Use Lapel Pins To Dress Up Packaging on Your Holiday Gifts And Cards

Wrapping gifts for children is often a simple task. For most kids, the wrapping paper is off about 3 seconds after the gift opening begins! For teens and adults, however, the gift is more of an experience, and how the gift is presented can elevate the event and show the thoughtfulness of a gift. In this article, we will discuss how to use lapel pins to make your holiday gifts and cards special and memorable.

Wrapping gifts for the holidays can be a chore, especially if you have a large family and lots of gifts to wrap. I have tried spacing out the wrapping over several weeks and found that it is more of a hassle to get out all the supplies than expected. These days, I plan for one day to do all my gift wrapping and write out holiday cards. This way, I just have to get all the gifts and supplies out at once, and the job goes quickly, yet I have time to take a few extra minutes per gift to make each special.

The first thing to do is gather your wrapping supplies. For years I had what I considered to be my “signature” wrapping paper that I would always use for my holiday gifts. It wasn’t expensive – but it looked like it was, so I purchased several large rolls of it, and it lasted for a very long time. Over time, friends and family recognized the paper and would always know which gifts were from me. This also provided me with some challenges as I had to make sure each gift was clearly marked who the recipient was.

Now I have depleted my favorite wrapping paper for holiday gifts and have been using a different color/patterned paper for each individual I give a holiday gift to. My family is small, so this option is nice as each gift stands out and feels special. Choose which is best for you and choose between different papers or stick to just one you really like. When working with wrapping paper, I like a Goldilocks weight – not too heavy but not too thin. I find it difficult to wrap with either thin or very heavy papers. Thin papers tear too easily, and heavy paper can be difficult to fold and have the tape stick to it.

Besides the wrapping paper, you will need tape. If possible, stick to crystal-clear tape or invisible tape. This will give you the best results and will give a clean look to the package. Then of course, you will also need a good sharp pair of scissors and an assortment of satin ribbons.

For step-by-step instructions on how to wrap a gift, you can search online and find many great videos showing you the best ways to get a perfectly wrapped gift. In my opinion, the most important part is to measure the paper first!

Now the fun begins! Tie ribbons to the packages and make large, full bows. The gift toppers make the gift unique and allow you to add a special touch.

The first way to begin to embellish a gift is to add a lapel pin to the center of the bow on the gift. This is by far the simplest way to decorate the box. Adding a lapel pin to the bow also gives your recipient an extra gift they can wear at the party. You can purchase a different pin for each gift. If you choose to do the same pin for each person, you can make a new family tradition by choosing a new pin design each year for people to look forward to!

Note When placing a pin in a bow, it is best to do so carefully. Lift the center knot up and hold it securely on the sides. Remove the clasp of the pin and slowly press the sharp post into the very center of the bow’s knot. You may have to turn and press with a little pressure to get the pin to go all the way through the knot. Once the post has completely pierced the knot, secure the clasp to the post of the pin so it does not fall out.

For those with a sense of humor, PinMart’s Naughty List Pin is sure to get laughs before your loved one opens their gift!

For gifts for co-workers, we love the Happy Holidays Lapel Pin. It adds a classy touch, and the silver-toned metal will work with a lot of different paper colors.

For Jewish friends and relatives celebrating Hanukkah, wrapping a gift in the traditional blue and white colors is fun and festive. Adding a Blue and White Star of David Pin to the middle of the bow is a great bonus gift for this 8-day celebration.

In addition to adding a lapel pin to your bow, there are some other easy objects you can add to your gifts to make them special. Most every big box craft store will have an aisle filled with floral decorations. You can purchase a floral sprig of poinsettias. It should have multiple flowers. Carefully remove each flower so that it stays together as you pull it off the metal support. Nicer floral pieces should allow for the entire flower to come off in one piece. If not, use hot glue to assemble the flower so it is one solid piece. Glue flowers in odd numbers for balance to the top of the package. You will find hot glue is, again, the fastest and most stable glue to use for this. You can use any silk flowers you like. It is very pretty to choose flowers in an accent color that goes with your wrapping paper.

There are also many different “floral picks” to choose from. These are typically used for wreath-making, but you will find them to be handy for gift decorating as well. These small floral picks may have a sprig of an evergreen branch; some have bells or little holiday ornaments attached as well.

Some other ideas to add interest to your holiday gifts:

• ?Small toys or tiny stuffed animals
• Candy canes or other wrapped holiday candies
• Instead of ribbon, use twine for a rustic look
• Add glitter paint or white paint to create “snow” on the gift paper
• Glue sequins, buttons or use holiday stickers all over the wrapped gift
• Add ornaments to the top of the gift, tie to the bow

Although not a lapel pin gift hack, if you are looking to create a very special gift, you could create a custom enamel ornament. This option is wonderful for those with larger families or groups of friends, as the cost drops dramatically if you order 12 custom ornaments or more. PinMart offers two gorgeous designs: Happy Holidays or a Merry Christmas with a gold or silver option.

If you have a loved one or friend who loves pins and you would like to give them a special gift of several new pins, we have a great idea!

At your local craft store, purchase a large square or rectangle piece of Styrofoam. You will also need a piece of holiday-patterned fabric, some ribbons, and about 12-20 lapel pins. Measure the fabric to fit the size and shape of the piece of foam. Wrap the foam piece with the fabric the same way you would wrap a normal gift box. Instead of using tape, either secure the fabric with hot glue or with flat head stick pins. If you choose hot glue, the gift may last longer and be sturdier. Wrap the sides of the box with ribbon and tie with a bow. The best part is now you can take the clasp off all the pins and begin to stick them into the sides of the gift box. Do not glue the posts into the foam box wrapped with the fabric, though. Be sure to space out the pins so each side has at least three. Be sure to put all the clasps in a little plastic baggie and put them inside an envelope with a card so they can use them later. We like the look of a solid color fabric for this project. Many patterned printed fabrics could be too busy and not allow the pins to be the star of this great gift!

Many people give gift cards for the holidays so their friends and family can purchase things they want or need. This is a great option, but why not make this gift special too? If placing the gift card into a traditional card and envelope, consider tying a ribbon around the card and making a big bow, just like a larger gift in a box. You can add the lapel pin to the center knot of the bow, just like in the instructions above.

These are just a few ideas on how to use lapel pins (and other items) to make your holiday gifts special this year. With just a few extra minutes and a quick trip to the craft store, you can easily make every gift unique. When adding a lapel pin to the packaging, you are also giving the recipient a bonus gift to wear that they will cherish.

Have a great holiday season from all of us at PinMart!