Professional wraps up the holidays

By Karen Deer
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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When it comes to gift wrap, everyone has a story. Some good, some bad. Just ask professional gift wrapper Melissa Coday. She's been wrapping for years and says "you may be more creative than you think."

TYPES OF WRAP: If you're looking to save a few pennies this holiday season, consider wrapping your gifts with newspaper or brown paper bags. For the busy wrapper, try pre-wrapped holiday boxes. The newest gift wrap solution is Hallmark's adhesive gift wrap ($4.99 to $5.99 at most Hallmark stores).

ECO-FRIENDLY OPTIONS: The Saa paper artisans of Thailand use the bark from mulberry tree branches to make gift wrap ($22.99 to $24.99 for six sheets) at www.overstock.com. It's been handmade in Thailand for more than 700 years.

In this Dec. 12, 2008 file photo, an employee of a toyshop wraps a Christmas gift in Stuttgart, Germany. (Thomas Kienzle / The Associated Press)

COOKIE CUTTER: Wrap the ribbon around your gift. Right before you knot your bow, slip a cookie cutter through the ribbon and tie a knot around it.

CINNAMON STICKS: We wrapped a package with green wrapping paper and tied a bow in the middle of the gift box. Next, tie a small piece of ribbon around five cinnamon sticks and knot it. Tie the tails around the center of the bow and knot it at the center of the bow.

NEWSPAPER BOW: Wrap your gift box with newspaper. Add red ribbon around the box. To create a colorful newspaper bow, start with three sheets of color comics. Lay the newspaper face down and fold it over horizontally. Cut the fold to get six sheets. Take the six sheets and start an accordion fold. Insert the middle of the fold under the ribbon. Finally, cut into each pleat and fan out by separating the strips of comics.

FAVORITE ORNAMENT: Tie silver mesh ribbon corner to corner on your gift box. Slide a small piece of ribbon through the ornament hook and knot it tight. Then, tie a knot around the ribbon.

GIFT BAND: Wrap your gift box and slide on the "Star of David" gift band. Other styles and colors of gift bands are available (Hallmark).

PINECONES: Tie a piece of raffia (available at craft stores) around the top of a pinecone. You can also use twine or string from your home. Wrap your gift in a brown grocery bag. Tie a couple of pieces of raffia around your gift box. Then, tie the pinecone string to the center of the ribbon.

POINSETTIA TOPPER: Wrap your gift and tie silver mesh ribbon around the box. Cut a stem from a bunch of flowers and insert the stem into the knot of your ribbon.

GIFT BAGS: They're everywhere, but we spotted some cute holiday styles at Target.

PREWRAPPED GIFT BOXES: Find prewrapped boxes at Michaels.