Red and White Christmas Wrappings Go All Jackie O

Hello Friends,

It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas!

Ready to see how classic red and white Christmas wrappings can look all fresh and festive for 2018?

Red and White Christmas Wrappings Go All Jackie O

Whatever happened to the classics? 

You know what I’m talking about. 

What ever happened to those die-hard, larger-than-life characters that swept over us like 40-foot tsunamis and forever changed who we are?

Like the movie, The Ten Commandments? Yall know ain’t nobody ever gonna part the Red Sea like Charlton Heston.

Or wrangle a National Velvet like Elizabeth Taylor.

I’m telling you, Hollywood. Don’t even think about it.

And then, when I put my Christmas tree up this year, it told me that it wanted to be the Moses of Christmas trees. 

Well, maybe not Moses…..exactly.

But definitely a classic. Like Charlton Heston. As Moses.

And part the Red Sea of boring Christmas packages that lay at its feet.

So, to get the inspiration flowing….you know.. the kind that forms iconic package-wrapping tidal waves, tsunamis and Red Sea partings, I rolled back to the sacred fashion scrolls of the 1960’s. 

Yep, the way I saw it, before this little tree goes off trying to part the Red Sea under its own power, how about just making it easy?

And by easy, I mean, how about just snagging a few tips from the Queen of crisp whites and color blocking?

I think Moses…I mean Charlton Heston… would approve.

Don’t you? 

Tips for Creating Jackie O Inspired Christmas Packages

• Don’t skip on the paper. Make sure it is quality paper that you can’t see through. Trust me, nothing destroys the look of a tree more than boxes of graffiti behind peek-a-boo covers. Plus, good paper allows for super-clean cuts and crisp creases. And we want those classic boxes to look like a heavily starched, hand-ironed, 1960’s button-down-shirt-on-a-Sunday-morning kind of crisp.

• If you decide to use solid white paper, please-pretty-please use the same white paper for all of the packages. Yes, even if the hubs has to forge the crowds on an early Black Friday morning for two more rolls, use the same white paper. Since it’s the foundation color for the bottom of the tree, it should appear like Jackie’s iconic white gloves with her evening gown….well-tailored and polished. And changing papers can really mess with the tailored look. Please….send the hubs for more.

• Then change it up with the ribbons. This is where it is easy to vary the sizes, shades and textures without losing Jackie O’s famous color block effect. Heck, you can even combine different ribbon on the same package, just as long as all of the ribbon are red. At this point, it’s all about creating those sharp Jackie O-style color contrasts on top of a white foundation.

• And please, take time when making the bows. Before you tie, think about the scale of the package, how wide and how flexible the ribbon is, and where ribbon repeats should occur. This is no different from laying out your daily ensemble to confirm that everything coordinates. As best you can, plan where the boxes will go under the tree and then sort the ribbons so that like ribbons don’t get bunched to one side of the tree.

And Another Thing…the Tree Skirt

When I took the first batch of photos, the Jackie O-style white linen tree skirt was completely covered by the boxes. And when I maneuvered it around a little, it just completely fell flat. Flavorless. Blahsville. A virtual unparted Red Sea if ever I saw one.

But look what happens when white faux fur goes under the same packages. Granted the size of the skirt is extended and that is a big help. But just look at the difference in contrasting texture and how it helps to pop the detail of the tailored packages.

Hello. All aboard for the Red Sea Parting Tour.

I think Charlton and Jackie O would approve. Don’t you?

To save these tips for later or share with friends, please PIN the image below.

AND NOW — A TREAT!!! A few of my blogger friends are linked up to share even more gift wrapping ideas.

Big thanks to Nancy at Adams and Elm Home for organizing the linkup.

 

Coco from The Crowned Goat

Nancy at Adams and Elm Home

 

KariAnne from Thistlewood