let’s share & connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Two Story Tudor

  • parties & gatherings
  • design & decor
  • order in life & home
Home » “The Gift Wrap Gather”, a gift wrapping party

March 26, 2019 · 2 Comments

“The Gift Wrap Gather”, a gift wrapping party

CELEBRATE· celebrations· Christmas· entertaining· traditions

beautifully creatively wrapped gifts

How to host a wrapping party

It has become an unmissable tradition. This gift wrapping party gathers together friends to do the enjoyable chore of wrapping Christmas gifts. It started out because of a plethora of supplies I needed to share and a desire to accomplish a common task with my favorite people.

the Event

I usually host this day of wrapping, the Thursday before Christmas. There are always friends that haven’t finished their gift shopping and there are other friends that have been all wrapped-up for weeks. This has worked out to be a great way for me to get to spend time with my friends over the holiday season and for all of us to do something both necessary and creative all “rolled” (lol, wrapping pun) into one.

the Invitation

I have found that inviting everyone from 9am to 9pm, open house style works best. I tend to invite everyone I see on a weekly basis, (yes, it is about 50-70 women) and usually 30-40 come when they can during that timeframe. I made these invites on Canva and either texted photos of this or handed the paper invites out as I saw friends.


the Supplies

I do happen to have a thing for wrapping paper and ribbon and the combinations they can create. I have loved pretty wrapping paper since I was young and dreamed of designed it for Hallmark. After a round about way, I ended up majoring in ‘Surface Pattern Design’ (the major at Syracuse University that is a BFA designing patterns into repeat) in college. Years later I am still drawn to the mixes of pattern and color. Some Christmases I have wrapped all our families’ gifts in leopard print paper and red grosgrain ribbon or birch bark paper and teal satin ribbon or brown craft paper with all different ribbons. To me the wrapped gifts under our tree are as much a part of the Christmas decor as the wreath on our front door- so you see I get inspired by the beauty and creativity it involves.

I label the paper, ribbon, tags, etc around our family room and dinner table area. I have extra folding tables available because there needs to be enough space for the wrapping to actually happen also. Ahead of time I collect scissors and tape and I used my Ikea rolling cart to house those supplies. As the day goes on I try to pick up and keep organizing as we go.

the Eats

So this is the area that does intimidate me the most and so I over-compensate and over-plan and over-worry about the food. I put out some light brunch items to snack on and then last year I had 2-3 things in the crockpots going most of the day for the “lunch/dinner” crowd. Every year I do way too much food and I must remember this when I plan the next one- the guests rarely take time for a “meal” sized snack but usually just a bite or two and a glass of wine or punch. This charcuterie board I set up last year was just WAY too much!

dried fruit, cheese, crackers, nuts, olives, cured meats, veggies, dip
buffalo chicken dip, cranberry meatballs

As guests arrive to this gift wrapping party, I attempt to show them around in regards to where the food and drinks are and all the wrapping supplies and I strongly encourage them to “help-themselves” because otherwise there could be way too many people that I don’t get a chance to serve well. I kept the “wine-bar” set up in our Living Room after the Octoberfest-Going-Away party we had for our son in October and that created a spot for women to gather and chat by the fireplace as well. With a unpredictable timeframe for when everyone was coming, I found comfort in knowing I could spread us out on the entire first floor. We do have a good amount of space in this house, but don’t let space hold you back, I also hosted this party (with less invited) in our old much smaller house and it was still a good time.

the Favors

Last year I hit the jackpot at my favorite ribbon source- the “Offray Ribbon Outlet” in Hagerstown, MD. Two friends and I make a 3.5 hour-each-way-annual trip-in-one-day and we load up a minivan FULL of ribbon between the three of us. I’m talking garbage bags full of rolls of ribbon. I know, it is insane! The outlet had 25 cent rolls of 2 inch white grosgrain ribbon in December 2018- yes, I know crazy low price… So I was able to get a roll for approximately 40 ladies to gift them with when they left the Gift-wrap Gather last year. It certainly isn’t necessary to give a departing gift at this get-together because they have just wrapped gifts but it is a little extra way I can love-on them.

the Results

….are AMAZING! First of all, I get to spend time with these friends in this busy time of year and since it is at my home and they come to throughout the day- I really do get quality time with many. Also, the creativity runs high, even for those that tend to ‘just toss gifts in gift bags’ to be done. Some ladies have never learned how to wrap a box. Some try amazing special things like layering ribbons together and coordinating wrapping paper for different children in their family.

My friend Lisa chose to wrap her parents’ gifts because, as artists, she knew they would appreciate and enjoy the beautifully wrapped gift. My tired friend that had just worked a long retail shift, had the benefit of another friend helping her wrap her grandkid’s gifts. It just brings me so much joy for those I know to get to know each other and have things in common and become friends from coming to this event over the years. I am truly blessed with amazing women in my life!

beautifully wrapped Christmas gift in gold and teal, stacked with different papers and accessorized with a gold snowflake and blue Christmas ball.

I do hope you are able to have your own gift wrapping party. Leave comments if you do!

Another winter party idea is the Snowball Brunch.

Share
Pin1
Tweet
Share
1 Shares
« the “Snowball Brunch” – a Winter Brunch Theme
Sweet 16 Party in Rose Gold »

Comments

  1. Joy Howard says

    March 26, 2019 at 6:26 pm

    This is an amazing event! Being invited last year for the first time was so special!! My friend Jen (blog author) truly loves on her friends throughout the year! I think this is her biggest blessing back to us by hosting this event!! Such a wonderful time spent with a wonderful hostess!

    Reply
    • Jen Brandenstein says

      April 1, 2019 at 2:31 pm

      Thanks Joy- you are so kind!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

know me better

Planning times when people gather to celebrate, decorating the place where our family makes memories and bringing order to it all under the roof of a two story tudor- that’s where you will find me.

I’m a wife, mom of 3, artist, daughter, “housewife”, volunteer, designer, friend, and I strive to live it all out as a faithful follower of Christ. We reside in a Two Story Tudor, of course, and I do hope we get to know each other better!

View My Blog Posts

find me…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

my eyes are always seeking beauty…

“The difference between something good and somet “The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.”
- Charles R. Swindoll
⁣
The details in this table make it such a statement but the color and its relationship to what is around it also create a relaxed feeling. 
⁣
🤍I love interesting details🤍
⁣
What details do you appreciate most?
⁣
#detailsindesign #charlesswindollquote #sidetable #decorativetablelegs #brownvelvetcushion #decorofbedfordsprings #vintagesidetable
Is there something you must do? ⁣ Is there some Is there something you must do? 
⁣
Is there something holding you back? 
⁣
I just know the confidence and feeling of accomplishment that come from doing hard things makes me stronger. 
⁣
What was the last hard thing you did?
⁣
#eleanorrooseveltquote #somethingyoumustdo #dohardthings
⁣#dogreatthings
“It was one of those March days when the sun shi “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade."
– Charles Dickens
⁣
Happy March! Looks like we are going to have some ☀️ this week!
⁣
I love when something special is preserved. How about this cream tiled Art Deco gas station? 
⁣
#artdecogasstation #interestingarchitecture #hubbyisafuelguy #bedfordpa
“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winn “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”
- Bonnie Blair, Speed Skater
⁣
So we spent one night away learning to play pool and swimming in an indoor pool...ranks up there with learning to ski this winter. 
⁣
I love a gold painted sign on glass, so classic. My grandfather Don that passed away before I was born was a sign painter. A sign can say so much about a place. 
⁣
Yes, there was some “second-hand-Saturdaying” happening too, lol.
 
#goldpaintedsigns #pool #indoorswimmimgpool #playingpool #bedfordlounge #timeawaybedfordpa
“Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on “Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer."
- Anita Krizzan
⁣
The weather forecast is looking up in my area of the world... how about your area? 
⁣
I’m heading out on another “second-hand-Saturday” today. This time Bedford, PA. I wonder what treasures we will happen upon?! 
⁣
This sweet bunny cookie jar was one that I left in Steubenville, OH for someone🤍
⁣
#secondhandsaturday #bedfordpa #springiscoming #anitakrizzanquote
“A smile is the universal welcome.” - Max East “A smile is the universal welcome.”
- Max Eastman
⁣
If a smile is welcome this is our home’s “smile”... entryway. 
⁣
Previously (swipe but don’t judge the dust...) this area had just a larger round table. I always felt like it was missing something. Now I realize what it was missing was fabric, upholstery, cushioning, warmth, cheer. It needed this chair💛 
⁣
I like the contrast it has to the woodwork of the stairs, the teal carpet and the stone floor. This is the view straight in from our front door and it needed to be more right. 
⁣
Our home is a work in progress. I collect things I like or things that have hints of things I like that are a good price. Then I play. This chair and table may live here for 10 days or 10 years...who knows, our home is an ever moving puzzle towards better. 
⁣
It is better than before, right?! At least there isn’t dust on the table anymore, lol. 
⁣
@inkssalvagehouse17 
#vintagechair #colorismyjam #goldandteal #loveglobes #entrywaydecor #twostorytudorentryway #curvedstaircase #ironrailing #stonefloor #ladyheadplanter
"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to e "Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything."
- Muhammad Ali
⁣
I love seeing our daughter, who’s name means “beautiful friend,” spend time with friends, especially this year...💕
⁣
What do you love more this year?
⁣
#MuhammadAliquote #masked&outdoors #skiingathiddenvalleypa 
#skilift #hiddenvalleyPA
“I grow plants for many reasons: to please my ey “I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow.”
- David Hobson
⁣
Oh, go ahead, call me a “plant-lady.” I’m getting used to it.
⁣
I couldn’t resist this second plant stand last week “second-hand” shopping in Steubenville, OH. I got the first one at Finders Keepers in Mt. Lebanon (miss that place!) 
⁣
Placing them together and collecting so many plants on them “cleaned up” the look of my dining room window sill.  Third picture is the before plant lined windowsill. 
⁣
It is the same principle that works with a tray- collect small items together on a tray for a cleaner more pulled together look. 
⁣
Anyone want a plant & live locally enough to come pick it up? Leave a message below🪴
⁣

#davidhobsonquote #crazyplantlady #plantstand #groupinglikeitems #secondhandsaturday #steubanvilleohantiques #twostorytudordiningroom #succulents #🪴 #springwillcome
Is there something you wish you had the courage to Is there something you wish you had the courage to do? 
⁣
What dream are you holding back on? 
⁣
What if you just took a baby step or two in the direction of that dream?
⁣
I love Disney for the creative dream he had. Look at it now?! Kinda cool to think about right?! 
⁣
#havecourage #disneyquote #creativedreams

Copyright © 2021 · captivating theme by Restored 316