By Megan Pilditch
When Durban creative Nadia van der Mescht is not helping people shape and develop their creative businesses, she’s dabbling in one of her other long-time passions – producing beautiful gift experiences for her friends and family.
The I Heart Market veteran, Decorex speaker and local blogger believes “it’s not just about the gift itself, it’s about the experience of gifting. I get such joy out of giving and love seeing someone enjoying their gift, even if it’s the simplest of presents. This season of giving gives you the opportunity to enjoy the shopping experience and challenge yourself creatively.”
Above all, Nadia encourages all of us to find the magic in Christmas. “Treat December as a month of joy! Christmas Day is over so quickly, so take the time to really enjoy the lead up to the 25th. Just remember what it was like to be a child! Maybe even send a card in the post. You’ll be surprised how many people love this nostalgic throwback.”
Here is Nadia’s wrapping recipe for Christmas. Let it act as a guide to spark your imagination and stamp your own unique style on your presents.
1. Think about who you are giving the gift to and adapt the wrapping style to their personal taste. For example, you could fashion a bow out of a stunning scarf (and it doubles up as an extra present too!).
2. Gather some key crafting tools and start wrapping. You don’t need endless supplies, but a pair of sharp scissors, brown or pretty paper and a selection of washi tape is a must. Nadia uses the local brand WashiBug for her washi tape, as they import authentic Japanese masking tape.
3. Choose a box, bag or envelope to “wrap” your gift in. One fun and affordable option is to reuse containers. For example, with some pretty paper and glue, a Pringles container can be beautifully repurposed into a sturdy gift box.
4. Now it’s about creating a basic decoration base through the layering of washi tape. Try mixing up the traditional Christmas colours and opting for pastels, like a
mint green instead of a tree green. Gold and rose gold are also huge trends
this season.
5. The top layering requires a unique “something” to personalise the gift – objects like miniature bells, a Christmas ornament or a fern leaf can all add that magic touch. Be on the look out, special bits and pieces can be found in the most unexpected places.
‘Closing the gift is an important part of gifting. For a box, a small strip of washi can expertly do the trick. Ribbon or twine can also add that “unwrapping feeling”.
’Creative gifting is about a delight at every level, so it’s vital not to forget the inside! A subtly scented tissue paper, sprinkling of confetti punched from left-over Christmas paper or a glittering “Merry Christmas” stamp on the inside of the box lid makes the world of difference.
“And lastly, don’t forget to share your sentiments. If you don’t want to attach a tag to the present, insert the Christmas card into the gift instead. These days, so many people forget to read the card, so why not make it part of the gift too? *
1 Comment
Love it and totally agree that wrapping makes a gift just sooo more special!