I must admit that Gift Wrapping is a specialty of mine. My personal pride, personal style, admiration of the gift recipient, and the creative part of me, demand that I create a pretty package. To give you an idea of how passionate I am about stylishly wrapped presents, all of my Christmas gifts match my home decor. If you think about that for a minute, it does make sense. Would you put on a red blouse with a salmon colored skirt? Probably not. My home is is shades of salmon, so red paper or ribbon doesn’t walk thru my door, unless, of course, it is generously brought in as a gift.

A great gift that you spent hours or days selecting, deserves to be wrapped with the same care. Beautiful wrapping can make a “little something” gift look more important, and certainly will make the recipient feel valued. Wrapping with style is fun whether you have a knack for it or not. All you need is fabulous paper, wonderful ribbons, scissors, and double sided tape ( a must for a neat package). If you have fabric remnants at home, or even if you don’t, you may want to purchase some, as a package wrapped in silk or any fabric is indeed special. Something to remember…..it is always clever to wrap a package in a style that goes along with the theme of the gift. Giving a Sushi Set? Wrap it in Sushi Paper. (see below) It is the small details that make the difference. Walk down this gift wrapping aisle and browse the wonderful designs that are available today. Remember…..anything you do is worth doing with style! Pictures at the top of the page are courtesy of carolyneroehm.com. They are having a huge sale right now. Check it out!

Double the fun! Double the wrap! The excitement of the circus will brighten up your gift…especially for a child. This double sided paper is so charming and lively! Mix and match the stars with the elephants and oh my! $4.00 per sheet at KatesPaperie.com

Save 15% With Coupon Code: giftwrap09
Expires: 03/08/09

Make every gift a little bit sweeter with the Whimsy Press Cupcake and Chocolates Wrap. What fun for gifts for the young or young at heart. $4.50 per sheet at whimsypress.com Put the icing on this package with the Pom Pom Wired Ribbon pictured above. The chocolate brown ribbon with pink pom poms is $2.45 for two yards at joggles.com

If you have a passion for purple……the Lotus Flower Paper will delight your inner zen side! A 10 Foot roll is $6.25 or get one of their nifty cutter box rolls……100 Feet for $36.75 OliverPaper.com Top off the package with MJ Trims Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon in Passion Flower….for a complete look.  $3.98 a yard at mjtrim.com

I love the cleverness of this perfect Valentine’s Day “Key To My Heat” gift enclosure card and envelope. It is hand drawn and each little key…that was cut from vintage picture book covers…..is different. The key is enclosed in a small manilla envelope that is sealed with a heart sticker. Precious! $4.00 each at artschoolgirl.com

Cute as a cupcake! Whimsy Press’s cupcake gift bag is so great…..it doesn’t matter what you put inside. These bags are uniquely designed with strong reinforced sides and bottoms. The handles are stiched in coordinating colors to maatch each style of bag. My tip for this bag: If you live in L.A. fill it with Sprinkles Cupcakes. If you live elsewhere…....Sprinkles makes their own cupcake mixes and sells them at Williams-Sonoma.com. What a yummy gift! whimsypress.com $5.00 each

Wrapscallion! Now that’s a term I haven’t heard before. Be that as it may……this paper with the fun and sassy scalloped edges will certainly line any gift box or wrap an odd shaped gift with style. Many color combinations to choose from. $ 6.00 for 6 sheet sets. bellocchio.com

Midori make some of the most luxurious ribbon around! They also make beautiful paper. I have paired their Cloisonne pattern made from 100% recycled cotton fiber with simply gorgeous dupioni silk ribbon. The darker shade is called Amour and the lighter shade is Blossom. Either shade will make an exquisite gift! The prices: Ribbon $45 for 40 yards and the paper $44 for 10 sheets. This pricey wrap will make any gift look expensive! beau-coup.com

Wrapping some garden tools and gloves? Is your gift recipient one that loves beautiful flowers or is into nature? if so Whimsy Press has a fabulous double sided paper called Sage, part of their Modern Garden line, that will surely be perfect for your gift. It is $4.50 per double sided sheet, but each sheet is 24″ by 36″, which is very large for the standard sheet. If you are wrapping two boxes for the same recipient, you might want to buy two sheets, so that each box is different but beautifully coordinated, as pictured above. Available at WhimsyPress.com

Now for that Sushi Paper I wrote about above. Also from Whimsy Press, The Dim Sum Cool Paper Collection is an Asian Buffet of hip designs. If you are wrapping a Saki or Sushi Set, Green Tea and Tea Cups, or perhaps a set of chopsticks, take a look at the Wasabi paper. It is all that and Dim Sum! As in all of their papers, $4.50 per double sided sheet. WhimsyPress.com

From Erin Ruth, a graphic designer with a passion for paper, The Reese and Jacqueline patterns both make a bold statement. Trendy yet classic in design, each piece is $4.50 per 24″ x 36″ sheet. Each with a silky finish. Erinruth.com

Carolyne Roehm, designer extraordinaire, of all things stylish, offers some of the finest gifts and wrappings available. Her new papers and ribbons from India are stunning and oh so summery. Pictured above is the Green and Gold Floral Paper along with Green Multicolor Piquot Edged Ribbon and a Tangerine Poppy. The whole package is a citrus delight! Paper $20 for 3 22″ x 30″ sheets. Ribbon $48 for 22 yards. Poppy $18 for 4 Stems. Carolyneroehm.com

One of Carolyn’s best selling papers is the Alligator Paper available in four bright and chic colors. I can speak to the quality of this paper, as I have used it. It is bold, strong, glossy, and luxurious. Shown here is the Pink Beauty Satin Ribbon, Weatherstone Style Gift Cards, and Carolyn’s Pillow Gift Box. The gift box is perfect for wrapping table gifts for your guests. Paper $20 for 3 sheets, Ribbon $40 for 27 Yards, Gift Cards $8 for 10 tags, Pillow Gift Box $25 for 10 boxes. Carolyneroehm.com

Style can come in all forms, and this trendy Skull Paper by Seltzer certainly makes a stylish statement with a sense of humor! Made from recycled paper using soy ink, you receive two 20″ by 30″ wrapping sheets for $6.00. The beautiful Midori Khaki Silk Ribbon luxes up the presentation. Sold by the yard at $3.75 per yard. I find that three yards makes a generous bow. I couldn’t resist the Skull Thank You Cards, as a gift tag. If enlarged, you will see that the card reads Much Obliged on the cover. It is blank inside for your own creative prose. Box of 8 for $14.00. You know you will use the cards more than once! All found at RedStamp.co

Sometimes a Gift Bag makes the perfect presentation for the occasion. I often use them as “goodie bags” for special events I host, or for unusually shaped items, that are impossible to wrap. PlumParty.com has some of the most unique die cut gift bags around. Peace out your gift with The Flower Power Gift Bag. Perfect for a garden party hostess gift wrap. You can sweeten up any gift with the Cupcake Bag! It is cute enough to eat. The Rose Gift Bag would be an elegant way to present any feminine gift. Chocolate and roses are always a good combination. Pop in some bon bons and your gift giving is done. All priced from $5.00 – $6.00.

Save 20% Off at PlumParty.com with Coupon Code: ADORE Expires: 02/15/09

Goosey Press offers vintage look papers for everyone with a nostalgic memory of the simplicity of Mother Goose Rhymes. Perfect for wrapping a child’s gift or anyone who is young at heart. The black and cream graphic images on feltweave paper are charming and quite unique. Available either in The Mother Goose or Children At Play Design. $3.50 per 19″ x 27″ shee4t. gooseypress.com

Someone you know deserves a package wrapped in the Decorative Stitch Paper embroidered with flowers and vines on a natural recycled paper sheet. If you haven’t ever used a stitched or embroidered paper, let me tell you that the designs are extraordinary and expensive, but some gifts are just worth the price. Like a summer day! I have matched the paper with three ribbons from MJTrim. From the left, A Wired Picot Edged Organza in Yellow/Multi, $3.98 per yard; Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon in RudBechia $7.98 per yard, and in Willow. Paper from PaperStudio.com

This paper & ribbon combination would make an elegant presentation for anyone. Pretty gilded petals are scattered on the surface of burgundy (looks more like rose to me) handmade 22 x 30 paper. The paper is deckled on all four edges, which is so nice for wrapping. $3.00 per sheet at paperorigins.com. Matched up with the subtle gold and rose of MJTrim’s hand dyed one inch silk ribbon in the color Peace, adds the perfect touch without over powering the delicate paper. Ribbon, $3.98 a yard. Love it!

Who knew that The Container Store had stylish gift wrap? I, for one, did not. I found this Aquamarine Damask wrap and it reminded me of wonderful wallpaper. They also offer the perfect Satin Wired Ribbon to complete your gift package. The paper, a roll of 5′ x 30″, is priced at $4.50, is most likely not as fine or heavy as the other papers I have found, but with the ribbon, priced at $10.99 for 10 yards, your gift will look beautiful. Find them both at containerstore.com

Elum Designs creates fabulous paper and gift bags! My favorite is The Holiday Rococo. I would use it everyday of the year. Pair it up with lesbonribbon.com’s sensational striped ribbon at $4.50 for 5 yards and take your package from rococo to contemporary with one loop of the ribbon. Both are beautiful.

Soap and Paper Company sells wonderful soap, body treatments, fragrances, and wrapping paper! With names like Green Tea, Rosewood, Fig, and more. These papers are naturally fabulous. The photos truly need to be enlarged to appreciate the pretty patterns. You will be ready to wrap, ribbon, and roll with the paper gift wrap set. Each pattern comes with 6 sheets of recycled finely printed paper, 3 yards of coordinated ribbon, and six gift tags. All for $24. You can save an additional 25% off with Coupon Code: SCRUBADUB. This deal expires: July 29 2008. soapandpaperfactory.com

I must admit that I usually make my own gift tags, however, I discovered these terrific tags by elanami over at etsy. Inspired by vintage typographic frames, they come in a set of 8 with colorful ribbons to attach to bags, wine bottles, and packages. Delightful! $16 for eight. Etsy.com

Birds are not my thing…in fact I am afraid to death of them. But I couldn’t resist these little birdies. They are die cut and stitched on Lotka paper in a beautiful burgundy paired with mauves and peaches. A simple silk bow made from Paper Studio’s Liquid Amber ribbon is all you need to complete this precious presentation. Paper $4.75 per sheet. Silk Ribbon $1.00 per yard. Both at PaperStudio.com

If you give a bottle of wine as a gift….take a moment and create a nice presentation of it. Wisteria’s set of four jute wine bags are elegant without being fancy. They are perfect to give to a man or woman. The pictures depicted are of antique corkscrews. A very classy presentation! $16 at Wisteria.com

This paper and ribbon combination can be used for any type of wrapping, but I think It is lovely for the Holidays. The paper is from Europe done in a raised flocked damask of leaves and decorative sashes. Called Mirage red.…… it isn’t the normal bright and bold Holiday red we are use to seeing. I matched this elegant paper with hand dyed silk ribbon in a complimentary color called China Doll. If you are going for a soft yet sophisticated Holiday look…….this might work for you. Paper is $3.75 per sheet at Paper-Source.com The Ribbon is $3.98 per yard (pricey but worth it for this paper) MJtrim.com

The Red Flourishes Gold on Red paper is so elegant and distinctive! The paper is described as ‘crispy thin” but strong. It hardly needs any further embellishing……but I found this red and gold beaded cording that might enhance it nicely. The paper is $4.50 per sheet at PaperStudio.com The cording can be found at jamaligarden.com for $5.50 per 5 yard roll.

What fun and Hello Lover! This paper is for the shoe lover in your life. It is really over the top stylish and perfect for someone you know. Sold in a set of three sheets for $3.00 at Remanents.com Pair it with the shoe enclosure card for $2.00 per card. Also at Remanents.com

Luxe and lovely in shades of Copper Gold and Brown! Both are from KatesPaperie.com who has just redesigned her website…….it is acting a bit funky at the moment…….so details are a bit sketchy. I think that all three paper patterns can be yours for $9.95, and the Loop Edged Metallic ribbon which coordinates so nicely is $7.95 for 5.5 yards. This paper will make a statement in your home, on your table, and in the hands of the lucky person on your gift list.

Save 15% Off At Kate’s Paperie with Coupon Code: Coupon Code: giftwrap09
Expires: 03/08/09

What happy paper! This lovely handmade wrapping paper is made in India using Lotka paper. I love the beautiful embroidered sunburst designs! Your gifts will not only look fabulous……they will be eco-friendly too. $7.99 per sheet at radiantideas.net

Come back soon for more wonderful wrapping ideas~