All year long I could tell you exactly where my scissors and tape and wrapping paper are, but for whatever reason when December hits I can’t find anything. Last year I told myself that enough was enough. I need my gift wrapping essentials together and ready to go at all times. So, I put some systems in place to be sure that when I found some time to wrap some presents, I was ready to go and didn’t waste any time looking for the tape or scissors, or worse yet, running out of something I need to get the job done in the time I have. I have some ideas that I hope will help you be ready to hit the ground running this gift wrapping season.
Whether you have a dedicated space for wrapping or you need a portable solution that you can stash away and pull out when you need it, I have everything you need to build the ultimate gift wrapping toolbox, plus a free printable gift tracker and gift tags to give every present a custom touch!
The Ultimate Gift Wrapping Essentials Checklist
The gift wrapping essentials are sharp scissors, double-sided tape with a dispenser, wrapping paper or kraft paper, gift bags, tissue paper, boxes, ribbon or stick-on bows, gift tags, a fine-point marker, and a gift tracking list. Keeping them in one portable kit means you can wrap whenever you find a few spare minutes.
Having the right tools on hand is the key to being ready to wrap whenever you find yourself with an extra few minutes, because none of us want to be wrapping at two in the morning on Christmas Eve! Before we get into the details, here is a quick-scan master checklist of the must-have gift wrapping supplies by category (it’s also in the free printable pack below):
- Cutting and Taping: scissors, a paper cutter, tape and dispensers
- Paper and Boxes: wrapping paper, neutral kraft paper, gift bags, tissue paper, boxes
- Ribbon and Accents: ribbon, twine, string, bows
- Labeling: markers, pens, gift tags
- Tracking List: a clear list of what is what!
Okay, now let’s get into some specifics. Who knows, you may even look forward to wrapping when you’re finished!
My #1 tip for making wrapping less stressful: you need dedicated tools that no one else in the house is going to take off with! So once you put your kit together, let the family know these tools stay put. And you don’t need to spend a small fortune on your gift wrapping supplies. Your local dollar store and warehouse club are great places to look for budget-friendly essentials, and keep an eye out for sales at your favorite stores at the beginning of the holiday season. For storage, shop at home first. The garment bag I am using is from an old dance costume, and the under-bed storage bin is repurposed too. Look around; odds are you already have something that can help solve the problem!
Cutting and Taping Tools
- Scissors: A nice pair of scissors that fit your hand well. You will use these for paper, ribbon, tags and more, so make sure you’re comfortable with them! If you’re not a fan of scissors for cutting paper, look into a wrapping paper cutter tool that slides right down the roll.
- Paper hole punch: Great for custom gift tags.
- Tape: I recommend double-sided tape and either a weighted tabletop dispenser or a wrist tape dispenser (so you can keep one hand on the present and grab tape with the other). And keep backup tape in the kit. The last thing you need is to run out of tape in the middle of wrapping.
Paper, Bags, and Boxes
- Paper: I love a good grid-lined wrapping paper because it takes the guesswork out of straight lines and measuring, but my absolute favorite is a big roll of double-sided wrapping paper. It has a different pattern on each side, so you get a variety of wrapping paper that is perfectly coordinated. These often come in big rolls, so I don’t need to buy as many rolls overall. I also keep neutral kraft paper rolls, which is just plain brown or white paper that looks rustic and adorable under the tree. Plain kraft paper is a budget-friendly swap, and uncoated kraft paper is usually recyclable, while glitter, foil and metallic papers usually aren’t.
- Assorted gift bags: I like to get bags in a variety of sizes for those awkward-to-wrap gifts.
- Tissue paper: A good amount of white and then some festive colors for the gift bags.
- Gift boxes: Look for variety packs of boxes so you have sizes for whatever you need!
Ribbon, Bows, and Finishing Touches
- Ribbon: A variety of ribbon choices.
- Twine and string: Jute twine and colored string are especially pretty on plain kraft paper wrapped gifts.
- Pre-made stick-on bows: The ultimate quick embellishment!
- Accents: Small charms, greenery or stickers are fun to add to presents for some extra visual appeal.
Gift Tags and Labels
- Pens: Fine-point permanent markers, metallic markers and pens.
- Gift tags: Make sure you check out the custom gift tags in our free download!
- Tracking list: A list that you can keep with your gifts so you know what is what, who it is for and where it is!
How to Build a Portable Gift Wrapping Kit
Whether you need it portable or always accessible, I’ve got you. Let’s start with the portable version. Rather than keeping wrapping paper in a closet, ribbon in a bin, and scissors and tape in a drawer, have everything organized and corralled in one spot. A portable kit keeps every tool, roll and accessory together so you can grab it, carry it to the living room, kitchen island or dining room table, and then stash it out of sight when you’re finished.
Put Together Your Mobile Gift Wrapping Station
- Group like items in pouches, zip-top bags or small plastic boxes: Place small items (scissors, tape, markers, gift tags) in these to keep them contained and easy to pull out and lay out for wrapping.
- Contain the ribbon: I like a rubber band around the ribbon to keep it from unraveling. Skinny ribbon gets a piece of tape to hold the end in place, and the self-stick premade bows live in a gallon zip-top bag!
- Keep flat items corralled together: Slide bags and boxes into an accordion file, or clip them together with binder clips or rubber bands when they’re in storage.
- Bundle your paper: Secure your wrapping paper rolls with soft elastic bands, old scrunchies, or a toilet paper tube split up the length and snapped around the outside to keep them from unrolling and tearing.
Best Containers for a Portable Wrapping Station
The right container depends entirely on your home’s layout and storage space. My two favorite “vessels” for portable storage are an under-bed storage bin that can be stashed easily under a bed or a couch, and a hanging garment bag that can hang in a closet out of the way until I need it. A rolling cart or a handled caddy or tote can also work well if you have a spot to park it. (If you love practical home hacks that save space, be sure to browse our favorite cheap organization hacks for every part of your home!)
Where to Stash Your Wrapping Supplies (Out of Sight)
Your portable gift wrapping station needs to live somewhere when you aren’t using it, but it still needs to be easy to access (and ideally out of reach of curious kids). Some gift wrap storage ideas:
- A closet door: Hang an over-the-door hook and hang your garment bag organizer on the inside of the door so you can grab and go!
- Under your bed: The under-bed storage box fits perfectly under the bed and can be grabbed whenever you need it!
- Behind a tall dresser: Stand the bin upright behind a large dresser to keep it out of the way but accessible.
- Off season? High garage shelving: Store seasonal paper in a sealed plastic tote on a high garage shelf until December rolls around.
Prefer It in Plain Sight? Set Up a Permanent Gift Wrapping Station
Some people are out-of-sight, out-of-mind people. They know things like gift wrapping need to be done, but if it’s not where they can see it all the time, it’s not going to happen until the last minute. This is me. I am her. So last year when I was decorating for the holidays and putting things away, an oversized basket full of throw blankets caught my eye. I took out the blankets and filled the basket with a variety of gift bags and boxes, and then piled rolls of gift wrap in front of them. I stashed the basket in the corner and made it part of the holiday decor. It looked fun and festive, and most important, it was right there when I got home from shopping and needed to wrap something.
Then I scoured the house for a handled wooden basket and filled it with the rest of my wrapping supplies and displayed it too. Now everything is neat and tidy but easy to grab whenever I need it!
Time-Saving Tips and Tricks for Busy Moms
The holiday season can easily get away from us. We have a to-do list a mile long and a thousand extra things to juggle. Use these practical organization strategies to stay on track, cut your wrapping time this season, and have more time to actually enjoy the holidays. (If you are looking to master folding, crisp corners or hiding your tape, check out our step-by-step guide, Wrap Stars: Mastering Christmas Gift Wrapping!)
- Wrap as you buy: I know it’s hard to wrap as you buy. But if you dedicate a little while any time you go shopping or a gift arrives in the mail, you will hopefully avoid the Christmas Eve cram session! Set aside a half hour or less after the kids are in bed and save headaches down the road. Plus, if presents are wrapped, there’s less chance for nosy kiddos to find their gifts early.
- Dedicate a span of time: Make it a wrapping movie night. Grab your wrapping supplies, set up a table in the living room and put on your favorite holiday movie while you work, turning a chore into a cozy, relaxing evening.
- Write on each package: There was one Christmas that I bought cheap tags and they all fell off, and I spent hours trying to figure out what was what and ended up opening and re-wrapping a bunch of gifts. Now, I write a number on each gift and record it on a gift tracking sheet, so even if a tag goes missing I know exactly what it is.
- Assign one paper pattern per event: Choose one distinct wrapping paper design for each holiday event: a different paper for Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the cousin party, or school. You’ll be able to see at a glance what goes where, so there’s less stress reading tags when you need to get out the door.
Looking for creative decorating inspiration for your gift wrapping? Take a peek at our roundups of simple and gorgeous ways to wrap gifts, DIY gift wrap ideas, and more creative DIY gift wrap ideas!
Free Printable Gift Tags and Essentials Checklist
We are all about making gift giving and wrapping easier for you! We created a free printable bundle just for our readers. This downloadable PDF pack includes:
- The Master Gift Wrapping Essentials Checklist: Print it out and check off your tools before holiday shopping starts.
- Custom Printable Gift Tags: A set of gift tags you can print right at home on heavy cardstock or sticker paper so you always have the perfect tag for your gifts.
- A Gift Tracker Sheet: A numbered gift tracking sheet to keep you organized and on track!
To claim your free printable pack, simply pop your email address in the box below!
Pair your printable tags with our free Christmas printables for even more festive holiday fun!
Gift Wrapping Essentials FAQs
How do you store wrapping paper in a small space?
In small spaces, store wrapping paper rolls vertically in an over-the-door hanging organizer, or lay them flat inside a shallow under-bed storage bin. A tall garment bag hung in a closet also holds rolls securely off the floor. Whatever you use, band each roll so it doesn’t unroll and tear while it’s stored.
What is the best tape for wrapping presents?
Double-sided tape is the best option for clean edges where you don’t want any tape showing. For standard wrapping, a matte-finish invisible tape (like Scotch Magic Tape) blends into the paper and doesn’t catch the light like shiny tape does. Whichever you choose, keep a backup roll in your kit.
How can I make gift wrapping faster?
Before you start, pre-cut a few dozen strips of tape and stick them along the edge of your table so they’re ready to grab. Wrap similar-sized boxes back to back so you can cut several sheets of paper at once, and save gift bags for oddly shaped items. Keep a trash bag next to you for scraps so cleanup takes seconds.
Is wrapping paper recyclable?
Plain, uncoated wrapping paper and kraft paper are usually recyclable, but glitter, foil, metallic and plastic-coated papers usually are not. A quick way to check is the scrunch test: crumple the paper into a ball, and if it stays scrunched it can likely be recycled, but if it springs back open it probably can’t. Remove tape, ribbon and bows first, and check your local recycling rules, since they vary by area.
Can you reuse gift bags and tissue paper?
Yes. Gift bags in good shape can be folded flat and stored with your kit, and tissue paper can be smoothed out and reused for the next gift bag. Keeping a stash of reused bags and tissue saves money and cuts down on what you need to buy each season.
Ready, Set, Wrap!
These gift wrapping essentials and tool kit suggestions should keep you organized and on track this holiday season, and hopefully give you the leeway to slow down and enjoy the holidays this year! Need a little extra support navigating the busy season? Be sure to read our top tips on managing holiday stress this season and gather great stocking stuffer ideas for the whole family. Tell me in the comments: are you a portable kit person or a basket-in-the-corner person? Happy holidays to you and yours!
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Colleen Rosenthal
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