Best Bang for Your Buck:
If you’re interested in creating your own gift wrapping style, it may seem a bit overwhelming at first. This is especially true if you don’t have any materials with which to start the process. In my latest BOWhemian WRAPsody video, I don’t actually wrap any gifts, but rather share tips on how to begin building your collection of gift wrapping supplies.
This short video highlights some basic rules of thumb for making initial investments that will give you the most bang for your buck. My best advice is to resist the temptation to buy that beautiful ribbon that you love so much…chances are the colours and pattern will be so limiting that you’ll never actually get the chance to use it! I’ve made this mistake many times in the past….you know, those “I just have to have that!” purchases. We’ve all done it! When you’re first establishing your basic supplies, always ask yourself these questions:
- Is the colour neutral?
- Is the pattern busy and/or limiting? (I recommend only solids to begin with, especially if you are shopping on a budget.)
- Do I already have something similar?
Gift Wrapping Inventory Must-Haves:
- solid, neutral colours of both ribbon and paper
- varying widths of ribbon/cord/string in each of your foundation colours
Think Wardrobe!
I compare my collection of gift wrapping supplies to that of a wardrobe. In your wardrobe, you probably have your classic solid coloured pants/skirts that coordinate with various other accessories/prints you wear. The “staples” or classic pieces are an essential element to your overall wardrobe, even though they may not be your favourites. These pieces are often boring and lack personality, but their importance can not be underestimated. They are essential components.
When you begin to develop your collection of gift wrapping materials, think of it in much the same way…you will add those awesome colours and patterns, but only after you establish the fundamental elements with classic neutrals. Once you have those in place, you can begin to look for those pieces that add more personality and interest to your gifts, but you have to start somewhere.
Patterned Paper:
In today’s video, I also suggest purchasing a 12″ X 12″ (light weight) scrapbooking pad. This is a great way to incorporate patterned paper designs into your collection, but be sure the weight of the paper isn’t too heavy or it will not be pliable enough for wrapping. Although scrapbooking paper does limit the size of the gifts you can wrap, you can check out some of my other videos and tips for “patching” to make smaller pieces of paper work for you:
Take some time to check out some previous posts from my archives. You’ll find some great DIY projects, recipes and much more! If you enjoy my blog, you can subscribe and get an email notification as soon as I post! Thanks for visiting!
Cindy
