I've lost the knack......

QVC do packs of foil bags in assorted sizes and designs. They have a ribbon threaded through to close and accommodate the most awkward of shapes prettily. My gift wrapping is a dawdle now and additional embellishments complete the job if you enjoy artistic finishing.

I bought a very good quality tape dispenser & use scotch tape as it’s more forgiving. I only buy rolls of paper & good quality. Big items just get a large bow these days. I keep boxes that are perfect in size & condition so I can bundle things in tissue inside then just wrap the box, which is easier. I fold the outside edge of the paper to get a nicer looking finish. I taught myself and have had a lot of practice as I’ve ended up with the job at work doing the annual Xmas party gifts. I don’t really like it but if it’s with doing, then it’s worth the effort to do it right & avoid the frustration of it all when it goes wrong. I now nearly always accept a shops offer of free gift wrapping if I can be bothered to wait, I also watch what they do & implement their ideas if I like them!

The world is entirely divided between those who can wrap and those who are utterly useless. I come under the latter.
My daughter comes under the former. Her presents are beautifully smooth with mitred corners and delightful decoration. Mine are like that in my mind, in practice they wrinkled with s crunchy corners and decoration that is always threatening to come unstuck.

Quickly, before the ‘C’ season sets in, could someone let me know whether there has been a memo from on high saying we must say ‘holiday’ or ‘festive’ instead?

- I'm not on it yet, honest!

Agreed, Imperfect! I've just been following a thread on Mumsnet slating Love Actually. Now I know it's sentimental drivel, but it's still one of my Christmas films of choice and has had me weeping over the wrapping on many an occasion! Though perhaps the {wine]'s to blame.

Maggiemaybe I know we are still using the 'C' word carefully here on GN, but I think we are alike in the way we approach festive wrapping and I am now longing for a 'C' film and that glass of wine ... bugger the presents!

My friend always wraps presents beautifully. She is very inventive, She had to wrap a frying pan as a wedding present. She went to the local Asian fabric shop, bought a soft sheer length and tied the gift up using the fabric and ribbon.
It looked gorgeous.

You could get an odd roll of wallpaper from DIY shop. Often sold off cheap and you will have enough wrapping paper to last for evermore.

Could also use a piece of cloth, large scarf, tablecloth etc and tie up with some raffia. Then reuse cloth as previously.

One of my former colleagues used to embellish her wrapping paper with a series of tiny pleats or tucks. She could wrap a present very elaborately in a few short minutes. I tried it once, but after about an hour my pleats were grubby, wonky and decidedly unimpressive. I'm sure it gets better with practice.

I really enjoy the Christmas wrapping. I do it all in one or two mammoth sessions, with some festive music playing, an appropriate weepy seasonal film on the TV, and some . Using carefully chosen paper and accessories. [smug emoticon]

But the one-off birthday presents are a different matter. They're always last minute, so I just tend to grab the best fit gift bag, and bung it in with a scrumpled sheet of tissue on top. I do have a big storage box full of bags, etc (mainly rescued from the bin the DC tend to throw them in), so I'm sure there'd be one to fit your CD rack, Kitty.

In France, if you buy something in a high street shop that is customarily given as a gift, such as perfume, chocolates, gloves and scarves, or china and glassware as wedding gifts, the proprietor or assistant will offer to wrap it for you free of charge. They used to do a terrific job, including ribbon complete with decorative bows and curls. But last time I went to a favourite ‘lifestyle’ shop that sells a range of beautifully made gadgets for trendy leisure pursuits eg mini telescopes, lava lamps, aromatherapy fragrance diffusers, elegant rucksacks, wind-up radios or individual travel espresso makers, the cool young staff there had not really picked up the knack, and we’re having dreadful trouble with sticky tape, sharp corners in boxes etc, and I felt quite sorry for them.

Vouchers don't need wrapping....

I find that by doing the wrapping in my bedroom i can just plough through it. I set up my ironing board as it is the right height to work on, lay every thing on the bed that needs wrapping, put scissors, sellotape, tags ribbons etc on top of my chest of drawers then just get on with it. Nothing too fancy, but they look passable when under the tree.I also have a pile of xmas bags to put everyones gift straight into then they end up in a line down the landing until they are either delivered or placed under the tree. I devote nearly a whole day to doing this and the feeling of satisfaction when its done is huge!!!! phew

I giggled at the thought of a beautifully wrapped parcel, topped off with a boiled egg DeeWBW! Best misposting for a long time!

DeeWBW. Loved your mispost. Can just imagine a hard boiled egg giving that finishing touch to a wrapped present!

Grrr predictive text! CA...Catpul ...not sure of spelling)

Kitty happy a nniversary for next week ... THE CD rack is a lovely idea ... filed under 'steal.' l would be inclined to go with a other cover,/ ribbon idea. I don't mind wrapping, but big presents are a pain! DH has CA (spelling?) tunnel syndrome so l do most of the wrapping here. I tend to start well and then run out of steam at Christmas so the last few probably look a bit raggedy, but l hope the love is apparent! X

It's nice to see presents that people have wrapped well but it has never bothered me that mine look like something in the final rounds of pass the parcel.
I won a Christmas hamper (wrapping paper and suchlike) and it contained a book called 'Wrapped' by Kristie Allsopp which I have never really looked at. I didn't frankly think that it would interest many people but this has made me remember it. It's still like brand new so I'll take it to the charity shop.

Tegan, I've got one of those sellotape dispensers - it doesn't help!!!

I'm doing my shoeboxes for children and my first one looks dreadful. The shoe box is one of those with the lid attached. A nightmare. I got one side right but then couldn't remember how I did it.

I'm going to to buy a sellotape dispenser for this Christmas, sit down at the table with all my bits and pieces (and your helpful hints) and a large glass of something! The first ones to be wrapped will probably be ok!

I hate wrapping and have never been good at it. My solution over the years has been to purchase only regular shaped gifts, preferably boxed. The paper table cloth sounds like a good idea, if ever I buy something humungous.

DiLs are both teachers and have the knack with wrapping. Both are great wrappers.

One can sometimes buy an odd roll of wallpaper in one of the poundshops - look out for the thick ones which are very strong.