Sending Christmas Cheer Abroad

Don't you just want to tear it open?

Happy December! I'll share a secret, I am absolutely nuts about Christmas. As soon as the weather starts to turn, this festive craze sets in and suddenly I'm humming carols and Googling new cookie recipes to try.

But it's also a little bit sad. Christmas should be a time for family, and mine is back in America. I'm blessed enough to have loving in-laws that have fully accepted me as a part of their family, but I still miss the people I left behind.

With that in mind - I'm going to give everyone a few tips on sending presents in the mail for Christmas (or any other holiday/occasion!).

Firstly, the golden rule of shipping is to think small and light. Postage can be expensive, especially if you're shipping internationally.

As with anything I do, I like to be prepared by gathering everything I'm going to need.

I might be just a tad obsessed

No, this isn't everything. Just most of it.

PRESENTS! 

Well, at least I try to gather everything I need. I inevitably get settled down to work on my project and then realise I left at least one thing across the room.

Wrap your gifts as usual, using whatever kind of fun or funky wrapping paper you want. And you know those super cute and super easy gift bows that you just peel and stick on the present?

Yeah, that one!

You'll want to avoid using those. They will probably fall off in transit, and your recipient will receive a box of beautifully wrapped presents along with a pile of bows. It's not the end of the world, but if you're as neurotic as I am you'll want those gifts arriving in as pristine condition as possible.

The most secure way to attach a beautiful bow is curling ribbon! 

Super shiny!

For those of you that have never used it, it's super simple. First, pull out a length of ribbon. You'll want it to be big enough to get wrapped around your present with plenty of room left over to curl - it's better for it to be too long than too short.

It starts out all nice, but you'll eventually end up with a tangled mess. It's just the way it is. 

Tie your ribbon around your gift any which way you want. You can totally use multiple strands. Use different colours and/or textures, too!

Don't worry, it's not finished yet! 

To curl the ribbon, you just place the ribbon between the blade of some scissors and your thumb at the base of the ribbon. Then, applying gentle pressure, pull the blade along the length of the ribbon until the end.

It is super satisfying.

See, it's pretty! 

This one uses the same colour with different textures. It's such a fun look! 

When most people send gifts that are difficult to wrap (like clothing) they usually either put it in a gift bag or place the gift in a box and wrap the box. Gift bags don't ship well. There is always the risk that the present will come out of the bag, ruining the surprise. Gift boxes are great, but using too many of them will bulk up your package unnecessarily leading to a higher postage cost. And folding something like a sweater and wrapping it on it's own isn't very secure - the movement of the sweater could lead to the gift wrap tearing.

Dear family reading this blog - this is NOT one of your gifts! 

Nice and sandwiched. Secure and easier to wrap! 

The best solution I've found to this problem is to use cardboard to secure your difficult item, and then wrap around that. It can create some funky shaped packages - but that just means they won't be able to figure out what you've sent! Now you can wrap the gift normally.

Lastly, it is very possible that your gift tags will fall off en route to your recipients. I've developed a handy little system to make sure that everyone gets to unwrap their gifts. Get a pack of coloured stickers!

They're inexpensive and easy to find.

Make sure you have a different colour for every person receiving gifts. Then all you have to do is stick the sticker discreetly on the bottom of the present. 

Yellow is Christmas-y, right?

Unfortunately, my husband packed and sent my package of festive goodies before I had a chance to take a picture. But to send, you'll want to find the smallest box possible without squashing all of your presents. Play present-tetris to keep your treasures secured and don't be afraid to use plenty of bubble wrap! 

Happy gifting! 

What's your favourite way to wrap presents?