How to Wrap Homemade Gifts

Homemade gifts are truly wonderful gestures of love and appreciation. Devoting extra time and effort to craft something special from scratch is the perfect way to show a loved one how much they mean to you. However, while you may be a dab hand at needlecraft, winemaking, painting or ceramics, the art of gift wrapping is something that not everyone can easily master. If your gift-wrapping efforts leave a lot to be desired, consider the following tips just in time for the upcoming festive season.

Artwork

If you’re a gifted painter or portrait artist, a custom piece can be a truly wonderful offering for a birthday, anniversary or any celebratory occasion. However, protecting your work from damage in the period between completion and handing it over to your recipient is crucial. Ideally, you should sandwich your artwork between two pieces of cardboard or foam board to keep it from bending before wrapping it in bubble wrap for extra protection.

It is also wise to add a layer of acid-free tissue paper directly against the surface of your artwork to prevent unwanted chemical reactions. Once your work is protected, you can pop it straight into a gift bag as a convenient alternative to wrapping paper.

Edible Items

Edible gifts always go down a treat, particularly during Christmas. Nevertheless, caution should always be exercised to avoid any food-safety risks. For example, if you want to whip up a batch of homemade jam or chutney to hand out to friends and relatives, ensuring your jars are thoroughly sterilised is always important. Afterwards, all you need to do is tie a vibrant ribbon around each jar and attach labels detailing the contents and an estimated best-before date. You could even use sterilised jars as containers for homemade cookies, chocolates, sweets and savoury snacks.

Above all, it is worth noting that perishable items should be kept refrigerated until you plan on handing them over to your recipients.

Homemade Clothing

Having the ability to create clothing and accessories from scratch is a unique and desirable skill that only a few of us possess. If you can sew, knit or crochet, homemade items, such as a chunky-knit woollen scarf or a simple DIY tote bag, make excellent gifts for any occasion. However, attempting to wrap soft, awkwardly-shaped items can be infuriating. To save you any unnecessary hassle and to keep your DIY treasures safe from damage, wrap them in colourful tissue paper and present them in a gift bag or box.

Jewellery

Jewellery is a classic, fail-safe gift option that symbolises loyalty, faith and endearment - making it yourself adds an extra layer of sentimental value. Whether your homemade piece is an intricate sterling silver necklace or a simple yet meaningful woven friendship bracelet, it deserves to be presented beautifully. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available, from simple yet elegant organza bags to luxuriously padded presentation boxes.

Bath Products

Homemade bath products are another fail-safe option suitable for almost any recipient. Additionally, by having ultimate control over the ingredients in your homemade products, you can craft soaps, bath bombs, lotions and soothing oils for friends and family members with sensitive skin or allergies. Additionally, you can get creative when wrapping these gifts. For instance, you could arrange a selection of bath bombs in a hamper or decorated shoe box. You could even purchase individual soap gift boxes for an extra luxurious touch.

Ceramics

Of all the homemade gifts you can craft, ceramics, including ornaments and crockery, require the utmost care and attention when it comes to wrapping. Packaging your creations in protective materials, such as bubble wrap, honeycomb paper or even newspaper, is crucial to prevent accidental breakages. Once your items are swaddled, consider adding an extra layer of protection with a sturdy gift box and plenty of void fill to stop the contents from moving around inside.

Candles

Making your own candles in a range of vibrant colours and bespoke fragrances is a fun yet simple hobby that can yield fantastic gift options. However, candles can easily snap or warp, so wrapping them well is vital if you want your DIY creations to reach your recipients unscathed. As such, consider wrapping your candles individually to protect the surface of the wax. Alternatively, you could create candle jars or tins, whereby the container is a part of the product.