We know that it's what inside that really counts, but we can't help ourselves: we like the outside of the gifts we give to look as pretty as the inside. This year, we partnered with The Home Depot to see what kind of unexpected wrapping supplies we could find among the store's aisles.
Are you going to use the long weekend to get ahead on your holiday shopping and decorating? The Home Depot will be offering specials on Black Friday, including 6-inch poinsettias on sale for 99 cents each. Here are six ideas for wrapping your Black Friday finds.
Photographs by Erin Boyle. Photography shot with the Canon EOS 70D digital SLR camera, with Dual Pixel AF technology and built-in Wi-Fi.
Above: We used 1 Ft. Brown All Purpose Masking Paper ($3.97) as the base for most of our smaller packages, and thicker Brown Builder's Paper ($10.97) for gifts with a little more heft.
Above: Who knew that brass nuts could be so festive? Strung onto White Household Twine ($2.57) and paired with tiny brass bells from the 20-Count Assorted Mini Ornaments Pack ($7.68), the Assorted Brass Machine Screw Nuts (from $1.19 to $2.38 per package depending on the size of nut) add an unexpected dash of glitz and glamor.
Above: If you've got some extra time and want to get a little bit fancy, we say why not gild the lily? We used the Martha Stewart Artist Brush Set ($5.97) to paint eucalyptus with Martha Stewart Textured Metallic Paint in Vintage Gold ($4.97). After the paint dried, we strung a mini bronze ornament and affixed the festooned branch to our package with Scotch Masking Tape ($2.73).
Above: Sometimes we like to give a little sneak preview of what's inside a package. For a hardware-themed gift, we used Firm Grip Grain Pigskin Gloves ($8.87) as a teaser for what's inside. Because the package was oversized, we used an appropriately hefty "ribbon": 1/4-inch Natural Sisal Rope ($5.58). A branch of silver brunia finished the look.
Above: For a modern look, we paired bright green Scotch Masking Tape for Hard-to-Stick Surfaces ($4.97) with White Birch Real Wood Veneer ($6.35) and Natural Sisal Twine ($2.57).
Paper Key Tags ($5.95) made the perfect gift tags and we decided to give a sneak peek of the Husky 28-piece Combo Wrench Set ($19.88) we were wrapping by pulling out the tiniest wrenches to tie to the outside of the package (see the finished look below).
Above: We're gardeners, so we've always got some green twine lying around (Jute Natural Garden Twine; $2.98). Turns out that paired with a few red Ilex berries, it's just right for holiday gift wrapping, too. We added a Honey-Can-Do Traditional Clothespin ($19.24 for 96) as a special spot to tuck a card or label.
Above: What did we do with those difficult-to-wrap items? We eschewed the ubiquitous gift bag for a vessel useful beyond the holidays. We removed The Home Depot's 42-piece HDX Screwdriver Set from its blister pack for easier wrapping. By tucking them into a Leaktite Metal Pail ($10.44) and topping them with a bundle of burlap (an 80-by-80-inch square of Easy Gardener Burlap is $6.57) and a layer of Paperwhite Bulbs (24 bulbs for $24), we managed to disguise the screwdrivers and offer a little something extra at the same time.
Above: A gold bow made from Martha Stewart Regal Holiday Ribbon ($6.58) and a sprig of green eucalyptus lend an additional touch of holiday spirit.
Above: Et voila: all of our winter gift packages wrapped and ready for...unwrapping. Forgive us if we take a few minutes to admire our handiwork first.