Anyone else is wrapping hell?

[notforonesecond]

It’s a bit cheeky of me to post this really, as I have just finished.

But my god.

I made the insane decision to save all the wrapping til my first day off work. I’ve just sat down now after starting at 9.30am.

I don’t even do fancy wrapping! There’s no ribbons, no bows, but it was such a slog.

I had this bizarre idea that I’d put some Christmas music on and wrap away, all festive. Now my entire body hurts and I have a paper cut.

And the kids will think Santa’s sodding elves did it all!

Solidarity to any one still in the trenches.

I did buy a proper heavy duty tape dispenser this year though which helped immensely. I mean, it broke the minute I opened it but I cobbled it back together with some bubble wrap and I feel like I’d marry it if I could right now.

I’ve been using the ironing board for wrapping for the last couple of years but I have, too late tonight, realised that one lot of wrapping paper had glitter on. The ironing board is now embedded with red glitter and that’s going to be in every item in clothing for the next year, isn’t it?

or a good excuse to just give up ironing?

I did it a few weeks ago, started 10am and finished at 3.10… 15 minute’s before I had to meet dd out of school. Had to beeline it round the house hiding everything in the appropriate places. I’m not fancy either, especially not for the kids when the paper lasts 2.5 seconds.

I take it you weren't actually in the board meeting

Weighed tape dispenser is what you need, makes a massive difference to speed of wrapping.

I also wrapped in batches as things arrived, especially if they came in a nice non descript box.

DS’s PS5 has been wrapped and put back into the cardboard box it came in for about 4 weeks, marked “work documents do not bin”

My sister is taking my kids out skating and her daughter will be in school so tomorrow it will be a wrapping marathon for me! Love it!

When I did this last year it looked like a 2 year old wrapped the stuff that was done later in the evening

just make them out of old clothes - bottle bags out of old jeans take 10 mins max and cost nothing

I'm ashamed I haven't done any yet keep putting it off 🙈🙈

I’m with you. I know I would be disappointed in getting a pile of cloth wrapped presents or all in fabric gift bags as part of the fun is ripping off the paper.

I don’t have a weighted sellotape dispenser but I have one of the ones you can wear on your fingers that I find works well. I did ask DH to help with tape distribution once but he got distracted by the Christmas film on the tv and I had to ask for the tape. Then he’d give me the wrong amount for what I needed and it just made me annoyed and slowed me down. He’s been banished to his parents’ house for the week with the DC so I can get stuff done around work. Bliss!

I am nearly done (last minute things and DH’s stocking to wrap) and I would say it took me about 10 hours to wrap them all. DDs both have two different papers. One from Santa (both the same pattern but one red and one pink) and then one each from us (DD1’s mostly pink and DD2’s mostly red to match their Santa paper). They have personalised Santa stickers from Etsy* that I use to remember whose is whose. DH then has his own roll of paper and other relatives and friends have a different roll. Makes for much easier identification and far fewer labels to write.

*https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1099286656/ - these are lovely quality and not too expensive.

I did mine when I had Covid the other week, just for something to do. Felt quite smug until I looked at them yesterday and realised they look like they were wrapped by a newborn foal 😭 oh well, the majority are for my 3 year old and he won’t mind!

I've still got loads of wrapping to do and I'm not well 😷 😕

I use gift bags, some of them have been around for a few years. I have never wrapped stocking presents though my Mother never did so seems fine to me. DH likes to wrap gifts so he does his.

Thanks for this thread OP, its really cracked me up. Was same as you - idea of mince pie, candles, christmassy music and nice film, 30 minutes in I was so pissed off - cat getting the paper, sellotape falling off table, couldnt find the bloody gift tags. All done now and I'll look forward to it again next year! Happy Christmas all.

Newborn foal 😂

I enjoy wrapping in theory but it’s only actually fun if you have time and are doing it at your leisure with glass of wine and cheesy TV on. What really happens is I run out of time and have to rush it. Still haven’t done it, ugh.

Well done! Have a well earned break.I for many years have bought and wrapped as I go along . 2 or 3 things at a go 5/10 mins max.Much easier I find .Anyway tip for next year now!

Tomorrow is the day for me. I will be hungover, grumpy and resentful. Fun!

I hate wrapping and I'm shit at it. I delegate it to my husband and eldest.

John Lewis used to do this (but I think for mostly their own gifts bought in store). I agree I’d pay for this too!

I got a wrapping paper cutter off Amazon. It's great loads easier than scissors. Still got some to do though.

Still got a few to do - will get it done on my lunch break as I'm wfh today and everyone else is out!

I get it into my head that I love wrapping and come up with all sorts of elaborate wrapping ideas courtesy of Pinterest.

This year it was hand made gift tags out of air dry clay that had the recipient’s names stamped into them. I bought the stuff, then promptly lost interest in the whole thing.

I get about 4 presents in, and then lose the will to live.

I have wrapped all main presents now. I’ve just got stockings to do. My kids are late teens/early 20s so stockings mainly consist of vodka, tequila and new pants so they don’t take long to do. DH and I have a tradition that stocking presents are wrapped on Christmas Eve while we share a bottle of Baileys.

I think I have mastered it. I do it at the kitchen island so no bending and do a number of presents at a time side by side - so I will cut the wrapping paper for 5 presents all side by side, then move onto the sellotape. Then onto another 5. I joke it's like a conveyor belt for wrapping

I bought a roll of Christmas stickers and I'm using them instead of sellotape, saves nails as well as time

Ha I read that as you were putting your granddaughter in a sack 😂 someone needs to go to Specsavers 👓 😁

I hate wrapping. I used to pay my daughter to do it but she's not at home now so that's not an option. Tried fabric gift bags which I thought were great but my mother was heard to say oh, the best thing about this present is the gift bag.