FOR YOU | GIFTING
PHOTOGRAPHY LEO ACKER, ANT DUNCAN PROP STYLING SAM DUFFY, AGATHE GITS Wrapping paper, curling ribbon, decorative bows, ribbon and gift tags, from a selection at Tesco
PREPARATION IS KEY If you’re buying individual sheets of wrapping paper, gently roll with the pattern on the inside so there are no unwanted creases. »ô ÷Û ô «ã ÷Éè ã £Û Ûã – that way you won’t forget who you are wrapping for. If you don’t want to buy festive wrapping, brown paper is a classic and can be teamed with any colour of ribbon, bow or tag to make it look Christmassy. MAKE A STYLE STATEMENT Rich dark hues, such as navy blue and aubergine, are the colours of the moment when it comes to Christmas wrapping. Don’t be afraid to step away from the classics, such as red and green, and try something bold and new. The woodland trend is still going strong. Collect twigs and cones from country walks and
attach them to gifts with craft É É «Ûã ô« É £»è £èÂ
but don’t tie it in unt il the last minute.
Papercraft is also big at the moment. Use your leftover wrapping to make some pinwheels or fans to decorate your gifts with. Pompoms are another favourite and can easily be made with wool.
Recycle old Christmas baubles and attach to your gifts to add a festive touch.
KEEP IT NEAT Always fold the edges of your wrapping paper under to hide rough edges.
Author and wrapping expert Jane Means runs gift wrapping courses across the UK. Find out more at janemeans.com.
Reuse old tassels and fringing by tying them onto presents with narrow ribbon.
When you’re wrapping boxes, use double-sided sticky tape to hide the seam on the edge of the box. Don’t use too much paper and sticky tape. Try to disguise your tape under ribbon if you aren’t using double-sided tape. PUT YOUR STAMP ON IT Tying some fresh greenery to your gift will give it a fragrance and make it stand out from the rest. The best greenery to use is laurel, bay and rosemary,
Tricky shapes, sorted! Awkward shapes are best ô ÔÔ ô«ã¨ ö« » materials. If you need to wrap a potted plant, a clever way to do this is to recycle any fabric remnants you might have at home. Simply place the plant in the centre of the fabric and gather, then tie with ribbon to secure. Tissue and cellophane are also easy to work with and can be Ôè ¨ Û ¢ ÉÁ »É » É «Ûã
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