Forget generic ribbons and bows on your gifts this year. Instead, take your presentation cues from one of these six whimsical packages that make the wrapping as individual as the receiver.

Reindeer Games

Photography + Craft: Chloé Comte

Plain white craft paper gets dressed up with an array of reindeer stickers adorned with sparkly antlers in various shades for this charming gift. A few lengths of thin blue baker’s twine is a subtle embellishment that keeps the focus on the deer, while the wooden moose tag is a nod to Canada.

Pastel Pastiche

Photography + Craft: Chloé Comte

Traditional red and green no longer have to be your go-to colours for the holidays. This gift has taken that philosophy to heart with its graphic colour palette, but instead of ribbon and bow in one of the matching colours, the silver-trimmed ivory ribbon and sequinned snowflake add shimmer and sparkle to elevate the look.

French Flair

Photography + Craft: Chloé Comte

Candy pink meets bold black and white in this pretty study in complementary craftiness. Solid shades work best when accenting a graphic patterned paper, and this colour combination brings to mind perennially chic Parisian style. The heart-shaped tag is the icing on the gateau.

Writer's Tip: Precision is key when working with geometric patterns. Make sure your edges are sharp and your bow is perfectly symmetrical.

Rainbow Bright

Photography + Craft: Chloé Comte

There’s nothing better than a fanciful gift for the child in all of us. This fun wrapping scheme piles on the playfulness with kitschy holiday motifs like bonbons and candy canes, pom-pom trim used as ribbon and a sparkly rainbow (with fringed ends!). The predominantly white backdrop not only makes the rainbow element pop, it also keeps the look from becoming too saccharine.

Starry Skies

Photography + Craft: Chloé Comte

Gilded stars on neutral kraft paper set the scene for this sophisticated present, with its complimentary ribbon and folded paper ornament trim. Here, scale and texture are important. The size and matte finish of the white star helps make it pop into focus against a blanket of glimmer reminiscent of twinkle lights.

Wrapper's Tip: Washi tape is a great option to use when you want the effect of ribbon and the security of adhesive.

Gold Standard

Photography + Craft: Chloé Comte

Luxury papers call for a little extra effort in choosing embellishments that enhance, not overpower. On-theme adornments like the sparkly ribbon and antique-look bells that pull out the rich tones of old gold in the paper offer a quiet sophistication to this gift and make it almost too lovely
to open.