Finishing touches.
In the past year, I have realized something about myself. Some of my friends are quite good with finishing touches, such as nice wrapping paper, beautiful bows, that sort of thing. I, on the other hand, am no good at those things whatsoever. When I am going to buy someone a present, I spend a lot of time thinking about the present itself. This is for two reasons: I am not naturally very good at thinking of presents, so it requires some work, and I hate shopping. I try very hard to come up with something good. And then I purchase said thing. And then I forget to wrap it. I put all my energy into coming up with the present; there is none left for presentation.
To be honest, I think the only wrapping paper I have is Christmas paper. This has been a problem in the past, when I need to wrap baby shower gifts at the last minute and have . . . nothing. If I’m at a birthday party or baby shower, my gifts are always the ugliest. I have been embarrassed by this in the past, and am still not quite sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I don’t want my friends to feel as if I don’t care. I do care! I have spent time thinking about their presents! On the other hand, I am never going to be able to match the presentation and artful bows of some of my friends (if I don’t have wrapping paper, do you really imagine I even HAVE bows?), so I might as well just not even try. (Isn’t that a beautiful attitude? If I can’t win, I shouldn’t try.)
Ultimately, though, I think I should consider the presentation as part of the gift, so it’s probably something I need to work on, at least a little bit. Unfortunately, I have made a bad start to this resolution, since I need to wrap a present for a friend’s birthday today. And, as I said, all I have is Christmas paper. Some of it is kind of wintery, though, so that should be fine, right? It’s January. It’s cold. Winter paper is totally appropriate.
Once again, my present will be the ugliest at the party. Sigh.
January 5th, 2008 at
I would just about always prefer to have people put as much thought into gifts as you do, and just forget about the wrapping/presentation.
(speaking of gifts, I still have your Christmas gift - for the record, it’s not wrapped.
)
January 5th, 2008 at
HA! I always have the ugliest present at the party. Although gift bags help a lot. They’re more expensive, though (which is why you shop for them at the Dollar Store in bulk! They have really cute stuff sometimes!).
You would feel better if you had seen the birthday present I gave to my goddaughter last week. I promise.
January 6th, 2008 at
So yeah I love wrapping paper and all the stuff that goes with. I actually love ribbon more than wrapping paper. Anyway, good RS tip is to buy paper you can use year round and just change out the box! I love the idea, so Im on the hunt for my 2008 wrapping papers. Bags are also a safe wrapping idea. I got six for a buck at AC Moore on sale.
January 6th, 2008 at
i have actually never bought real wrapping paper myself. i get free wrapping paper thrown to me two times a week with the free newspaper. i’m more worried about the gifts, and wrapping paper just seems so much less important, you know? i don’t want to lead you down my road though. if only i lived closer and we went to the same parties, you wouldn’t have the ugliest wrapped present anymore!
January 7th, 2008 at
I buy just colored paper (no pattern) and a spool of different colored ribbons. In a pinch, I’ve turned Christmas paper inside-out, so it’s just white.
January 8th, 2008 at
fyi, i loved the gift, and didn’t even think about the wrap job. i knew what it might be by the size and feel of the gift, and then i anticipated it the entire time opening it, and then, “YES!” It was what i was hoping. thank you, friend. now, i won’t have to stress about not getting it back to the library in time, even after i’ve renewed it 3 times! but great tips about wrapping, girls!