The Soolip Fix

Nest of Treasures gift wrap by Wanda Wen. Photo by Jules Bianci.

Here in Los Angeles it feels as though Spring has already arrived. The 70 degree weather and beautiful blue skies have me thinking about all the fun spring events that will soon be popping up, including baby showers, bridal showers, and the first weddings of the busy wedding season. What do all these events have in common? Well, gift registries is one thing for sure!

Giving a gift off the registry is both convenient and practical, but it can eliminate the best part of giving a gift-that  wonderful moment of surprise when the recipient lights up with wonder and eagerly opens the package. My philosophy is that when you give a gift, you both honor the recipient and give a bit of yourself…but the latter can be easily lost when giving a gift that is wrapped in the same signature department store gift wrap as 10 other packages on the gift table.

So why not restore that element of surprise with a gift wrap that is as unique as the gift giver (that’s you!)?  Sure, forgoing the department store wrap might take you a few extra minutes, but the DIY fix can actually be more cost effective while twice as fun and impressive. In this busy world we live in, taking that extra time to make something truly special is one of the greatest gifts you can give. The finished result will delight the recipient. Trust me!

Here’s a wrap from my forthcoming book, The Art of Gift Wrapping (out April 6th!), that is just perfect for any spring event, whether it be a fun baby shower or sophisticated bridal luncheon. I call it my Nest of Treasures wrap, and you can see a photo of it at the top of the page. Here’s what you need:

• Sheer netting
• 1 bowl (about 5″ in diameter)
• scissors
• jelly beans
• seam binding (2 different colors)
• small nest
• decorative paper
• tape
• tweezers
• bird topper

This gift wrap is truly enchanting and so much fun to give. For complete details on how to assemble this gift wrap, keep an eye out for my book, The Art of Gift Wrapping out April 6th!