Right at home: Fun and festive holiday gift paper
This photo provide by Pier 1 Imports shows a realistic birch bark pattern that graces wrapping paper.
Antlers Gift Wrap, with a handsome motif of antlers in gold on a midnight background that is one of the wrapping papers in The Container Store’s holiday collection. Masculine and feminine prints, often rendered in less traditional hues, are one of several elements trending this season.
This photo provide by Pier 1 Imports shows a versatile wrap that has season-ready poinsettias on one side, and holiday wishes rendered in chalkboard-style typography on the other.
English artist Louis Wain’s (1860-1939) Christmas party full of festive cats makes a fun and fitting wrapping paper for a feline lover by Zazzle designer Anthro Animals.
Sparkly holiday lights at night inspired this dramatic wrapping paper design from Zazzle designer AeshnidaAesthetics.
Large, colorful ornaments tumble across an eye-catching, almost 3-D wrapping paper from Zazzle designer Unique Christmas Gifts.
Why settle for run-of-the-mill holiday gift wrapping when there are dozens of wonderful papers available?
This year’s designs reflect what’s going on in decor, with metallics of all kinds, and masculine and feminine motifs playing off each other, says Krissa Rossbund, senior style editor at Traditional Home magazine.
And as with home décor, there’s also room for adding your own touch.
“There’s wonderful visual tension right now in design that has a masculine slant,” Rossbund says. For instance, The Container Store’s got a repeating deer print on a blue background, and a handsome gold antler print on black; both have a menswear vibe, great for wrapping guy gifts. (www.containerstore.com)
Rifle Paper Company’s got some designs that aren’t overly Christmas-y yet evoke the season. Graphite Lace puts a feminine print on a chic gray background. Holiday Greens renders flowers and greenery in rich, earthy hues. Blush, mint, charcoal, gold and cream in a similar print make for a Winter Wonderland. (www.riflepaperco.com)
Pier 1 has a realistic, birch-bark printed paper, and a homespun plaid that reverses to poinsettias and holly. (www.pier1.com)
Yummy, photo-printed gingerbread cooks up a luscious paper at Zazzle. Black may not seem like a seasonal color, but with brightly colored ornaments, holiday lights or reindeer in the foreground, you have a paper that pops. The retailer also has some personalized options that let you add a family photo or name to a design of your choice. (www.zazzle.com)
Royal-blue paper studded with glitter creates an elegant wrap at Paper Source. And for fun, there’s a Hanukkah paper populated with herds of llamas. A page of hand-drawn Hanukkah wishes in white on blue would be just as pretty framed as it would be as wrapping paper. (www.papersource.com)
At Paper Mojo, find some art papers perfect for small and special gifts. One refined, color-saturated paper is hand-marbled by Brazilian artist Renato Crepaldi.
“We were originally attracted to Renato’s work because of his vibrant colors and crisp lines,” says company co-founder Shelly Gardner-Alley. “He’s exhibited his work in art galleries around the world.”
The retailer also has Japanese prints known as “chiyogami” silkscreened onto papers made with kozo plant fibers, available on special order. And an Indian paper is embossed with myriad metallic pebbles, giving the impression that you’re wrapping something in hammered gold. Also, there are Snow & Graham’s striking yet simple papers: Designs include ribbon candy and holiday lights. (www.papermojo.com)
Recycled cotton fiber is used to make eco-friendly papers at Luxe Paperie. On one, silvery reindeer strut across a rich yellow background; on another, a gold, French, damask-inspired design on deep red looks like luxe linen. Mod Moroccan and ikat patterns are rendered in soy inks on recycled content paper. (www.luxepaperie.com)
Rossbund suggests making gift wrap your own by opting for a solid “signature” color. Opt for a couple of big rolls in colors you love, and then customize them with add-ons like contrasting ribbon bows or even yarn.
“A skein of yarn is a cost-friendly solution and adds a welcoming warm texture to packages that’s reminiscent of a cozy sweater,” she says. “Get creative using knots instead of bows for a simple, graphic appearance.”
Think beyond the gift-wrap roll, if you want. Foreign-language newspapers, and pages from children’s books or coffee-table art books make interesting wrapping paper.