Day 75 of 365 - Gift Wrapping, Phase Two

It's only a week until Christmas.  Even though I will not be having our family gathering until the weekend after, I want to get the gift wrapping completed this week.

I am one of those people that gift bags were made for.  I have a large collection of Christmas ones which I recycle from year to year.  Stock of different sizes is replenished during end of season sales.  That's also when I pick up more gift tags and tissue.

However, I am also drawn to some of the very beautiful rolls of gift wrap, especially when they are heavily discounted post-Christmas.  Last year I bought some really lovely ones.

So, this year I am using gift bags less and actually wrapping most in paper.  There is a good reason that I converted to gift bags many years ago.  I am not gifted with wrapping dexterity or the talent to beautify a gift with bows or embellishments.

For me, it's a slow process, to just make it presentable, try not to tear the paper, and put on a nice tag.  I know people who make it artistic and creative.  Sadly, I am not one of them. :)

One of the reasons I am choosing paper wrapping this year is for our little grandson.  He is at an age where tearing the paper off a gift is half the fun.  He won't care how pretty it looks.

Gosh, I can remember when our boys were young and toys would come in oddly shaped packages.  That was before gift bags became popular, and wrapping could be quite a challenge.  Many times, the paper tore in the process and it was back to square one.

One of the toys I got for our grandson this year is in a sort of half box.  I managed to carefully wrap it yesterday and hope it will remain intact for him until our celebration.  It's placed in a storage box to keep it safe from my mishandling until then.

I used to try to make paper wrapped gifts prettier with bows and other add-ons.  But, in the crafty department, I just tend to overdo my efforts and it ends up looking messy.  Hence, my relief that so many choices of gift bags became available.

Some of them are quite beautiful, with extras already attached.  Of course, those are the pricey ones, so they are best purchased at end of season.  They are really lovely for a special gift.

I did not get as much wrapping done yesterday as I had hoped.  I had forgotten how much faster using gift bags can be.  Today is another day.  After doing some errands in the sunshine this morning I'll get back at it.  It is satisfying when it's all done, so I look forward to that.

Onward!  The mission will be accomplished, all in good time.



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