Gift Wrap Inspiration: Foraged from the Winter Forest
Who can resist an opportunity to head deep into the woods on mission to gather …and give the most handsome gifts ever?
As you prepare for your holiday gift wrapping, here’s some deep woodsy inspiration to get your creativity brewing. With a bit of planning ahead (not to mention the hearty reward of a forest bath), you can top your gifts with natural wooded vignettes full of hand foraged treasures.
In our ongoing exploration of gift wrapping without bow, these new looks may be our all-time favorite.
But first, foraging.
This gift wrapping inspiration starts with a gathering mission. Set a date to head out to your favorite wooded trails; bring work gloves, clippers, a large basket (or two), and an open mind. Retrain your eye to look for the delicate beauty in bits of decay, to parts of fallen trees that have sprung new life, for colors and textures.
Here’s a cheat sheet of interesting bits to keep watch for:
- Dried branches and twigs, the more gnarled the better
- Patches of lichen and moss
- Peeling bark
- Rotting bark
- Seed pods
- Pine cone bunches
- Feathers
- Fallen birds nests
- Evergreen sprigs
- Eucalyptus leaves, pods, bark
It was wet in the forest where we gathered, so I let everything sit and dry in the sun for a few days. (I figured this also gave any little critters time to skitter away to find a new home.) The clippings of greens, of course, were kept in a bucket with water in the shade. As the forest dank dried out, everything became lightweight, a bit more brittle, and generally easier to work with for this purpose. After all, you do not want to put anything with moisture on your paper wrapped gift boxes.
TIP: If you were lucky enough to find a fallen birds nest (do not remove from a tree and always ensure it is abandoned) here’s a good post on how to preserve it for use.
Mise en place.
When I was ready to get begin wrapping, I laid out all the gathered goodies, piled by category on a big work table. This scene escalates into quite a mess with all the clippings and dried droppings, so an outdoor workspace is recommend. I sorted, clipped, stripped, and trimmed all the materials into the most desirable segments, at an appropriate size. I knew my biggest box was about 8” and most were smaller, so I concentrated on 4-6” segments. If you have a large box, you may want hold back some bigger pieces.
TIP: Break or snap the branches and bark rather than clipping them so you get naturally ragged edges on both sides.
At this point, I tidied up my workspace so I could safely bring in all our gift boxes that I had pre-wrapped in Wrappily paper. Naturally, I stuck with the woodsy theme with these patterns: Noel Forest, Peace on Earth, and Winter Animals.
Let the wrapping begin.
Sort out your favorite bits—that perfectly gnarled twig and the prize pinecone bunch—and start building from there creating your scenes with color and texture. I default to advice I received years ago on compiling flower pots: you need thrillers (the showstoppers), fillers (to add bulk and fill voids), and spillers (the natural loose ends that flow the opposite direction and/or provide movement and grounding.)
Despite my best Snow White, of course I did not get birds to come pose on my gifts. I had a stash of bird ornaments that I repurposed here for a bit of extra flair. This is entirely optional! Creatively, I was also wishing I’d thought of a clever way to craft-up some cute little mushrooms… maybe next time.
Additional wrapping supplies:
- Paper ribbon (pictured here: Copper)
- Natural twine (pictured here: Black & Gold)
- Double-stick tape
- Hot glue gun
- (optional) additional ornaments
- (optional) floral wire or produce twist ties
Start with a tight lashing or two of the paper ribbon or twine. Use this as an anchor to start tucking in your elements. If you need to, wire your showpieces (like the birds or other showpieces) with short lengths of the floral wire so you can secure them into place. Go back and fill in voids with the lichens and mosses. Finish with any final dramatic touches your composition needs— a twisted twig? A raggedy roll of dried bark? A colorful pop of evergreen?
More is more. Or, less is more? That is up to you.
TIP: If you want to repurpose your toppers build them directly on to a wooden clothes pin. After the gift it can then be clipped to a wreath, put on the tree, added to a table centerpiece or added anywhere that needs a woodsy ornamental touch.
You can also build the toppers directly on the gift with no ribbon or twine by adhering your items with little dots of hot glue like we did on this cylindrical gift. (pssst…it's a candle but don’t tell anyone!)
Another way to skip the ribbon altogether is this look: use double stick tape to adhere a garland of leaves around your box. I used Eucalyptus, here and while it smelled wonderful, the leaves have a lot of natural oils and a dust on them which made for a little extra work. I think it paid off, though. I layered with a bit of sparkly twine for an extra pop, and couldn’t resist the rolled pieces of dry papery bark I collected at the base of the same Eucalyptus tree.
Last thoughts
It feels good to connect with nature and to share that love into the gifts you give this holiday season. It should go without saying, but be mindful and practice a light touch when gathering, ask permission if heading into other’s property, and make sure you are not causing damage to trees or wildlife. For this project, we really did focus on collecting from ground fall first.
Gather what’s in your area, depending on your region what you are able to forage and your finished work may look different, but the process is the same. If you use these tips, be sure to share your results and tag us on social, we’d love to see them.
Happy wrapping!
Featured Products
Artist Series Wrap Bundle: Noel Forest by Esther Fallon-Lau
$40.99
– Sold OutCelebrate sustainably with our recycled and recyclable gift wrap featuring our full pattern collection Aussie designer Esther Fallon-Lau. Reversible patterns make gift wrapping fun! Paper works great for crafting, too.
Bundle includes one package of each:
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- Winter Floral Cream/ Homespun Plaid Green
- Cozy Cabins/ Jewels
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Abaca Eco Silk Wine Gift Bag - Copper
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Sustainable, vegan, and very reusable. Sold individually; bag height is approx. 12"
Homespun Plaid Red/ Winter Floral Evergreen
$10.80
Greens, reds, plaids, holly and evergreens—all that holiday charm makes this duo an absolute delight for seasonal gift wrapping. Use alone or pair together with others from the Noel Forest collection, Esther Fallon Lau’s festive and fantastical wintry pattern wonderland.
Package includes three double-sided wrapping paper sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks = eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
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• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
PLEASE NOTE: We don’t want a little smudge to come between us. Wrappily is uncoated newsprint, ink from darkly saturated patterns such as this will likely transfer onto fingertips during the wrapping process. Our soy-based inks are safe, non-toxic, and rinse right off with water. If this sounds like more than you bargained for, we suggest you select from our lighter patterned papers.
Winter Floral Cream/ Homespun Plaid Green
$10.80
Rustic green plaid pairs lovely with this elegant swirl of holly, evergreens, hearty winter flowers, and a snip-of-an-ode to artist Esther Fallon Lau’s Australian homeland (can you spot it?) Use alone or pair with other festive and fantastical wintry scenes from the Noel Forest holiday collection.
Package includes three double-sided wrapping paper sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks = eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
• Flat, folded sheet for easy storage
• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
Cozy Cabins/ Jewels - Double-sided Eco Wrapping Paper for Holiday Gifting
$10.80
This wooded cabin scene is a wee bit festive, a wee bit minimalist, and a whole lot charming. Rustic and earthy with its geometric counterpart, Serendipity Jewels, this pairing completes the festive and fantastical winter scenes in Esther Fallon Lau’s Noel Forest holiday collection.
Package includes three double-sided wrapping paper sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks = eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
• Flat, folded sheet for easy storage
• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
Noel Forest/ Wintery Wood
$10.80
What merry moose roam this Noel Forest! And on the back, a pale and dreamy Wintry Wood, these fantastical wintry scenes are from the imagination of Australian artist Esther Fallon Lau. They coordinate perfectly with rustic plaids and swirling florals in her Noel Forest holiday collection for Wrappily.
Package includes three double-sided wrapping paper sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks = eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
• Flat, folded sheet for easy storage
• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
PLEASE NOTE: We don’t want a little smudge to come between us. Wrappily is uncoated newsprint, ink from darkly saturated patterns such as this will likely transfer onto fingertips during the wrapping process. Our soy-based inks are safe, non-toxic, and rinse right off with water. If this sounds like more than you bargained for, we suggest you select from our lighter patterned papers.
Copper (Paper Ribbon)
$7.50
– Sold Out-
Wrap it up and tie it with a bow! This eco-friendly paper ribbon not only adds a perfect pop of color, it's recyclable, compostable and made with non-toxic, water soluble dyes. What a score! It's shapable, versatile, fairly sturdy, and has a great crinkle texture allowing you to get creative tying-on that finishing touch to your gifts.
-
Ribbon is 1.5" wide. Each spool is 25 yards.
Vintage Sparkle Hemp Twine Quad
$6.99
– Sold OutSparkle that fits everywhere from minimalist to shabby chic, this premium-grade polished 100% hemp twine adds a rustic bling that packs a punch for your gift wrapping. This fine crafted twine is biodegradable, eco-friendly, vegan, AZO dye-free, and oil-free.
Cord diameter is 1mm diameter, 4x30 ft. spools.
Candles/Happy Birthday - Double-sided Eco Wrapping Paper for Everyday Gifting
$10.80
Get ready to blow out the candles and sing "Happy Birthday"
Celebrate sustainably with our recycled and recyclable double-sided eco wrapping paper featuring the cheerful art of watercolorist and published author, Meera Lee Patel. Reversible patterns make gift wrapping fun! Paper works great for crafting, too.
Package includes three sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks
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• No unnecessary cardboard tube
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Rainbow Sails/Dots
$10.80
Celebrate sustainably with our recycled and recyclable double-sided eco wrapping paper featuring the cheerful art of watercolorist and published author, Meera Lee Patel. Reversible patterns make gift wrapping fun! Paper works great for crafting, too.
Package includes three sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
• Flat, folded sheet for easy storage
• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
JOIN the mission to green-up gifting!
#wrapriprecycle #wraphappy #gifthappily
Winter Animals/Stars
$10.80
Celebrate sustainably with our recycled and recyclable wrapping paper featuring sweet wintery holiday themes of snowy animals and starry nights by watercolorist and published author, Meera Lee Patel. Reversible patterns make holiday gift wrapping fun! Paper works great for crafting, too.
Package includes three double-sided wrapping paper sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks = eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
• Flat, folded sheet for easy storage
• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
JOIN the mission to green-up gifting!
#wrapriprecycle #wraphappy #gifthappily
Peace on Earth/Evergreens
$10.80
Celebrate sustainably with our recycled and recyclable wrapping paper filled with hopeful holiday messages of peace on earth by watercolorist and published author, Meera Lee Patel. Reversible patterns make holiday gift wrapping fun! Paper works great for crafting, too.
Package includes three double-sided wrapping paper sheets + adhesive gift tags
• Sheet size 21.5" x 34"
• Premium newsprint + soy-based inks = eco-friendly wrapping paper
• Plastic-free PLA packaging
• Flat, folded sheet for easy storage
• No unnecessary cardboard tube
• 100% recyclable and compostable
• Milled, printed and packaged in Washington State
JOIN the mission to green-up gifting!
#wrapriprecycle #wraphappy #gifthappily
Artist Series Wrap Bundle: Meera Lee Patel
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