Turn Gifts Into Works of Art With These Gorgeous Wrapping Essentials

It may be a well-worn cliché that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but I will confess that I do judge a gift by its wrapping. You could give me the simplest trinket, but if it’s beautifully packaged, I will treasure it so much more. I love to wrap gifts and am sometimes guilty of putting more thought into the exterior than to what’s inside. I save and reuse beautiful papers and ribbons (its own form of earth-friendliness) and add to my stash of special finds year-round. An enticing gift under the tree is a combination of elegant paper, lavish ribbon (preferably satin or velvet; use wired if you’re all thumbs), a charming tag, and perhaps the extra fillip of an ornament, sprig of holly, or Dresden metallic paper medallion (all of which can also look beautiful against a simple solid paper). 

Here are some favorite papers and ribbons to spark your imagination and make gift-wrapping a little more enjoyable. And because sometimes convenience is a necessity, I’ve included some pretty gift bags, too.