Thanks so much for all of your kind words, congrats, and excitement regarding the twins. We’re excited too and so very happy. Now onto today’s post…
I have always gravitated towards Kraft paper for wrapping gifts. I love its natural look, complete with nothing but a simple raffia ribbon, but sometimes it’s fun to add a more personal touch. When I have the time, I’ll paint or color on the wrapped gift, but ever since making this paint sample garland, I’ve been having fun decorating gifts with cut-outs from paint samples. By the way, I always ask the people working in the paint section if I can have some of the samples for crafts projects, and thus far, they’ve always said yes.
Do you do a lot of gift wrapping? It seems all my friends are having babies these days, and so weekends are filled with baby showers or first birthday parties…and I kind of love it. 
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How adorable! Will definitely use this idea.
I love it! I did gift-wrapping similar to this for my boyfriend’s folks at Christmas. Check it out, so cute!! http://cluelessnutrition.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/2012-01-051.jpg
Mindy, Oh, I love your bags. Ruff – so cute!
That is such a cool idea! Bookmarking it
The one thing I like to do is save tissue paper from places like Anthropologie (theirs is so nice) and reuse it. Cheap but people always love the wrapping!
Maggie,
So funny as I just saved some Anthro tissue paper I received in a gift. I think I’m going to use it to cover a picture frame. Love the fall-like colors!
Love the caterpillar!
Do you do a lot of gift wrapping? = no because I don’t buy actual gifts. I buy gift cards. Or just send money. Sounds lame, huh. But at least I know if I buy a gift card they can get what they want…but I do kind of miss wrapping things and getting crafty.
Good thing I have food photography to stage and set up. That’s my crafty and creative outlet
Averie,
Truth be told, my favorite gifts to receive are gift cards. It’s like cash to go shopping. Yes please, thank you.
P.S. Your photos are absolutely stunning – definitely found your creative niche!
How gorgeous!
Oh gosh, I’m terrible at wrapping. But also awesome, because I once wrapped my dad’s birthday gift in five separate tiny pieces of scrap giftwrap. It was a feat of stickytape, I’ll tell you that.
Hannah, and I bet dad loved it.
I love wrapping gifts! I hate gift bags, which 95% of people seem to use these days. Your wrapping is adorable. I’ll definitely use this idea!
Maryea,
Not a fan of the gift bags either unless I’m going to a shower, since it makes unwrapping in front of everyone so much easier. But otherwise, they’re no fun.
We do craft paper here too since we buy massive rolls of it at a time. I love earthy crafty wrapping when it comes to gifts. I like using twine too for the ribbon especially if it’s a baked item for the teachers. I loved Summer’s wrapped gifts, but I love the caterpillar too!
I always use craft paper and raffia (soul sisters), but I’ll spice it up by using a colored one…like teal or deep purple….but I LOVE YOUR IDEA!!! That is so cute! I’m doing it for the next gift!
Oh and I totally forgot to tell you on our last soul sister discussion…Zoë from Zoë’s is my friend’s mother!!! I try to replicate too and can’t ever get it. Sigh…guess I’ll have to keep eating lunch there!!!
Liz,
No way! You know Zoe of Zoe’s. What on earth is her secret?!? Best chicken ever!
Of all the posts to miss, I just had to be out for yesterday’s news?? Oh.my.goodness!!! Heather, I am SO happy for you and your family! Congratulations just doesn’t even begin to say it!! *hugs*
Thanks so much Heather! We will definitely need to grab some Sweet Cece’s soon. It’s buy one get one free, weekday afternoons from 4 to 6.
Oh man. I always thought I was that total weirdo because I love gift-wrapping. For some reason, it really calms me down. It’s relaxing in that way that folding warm clothes, fresh out of the dryer is! I think it’s because it’s so methodical and, since I usually wrap boxes, the angles are always 90* and things work out nicely. (And when they don’t, I get upset and start over. Ha.)
That’s such a good idea, asking for samples! Now I might feel brave enough to do that.
Sarah,
We are kindred spirits! I dream of a gift wrapping/arts and crafts room some day, and one of my favorite things to do is to jump into a pile of warm blankets fresh from the dryer…much more fun than folding them.
Oh childhood birthdays.. miss all those days of goody bags and pony rides in the back yard haha. Glad you’re making time for crafts!
I always use the back (white) side of gift wrapping paper and then decorate it with a collage or draw something on it. It’s a great way to use cheap Christmas paper all year around.
Katie,
That is a GREAT idea! Thanks.
ah love! have you seen where they take those paper paint chip things and DIY paper trees or ornaments? love that! next year i’m totally making all of my christmas decor!
Melissa, yes, I have something like that – I can’t remember where, probably Pinterest or something. So neat!
I love it! I definitely need to start doing my own wrapping without traditional store-bought wrapping paper. It’s so much more personalized!
I remember when I was younger my grandma used to wrap all of my gifts in the comics section of the newspaper and I thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Erika,
I always loved newspaper wrapped gifts. They were just fun, you know?
LOVE the idea of the paint samples. I collected a bunch of them a while back thinking I was going to do some sort of craft with them…yep, that hasn’t happened.
So creative! I should really wrap presents using that idea one day
I would never have thought to use paint samples! I bet the recipients will appreciate the personalized look. I should stop resorting to store bought wrapping paper.
Been reading your blog for a few weeks now and loving it. Just saw your news! I have a 3 yr old daughter…. and 16month old twin girls. You have so much joy coming your way. Challenges yes, but so many good times. I hope you have a happy and uneventful pregnancy!!
Oh Trish, thanks so much. Your comment was very encouraging, and it’s been really nice to hear such wonderful things from all the moms of twins out there. It gets me so excited. I know it’s going to be super challenging at times, but we’re up for it!
love this gift wrap idea! you are so creative! I am learning so much about how to do things cuter then I normally would
thanks!! xoxo
I hate gift wrapping. I am terrible at it! But I love the paint sample idea. Fun and creative!
Oh my gosh Heather, I am SO excited for you! I have been following your blog for over a year and a half now and I honestly feel like you are one of my close girlfriends
So as I read that you were expecting my jaw dropped and as I read on about the twins my face lit up as my mouth hung open and a huge smile came across my face. How overwhelmingly amazing this journey will be for you and your family. You are a great mother and an excellent wife and I can say that I admire all that you do. Always so crafty and creative. Gives me inspiration to read and see all that you write. Being a first time mother to a 3 month old, I have referred to your blog time ad time again for recipes, info on baby led weaning and what you did in certain situations with little Summer. Can’t wait to cybermeet the new little bundles of joy! 
Danielle,
Wow, thanks for such a sweet comment – made my whole night! I’m so glad my blog has helped you in the early days of motherhood. Although those first few months already seem like a distant memory to me, I do remember them being so wonderful but really hard at the same time. I should go back and read my early posts about Summer before the twins arrive to prepare myself. Thanks again, and I hope you had a good weekend!
Awesome idea! Those little chips cut into cool shapes or just two-sided would make a cool mobile too?! I go to our newspaper and get the end of the rolls of the newsprint, free and do so cheap!
. They actually have a bin the front office where you can take a roll (be nice please they say…). I’ve made potato stamps by cutting thing out of a potato and using a regular stamp pad. Just scribbling shapes, lines, curly-q’s on the paper too. I hate that wrapping generally gets used only once!
At a party, I’ll ask for the ribbon, bows and paper.
Home for re-use. I’ve even been known to make a “patchwork” of paper when I don’t have a large enough size of “recycled” paper.
And if course for your sewing/quilting friends, use a fat quarter, 1/2-yd or whole yard of fabric to wrap your gift!
I’m def trying your paint search idea from now on, watch out what you may get back!?
xo
Marty,
Love the potato stamp idea. Brilliant!
You are so talented with crafts! Have you always been into them?
Meagan,
Yeah, I guess so. I’ve always loved art and go through my craftsy phases. Definitely a fun little hobby.
Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS on the little Heabies coming along. Twins? Oh my goodness. That’s double cute and double the work. If you want some guest posts at the time keep me in mind. I’ll be full on into postgrad nutrition/psych by then and should find some micronutrient or psychological thing to blab on about.
I only wrap kids presents and really go for it. I discovered that the wrapping is the main thing with kids. If it’s not wrapped, with bows, stickers, sparkles that fall out when it’s opened, then it’s not really a ‘present’. I once wrapped an interesting shaped/coloured stone I found at the river and my niece loved it.
Sara,
Thanks so much, and I love the story of the stone. I’ll have to remember that for future birthdays, and I’ll make sure lots of sparkly things are involved in the wrapping process.
Lovely post — those gifts scream “understated elegance!”
But moreover, Heather, I am SO delighted to hear that your family is growing. Congratulations.
Thanks Gena!
Congratulations on the twins! Wow that is so exciting! I wish you all the best in your pregnancy and can’t wait to read more about your changing family!
Thanks so much Alex.
oooo i love that idea!!!!!!!!!!! so pretty and simple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is such a great idea, who wouldn’t love a gift wrapped with such love? you’re so crafty!
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