With the holiday season right around the corner, what better way to make that time less stressful than to plan ahead? Save time by preparing now and working on your holiday gifts in stages. Plus learn easy ways to wrap gifts – even at the last minute – so you look like you had it together all along!

I remember as I got older, that my mother always seemed to be pressed for time during the holiday season. First she was rushing to wrap gifts – all on Christmas Eve. She’d close the door to her bedroom and lay her old pattern cutting board across her bed. The rustle of paper and the sound of Fiskars sliding across rolls of wrapping paper would go on half the night.

Then there was the time her Christmas tree didn’t make it until the night before the big day. If you’ve ever tried decorating a tree AND wrapping gifts all in one evening, then you know how insane it is. She was up until 4am on Christmas morning rushing to get everything ready.

In contrast, I used to start shopping for gifts in July and be finished by the first of November. I enjoyed not having to rush. I still like decorating the tree (though I abhor taking it down!) and decorating Christmas cookies with friends.

These days, however, I prefer making homemade gifts for friends and family (unless I’m buying handmade.) I usually get started right about this time of year, especially if I’m making soap. And, believe it or not, gift wrapping is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. Though I do realize not everyone feels the same way.

To be honest, my family HATES the way I wrap gifts. It’s not because of the flourish. Rather, it has more to do with the tape.

Inevitably, I always run out of Scotch tape halfway through wrapping gifts. There can be no free sides of wrapping paper. Rather every edge of paper must be taped down. So there’s not any chance my gift recipients being able to slip a finger underneath the wrapping paper to tear it open. (This easy gift wrapping hack terrifies me! It only uses ONE piece of tape.)

When I run out of regular tape, I dig through my craft supplies and put that last roll of shipping tape to good use. This is especially helpful for keeping boxes completely sealed along every seam pre-paper as well.

When I finally finish off that roll shipping tape, then I’m sure I can find duct tape somewhere. After all, crafting does have its perks.

My family, however, has finally stopped joking about how I should invest in a tape company. Still, I think it’s just more fun that it takes a full five minutes to unwrap every single gift. It’s all about building suspense.

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

Shopping for gifts and finding creative ways to wrap said gifts isn’t the only stressful part of the holiday season. Before the holidays hit, there’s always extra cleaning that needs to be done in anticipation of guests.

Grove Collaborative recently introduced Mrs. Meyer’s new holiday scents in Peppermint, Iowa Pine, and Orange Clove. Greg wanted to try the orange clove scent this time around, so I bought their holiday dish soap, hand soap and multi-purpose spray. I also got the new red Grove cleaning caddy which makes it easy to transport all my cleaning supplies from room to room. What’s really cool, is if you aren’t already a Grove customer, you can get all the same products (in your scent of choice while supplies last) for free! Plus they’ll even throw in a set of Grove walnut scrubber sponges.

How to Make A Simple Gift Basket

If you already have a cleaning caddy, then you can use the free red cleaning caddy as a holiday gift basket for someone special in your life! I filled my cleaning caddy with handmade gifts, then covered it with a decorative tea towel. A little bit of wire ribbon then gave it the perfect decorative touch. I wasn’t even disappointed that I didn’t get use any tape! (Learn how to tie the perfect ribbon gift bow here.)

You do have to spend $20 to get your free gift. However, it’s the perfect opportunity to purchase Lovebug Colds Suck Immunity Daily Probiotic to help you stay healthy this holiday season. I also love the Grove Collaborative amber room spray bottle. Simply fill the container with water then add up to 40 drops of your favorite essential oil! (Take advantage of this special offer now before time runs out!)

Not sure what to put inside your gift basket? You can gift a homemade loaf of challah bread, rustic sweet limpa bread or a pound cake with a set of beautiful botanical recipe cards and a jar of homemade preserves. You could also include a container of winter chai spiced cocoa mix or a sweet chile citrus spiced hand poured candle. I also love this orange cardamom spiced sugar scrub!

More Easy Ways to Wrap Gifts

If gift baskets aren’t the direction you want to take for your homemade holiday gifts, then consider one of these other easy ways to wrap gifts for Christmas.

Mason jars are an easy way to wrap gifts.

Mason jars are a simple and eco-friendly way to package your gifts for the holidays. Whether you fill them with a homemade body scrub, herbal bath tea, cranberry body butter (pictured) or handmade hard candies, they are easy to decorate with just a bit of ribbon or a custom canning jar label.

These peppermint sugar scrubs from SARCraftGifts illustrate how easy it is to decorate your mason jar gifts for holiday gift giving. They’re decorated with a simple strand of bakers twine and a handwritten tag.

You can also make your own aloe vera bath melts to package in tall mason jars with a simple coordinating ribbon.

If you want to really make your mason jar gifts shine, you can add a seasonally inspired snow globe to the top of your jar! This holiday mason gift jar from cornchip HANDMADE features a handmade winter diorama on the lid. All you have to do is include your gift inside! (Or learn how to make your own mason jar lid snowglobe.)

Another easy way to create a decorative gift worthy mason jar is with etching! You can learn how to make an easy DIY starry etched mason jar here. Or easily add printable labels to food jars or wine bottles with this stylish collection of customizable holiday gift labels from Lia Griffith.

(For even more DIY mason jar gift ideas, be sure to check out more gift ideas on my holiday gifts Pinterest board.)

Try a decorative gift box for a fun twist on gift wrap.

That’s not all however. You can buy decorative gift boxes that require nothing more than a ribbon or a bow. But did you know you can also print gift boxes if you don’t have time to hit the store? Printable gift boxes are some of my favorite ways to easily wrap those last minute gifts when you’re running behind. Or if someone extra was added to your guest list at the last minute.

Following are some of my favorite ways to wrap gifts using printable gift boxes.  You will need tape for these creative ways to wrap gifts. However, if you’re a die hard tape fan like I am, you’ll at least find it easy to curb your addiction with these gift wrap gems.

These super cute printable hedgehog treat boxes from Little Luxuries Loft are great for jewelry and other tiny gifts like stocking stuffers. You can also use them for your holiday advent calendar. In addition Little Luxuries Loft also offers printable little Christmas elves as well as winter foxes for a non-holiday winter theme.

This DIY winter gingerbread sleigh holiday gift box from Wa Womb Printables functions not just as a unique way to wrap gifts, it also makes conversation worthy holiday home decor.

While these DIY gingerbread gift boxes from The House That Lars Built are an easy way to wrap larger sized gifts. And they’re eco-friendly! All you need are a few upcycled boxes, a hot glue gun and a white paint pen and you’re set! Find the tutorial to make your own at The House That Lars Built. Or try this large printable holiday cat gift box on for size. Alternately, you can also paint old cookie tins for another eco-friendly, reusable gift box idea.

Get creative with bold wrapping paper & easy gift toppers.

Lia Griffith also has tons of really lovely ways to wrap gifts using her printable wrapping paper as well as DIY gift ideas for him and her. There’s an even a video tutorial that shows you not only how to create unique and beautiful gift toppers, it’s also filled with easy gift wrapping tips and tricks. I love how easy her video makes it to explore new ways to wrap gifts without feeling intimidated about trying something new! Also be sure to check her great DIY ideas for unique gift tags and gift card envelopes.

I’d love to hear your favorite ways to wrap gifts for the holiday season! So be sure to share your ideas in the comments. You can also share photos of your gift wrapped presents with me on instagram by using the hashtag #soapdelishowoff when you post. For even more great ways to wrap gifts so you look like a pro, be sure to check out my Pretty Packaging Pinterest board as well of my collection of gift wrap favorites on Etsy, which includes this adorable dachshund gift wrap from Rose and Willow.

Want more great ideas for the holidays? Be sure to follow me on your favorite social media platforms! You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.