| I have wrapped too many gifts - namely, gift | | | | black and white. Say, crisp black paper with |
| baskets - to remember. I consider myself an | | | | white ribbon. It is clean and classic. DON'T |
| expert. Whether you do or not is beside the | | | | use black and white newspaper to wrap your |
| point. Listen up. Here are the tips of the | | | | gifts. I tried that during a particularly |
| sophisticated gift trade... DO use clear, | | | | thrifty Christmas season, and my mother |
| clean cello when wrapping gift baskets or a | | | | wouldn't even put my gifts under the tree. DO |
| grouping of smaller gifts. DON'T use | | | | use variations of the same shade. Say, pale |
| reindeer-adorned cello or any of its | | | | green tissue, a lime green bag, and a darker |
| tasteless cousins. It's the equivalent of | | | | green accent. Alternatively, pair beautiful |
| your spinster aunt or grade one teacher's red | | | | products with packaging elements that echo |
| cable-knit sweater with snowman appliqué. | | | | one another (i.e. a tin of loose leaf tea |
| DO use lavish, beautiful wired ribbon. It | | | | with olive green label paired with a milled |
| can turn a simple bar of elegant soap or even | | | | soap in lime green box.) This balanced |
| just a tin of hard candies into a memorable | | | | pairing is seamless and adds a touch of |
| token gift or hostess gift. DON'T use that | | | | controlled luxury. DON'T compile an |
| tacky thin ribbon that you curl with | | | | assortment of mismatched, cheap products with |
| scissors. You want to elevate, not cheapen | | | | similar packaging in an attempt to duplicate |
| your already cheap gift. DO use gold and | | | | this idea. Quality always wins. Better to |
| silver accents, in moderation, for holiday | | | | have two select items, than twenty toss-away |
| season gifts. DON'T assume more gold and | | | | ones. DO put some love into your creation. |
| silver equals better. It equals tacky. If | | | | Trite yes, but that's truly what makes it |
| you were trying to compete with drug store | | | | special. |
| gift baskets, you would have just bought one | | | | |
| there. DO use bold color. Think hot pink, | | | | Laura Jayne McDonald is a young mompreneur |
| lime green, turquoise. Paired with chocolate | | | | and franchisor. Just shy of 30 years old, she |
| brown, it's very of the moment. DON'T think | | | | is the proud mom of two beautiful girls and |
| bold color means heather green and navy with | | | | the co-founder of Two Blonds & a Brunette |
| maroon trim. That's like realtor speak for | | | | Gift Co., a celeb-endorsed gift basket |
| 'designer upgrades' on 1970's homes updated | | | | franchise. |
| in the 80's and on the market today. DO pair | | | | |