Wrapping paper is my arch nemesis. I always cut it too big and then have to hack away at it once I have already started folding

The paper is easily ripped so I need to patch it

I can’t cut a straight line either so everything is wonky and crooked

By the end it looks as though my five year old wrapped the present

Actually Callum would probably do a better job than I would

So in an attempt to avoid wrapping shame this year I decided to use brown craft paper to disguise my inability to keep a pattern straight. It is also harder to tear which is a bonus.

I wrapped all the presents this way and wrapped them in red ribbon that I got from the dollar store or red and white twine that I got from Ikea.

I am trying to steer clear of gift tags as well so I wrote the names on the paper with a metallic Sharpie.

I think it looks classic and still very Christmasy

The kids made the ornaments for all the presents using this recipe

They decorated them with glitter glue

I put together a collection of what I think are amazing ways to wrap presents. This is what I aspire to!

Simple and elegant from Love That Party

Amazing idea from Going Home to Roost

A good way to put the Scrabble game to use from Craftionary

This is a great way to use up scraps of yarn and doilies that you may have laying around from HGTV

Brown paper packages tied up with string and candy! Yes please. Great idea from Crafting in the Rain

Love this idea from New Nostalgia

Simple and sweet from Apartment Therapy

I could never pull it off but I think it is a great idea from Craftionary

Maybe one day when I get some patience I will be able to wrap presents as creatively as these bloggers did. Until then I will continue to fake it with my craft paper and ribbon.