PRETTY SMART

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THAT’S A WRAP!

Got an awkwardly shaped gift? (Bicycle? Basketball? Violin?) Here are four fun, easy waysto present it.

LIGHT IT UP

When your item is just too big to cover with paper (a dollhouse, a rocking chair, a bike), “wrap” it with strings of holiday lights. Cover the entire exterior, securing the cords with standard twist ties, ribbon, or fishing line. Don’t worry which way the bulbs point—the haphazardness is part of what makes it feel so festive.

Written by

Betsy Goldberg

Photographs by

Jamie Chung

Craft Stylingby

Jodi Levine

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MAKE A SAMPLER

Want a more personal way to give money? Arrange the cash like an assortment of sweets in a tissue paper–lined plain white box. (Find boxes in all sizes at containerstore.com.) Fold or roll the bills and tie with twine or ribbon, then nestle them in cupcake liners in various shapes and shades (a great way to use up any leftovers, btw). Sprinkle in a few random trinkets—candy canes, mini tree, reindeer figurine— for even more surprise and delight.

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SUPERSIZE A CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Take a cue from the classic party treat and insert biggish gifts (stuffed animals, instruments) into oversize DIY tubes. Roll a 24-by-36-inch piece of poster board into a cylinder, securing with duct tape. Cover with a sheet of wrapping paper, adhering it with doublestick tape. On each end, tape crepe paper about 3 inches in. (This metallic crepe paper is from castleintheair.biz.) Slip in the gift, gather the paper at each end, and cinch with a ribbon bow.