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