Does anybody else have this problem?  You start out with a curated design idea and then you have to select your wrapping paper.  Of course it has to work into your “theme” right?Well let me tell you a little story.  

Back in 1974 when we were newly married I had created a theme.  I had a rust and gold striped sofa and I couldn’t bring in Christmas Red or Green and you know I couldn’t find any Christmas paper in Rust and Gold in those days.  Ok well it was the 70’s!  I was wondering what to do because I really wanted to use great big rust bows on my packages.  The topic came up one night when we had a friend over and he said to me (totally in jest) you know the only thing that is going to go in this room is packaging paper.  Well that got my wheels turning.  I went to a florist and bought yards and yards of rust colored ribbon and then I bought packaging paper.  Ahead of my time!

Fast forward to the quiet year of 2020!  A few weeks ago I was out and about w/mask in tow and I found some wrapping paper that I thought could be a starting point for my paper this year.  The husband was also out and about in a different direction and he too came home very proudly announcing “I bought wrapping paper and Gift Tags”!  He pulls his paper out of his bag like it’s a diamond in the rough.  I must have gotten a horrified look on my face because he immediately says WHAT.  I started to laugh and said well that’s wrapping paper all right.  He says to me it’s cheerful, it’s Christmas and what difference does it make you put it on the package and you tear it off.  Oh and the gift tags are stickers.  

 I am notorious for forgetting to put a tag on a package or putting the wrong tag on the package.  This is something my family will never let me live down.  One daughter would open a present Christmas morning only to have to turn it over to the other one.  I try real hard not to do that anymore but even this year in checking to make sure all the packages had names I came across two presents that didn’t have a tag.  I said well s___ and put a name on them that I hope is the right one!

 I no longer spend a ton of money on wrapping paper.  I know there is good reason to buy quality wrapping paper because I have and man do I know the difference.  It’s just not where I want to put money anymore because you put it on the package and you tear it off. I just want something that will work and not look too garish under the tree.

So I’m in Michaels a couple of weeks ago and I’m at the register with a great looking tartan navy plaid paper that they only had one of and the checker says to me they are buy one get one free. 

 I quickly run and grab another roll of paper that will compliment the plaid and I say to the checker My husband bought wrapping paper.  She immediately started to laugh.  She knew where I was going with this.  I say it certainly isn’t decor worthy but hey it’s wrapping paper.

This year he has secreted in his office all his Christmas gifts and slowly step by step his wrapping paper and peal and stick gift tags have been making their way under the Christmas tree.  Now he has been wrapping his own packages which I’m grateful for and he reminds me that his wrapping skills are not his long suit.  We have bright red snowflake paper, we have eye popping green dot snow man paper and of course we have self adhesive gift tags. 

 Just out of curiosity I ask him if he wrapped my package and he says yes.  I say does it have a box and he says nope. 

Then comes the big box from my daughter who lives in Florida.  She has inherited her dads skills in gift wrapping and his taste in paper too.  Removing the packages I overlook a few of the packages that were slightly torn in shipping and I think to myself well good job H at least the paper is not bright red and eye popping green.  I actually liked one of them.  But there were so many of them.  I wonder what Christmas morning will bring when my other daughter comes with their gifts.  

The upshot is now I’m out of gifts to wrap and my pretty tartan plaid paper is still on the roll with only a few packages wrapped in it and I’m out of ribbon.  I think there should be a United Nations for Wrapping Paper.  But hey you put it on and rip it off and the tags have a name on them!

So I ask again does anybody else out there have this problem?  Best laid plans! 

Hope you enjoyed this silly story I’de love to hear from you.  Shelley