each year I spend ages deliberating and often just end up getting annoyed and grabbing some random packs from by the tills.

I just wondered what everyone else does? Do you follow a theme? Different paper for different people?

I’m planning a trip to my nearest John Lewis next week as they have some very pretty paper online and I quite fancy a mooch around their Christmas department

Any special tips on wrapping gratefully received too!

I’d like to make sure that the paper I use is recyclable so it may be brown paper with a natural decoration for me then!
I noticed JL had some coloured kraft paper online, maybe a natural brown with also some dark navy for other presents could look pretty smart.
I’ll check out M&S for their wrapping too.
I have gifts to send to Australia so I need to make my mind up soon as they neee I get posted!

I usually have a red, white, gold, brown paper and hessian/natural theme. Last year I went for navy & gold which looked amazing.

Does anyone know if brown paper is still recyclable if you print onto it? I'm thinking of using brown parcel paper with gold stars stamped over it.

I've bought bags and boxes in the past (which are lovely and do make wrapping easier)

This year I want the M&S "Snowman" paper for DD and something dark with bronze for DS .
I need gift card and money card holders as well.

Costco paper is really good , the big rolls (suitable for childrens' presents) are reversible so you can have a pattern for 2 .

It sounds obvious but I needed to be told but cut your paper to size when wrapping. It makes all the difference to the finished result. Also run a finger along the edges to get crisp lines and corners for a professional look.

In our house we do a theme, but Santa uses different paper for each child, which reflects their current interests/obsessions. The elves are shockingly bad wrappers.

Another one who uses brown paper as the waste of unrecyclable paper makes me shudder a little: gorgeous (reusable) ribbon and possibly a natural finishing touch (e.g. spring of holly/rosemary/tiny pinecone) if I am wrapping presents for those who appreciate it (ie not the kids).

The vast majority of wrapping papers are not recyclable so last year I only bought wrapping paper made from recycled paper as it's a really easy way of guaranteeing that you can recycle it again.

This year though I'm going with plain brown paper with jewel- toned reusable fabric ribbons and fabric-wrapping our family's presents so we can re use that.

I have bought a couple of Christmas design duvet covers and am sewing them into a variety of sized bags so I can pop the presents in. Tie with a ribbon and use them every year.

I have some stuff left over which is red and white candy striped. I’ll use that and then the rest I’m planning on using brown paper with washi tape / ribbon .

I don’t do different papers for different people apart from from Santa - kids get different paper each.

I’m going for brown paper and ribbons with home made gift tags x

Over the years I've always done my presents quite 'fancy'

This year I have a 2 year old and another on the way so I've opted for more 'fun' wrapping paper with cartoons and fun colours on.
I remember being a kid and loving all the different shapes and sizes of presents wrapped in different paper.

I brought a few rolls from asda and a few from matalan. They have dinosaurs on the matalan rolls which DD1 is obsessed with right now.

I never really thought about separate paper for the Father Christmas presents! I'm not even sure how to separate our presents from Father Christmas presents!!??

Holographic, all gifts (except 'Santa' gifts) in different colours of holographic paper. Santa gifts for the minis are wrapped in some cute Santa/reindeer/penguin style (you get the gist).

I buy all my paper from Primark - cheap but seems to be actually good quality.

I'm classy. I write with a permanent pen on the wrapping who it is for or if the pen won't show up I use white sticky labels.

Tend to use the same paper for all. This year it's brown paper that I am spraying with christmas stencils and using cinnamon sticks and star anise to make dangly tag things.

I'm using fat quarters of fabric this year, as they can be used every year, tying them with ribbon. Aside from outside the home gifts which will be paper left over from last year and santa gifts which I haven't thought about yet! Maybe a santa sack? The stockings and one gift under the tree are from Santa here

I'm also doing brown paper and twine. I've got some Christmassy stamps to decorate.

This year, I'm printing my wrapping paper (A4 size) for small items and using brown parcel paper for the rest. As I always colour code gifts, I'm writing the gift labels with specific colour pens so the brown paper items will still "match" the printed paper items to some extent.

We had a Santa paper, a kids paper and assorted adult ones, oi normally use what is still in the house and only buy what’s needed.

Now DD is 11 and she still gets her Santa presents in “his” paper but otherwise I do not necessarily buy a kids version anymore.

I only use ribbons for presents to the grandparents, less waste as possible.

I usually follow a theme in keeping with my decorations for the adults but buy fun paper for children.

I did one year do all brown with tartan ribbons and different bows etc, maybe I will revert back to that. I'll choose something recyclable anyway.

We recycle it in our house - sometimes reusing it again first!!

I almost always buy M&S paper as the cutting grid on the back really does make it easier to use less and make the packages neat.

This year, I am doing mostly burgundy. With a more child-friendly Santa and a Snowman print as well. I usually buy a lot in January, if I see nice paper that I like and enough the same or nicely coordinating ones.

I used brown paper last year, silver ribbon and brown parcel tags with silver glitter. It looked really nice (and saved me a fortune!). Sprig of holly in the label on some of them.

Another who's become a bit more aware of the environmental aspect. So I'll use up what I've got and from then on it will be brown paper, reusable bags (like the Seasalt jute bags for example) or I've taken a bit of a shine to wrapping things in tea towels, can get brilliant vintage ones that 'match' the present.

@tentative3 that’s a lovely idea? Where do you find your tea towels? I only ever see boring ones!

I’m going with stencilled brown paper. Snow flakes and baubles stencils from Hobbycraft secured with red and white twine.

For the presents under the tree I usually go to WHSmith - they normally do brown wrapping paper with things like sparky Xmas trees/reindeer - 3 for 2. They come in a variety of designs so usually mix and match with the same brown paper theme.

For stockings, I'll buy 2 rolls of something cheap and jolly from Wilko. I'll stick with one design for each of my two dc. That way, I don't get confused over which parcel goes in which stocking!

*sparkly - not sparky!