Christmas Party Planning > Christmas Party Themes

'Wrap It Up' - Gift Wrapping Christmas Party

All your friends a little stressed out during the holiday season, but you still want to throw a party? Why not throw a party that will help them get some things crossed off their ‘to do’ list while they also relax over a delicious brunch or lunch?

Invitations

Get some small gift bags (often found at craft stores) and put a tag inside with information for the party. Be sure to let your guests know that they should bring gifts they need to wrap for the kids.

Also ask each guest to bring something that they would use to wrap presents such as tape, ribbon, bows, wrapping paper, tissue paper and boxes. Let your guests know that if they don't have presents to wrap yet, they can still come and help out others.

To make it even easier for guests who have little ones to attend you can insert contact

information for some babysitters in the area as well. Also be sure to host the party during daytime for those parents who need to be home to put their kids to bed early.

Decorations

The decorations don't need to be over the top for this party. Let's face it; you probably have as many things on your plate as everyone else. But we have some ideas up our sleeve that will help you create a style statement without slaving over the décor too hard. You need two different spaces for this party. One your dining table where you will host the brunch or lunch after or during the gift wrapping process. The second is plenty of space for wrapping presents. You may want to set up a couple of gift wrapping stations on tables for your guests to use.

The Table and Centerpiece

‘Gift Wrapping’ is your theme for the decorations. Start by using long length of gift wrap for your table runner. For a stunning centerpiece (see image above), stack up large wrapped gift boxes and tie them up with pretty ribbons. Top with a large bow or a bunch of baubles like we have. You can get hardboard boxes or cardboard boxes from a local bakery to wrap. If using baker’s boxes, make sure to keep a book inside them to give them some weight. See larger image and details here.

Determine the size of the stack according to your table so that it is neither too small nor too big to obstruct discussion. Choose from the same gift wrap to wrap pretty little favors to keep on the place settings.

Games and Activities

The main activity of this party will be getting those holiday gifts wrapped. Almost everyone is looking for creative ideas and tips to wrap gifts. You could do a proper Gift Wrapping session in two different ways. One is to get a professional gift wrapper (yes they exist!) to come in and do a couple of demonstrations and give tips. Or if you have one among you who is more talented than the others when it comes to wrapping gifts creatively, let them take stage and share with others their tips.

The other alternative is to print out photos and projects of different gift wrapping ideas and keep them on the tables for inspiration. We have many gift wrapping ideas on our website. Just print them out or buy a couple of good books on the topic.

You could also exchange the gifts to be wrapped and have your own gifts by someone else in their own unique style. Play holiday music in the background and let guests talk and get those presents ready to go.

If you want to provide another source of entertainment, hold a ‘most creative gift wrapping idea’ contest and decide the winner by vote. The prize can be a useful gift wrapping tool such as a bow maker or a gift wrapping supplies basket.

Food Ideas

While wrapping gifts, you could put out munchies that won't make your guests fingers sticky or messy. Perhaps white chocolate covered pretzels, hard candies, veggies and dip.

Later, when the gifts are all done or during a break in between, sit down for a light, yet delicious meal on the lovely table you have set. Do not slave too much in the kitchen and mix store-brought with homemade to create make-ahead dishes. It s important to have a lot of make-ahead stuff or else you will not be able to enjoy wrapping your own gifts with your friends.

Party Favors

The pretty little boxes on your place settings may contain a lot of things that relate to your theme. Give gift wrapping essentials that can be used forever. Items like little bows, gift tags, gift cards, gift toppers, ribbon rolls, confetti, stamps etc. will go well with your theme and will be enjoyed by all guests.

This article first appeared in the 'Celebrating Christmas PDF Magazine' which is a FREE magazine that you can download and even print out.