Our complementary gift wrap is just one of the perks that Mulhall’s Members enjoy when they pick up gifts for their loved ones at our store. But we know you have lots of gifts to wrap yourself too, and our natural gift wrap style is a simple and beautiful option. If you’d like to recreate this natural look with materials you have at home, we’d love to show you how we do it.
Clean and Simple Packaging
Our nature-inspired gift wrap starts with an unadorned kraft paper box or gift bag. The clean, neutral color is casual and relaxed – a perfect foundation easily customized for any season. Choose a box that’s about the same size and shape as the gift, allowing a little space on each side for protective tissue – especially for fragile presents. If the gift is large or awkward in shape, a gift bag with handles might be a better choice instead.
White Tissue
Pure white tissue is the next step. If you’re using a box, first line the inside with a piece of tissue, folded lengthwise, with the ends standing up outside of the box. Then use a separate piece of tissue to neatly wrap the gift, and place the gift inside the box. If you’re wrapping something fragile, you can also crumple pieces of tissue into loose balls and use them to create a soft nest under, around, and on top of the gift. When the gift is in place, bring the ends of the folded piece of tissue over the top and tuck them in like a blanket. This gives a neat, finished presentation when the gift is opened.
If you’re using a gift bag, loosely wrap the present in a few pieces of tissue before setting it in the bag. Then lay out another sheet of tissue, and pinch it in the middle to create a loose plume that can be tucked in above the present. We recommend using a few sheets of tissue, tucking each plume in until the bag looks full and the gift is covered.
Matching Wire or Twine
Forget the tape – it detracts from the natural beauty of this wrap. Instead, we like to use bind wire wrapped in kraft paper to secure the gift. Jute twine, yarn, or cotton string would work too. For a boxed gift, roll out enough wire, twine, or string to wrap about twice around your gift with a little extra too – doesn’t have to be exact. Lay the twine over the top of the gift and bring both sides around and under the box. Where the two meet underneath, twist them together with a one-quarter turn then bring the ends up to the top of the box. Tie an informal bow snugly in the center, leaving the ends to dangle. Or if you’re using wire, twist it into loose coils or loops to finish. For a gift bag, use a piece of bind wire or twine to create a simple bow at the top of the bag, near the base of the handles.
Finishing Touches
For a special finishing detail that continues the natural theme, tuck a sprig of fresh-cut greenery, a small bundle of your favorite herb, or a small piece of lifelike berry branch into the top knot, by the bow. When we wrap gifts for you, we choose seasonally available fresh-cut botanicals, and this time of year, we love using fragrant and long-lasting wintergreens for this step.
And last, add a gift tag. Ours are classic hang tags, perfect for customizing with your loved one’s name and your own special message. Special thanks to local calligrapher and hand-lettering artist Cheryl Dyer who created the beautiful lettering on these tags.
Go Easy and Natural
Our nature-inspired gift wrap stands out from the busy crowd of shiny packages under the tree – and the components are more friendly to the earth too. When you’ve selected that special item at our store, stop by our gift wrap station and let us complete your gift.
