We'll be the first ones to admit that we've given Pinterest a hard time over the year- from the worst pregnancy trends to the 5 Christmas trends we want to avoid at all costs.
But whether we're chocking it up to the holiday spirit or one too many egg nogs, we'd like to take this time to acknowledge some of the finer things that Pinterest has brought us - specifically, the various styles for wrapping Christmas presents. Because all kidding aside, that shit's art.
See Also: Five Christmas Pinterest Trends to Avoid at All Costs The Five Worst Pregnancy Trends on Pinterest
Buy some butcher paper.
Let's start off with the basics. For those of you still buying prepackaged wrapping paper (consider the irony there for a minute) save yourself the money and just get a big ol' roll of burtcher paper. Why? Because Christmas and Chanukah aren't the only holidays you're going to be celebrating in the next 12 months. There are birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and whatever new holidays Hallmark decides to generate in a financially dismal season.
Before you know it your storage closet is filled with barely used gift wrap and you're trying to pass off Santa as a generic bearded man on Father's day.
Thanks to Pinterest, we have been shown the magic of brown butcher paper. Stamp it, paint it, punch it up with some glitter and doilies - there's really no end to this blank paper canvas.
Go au naturale.
Many of us already cut down nature and bring it into our homes (Alright fine, we pay professionals to cut them down but you get the idea) so why stop there? Atop the many green gifts trending on Pinterest this holiday season are pine cones (glitter optional), berries, holly, and for the slightly more ambitious, delicate twigs spray painted and arranged into holiday shapes like snowflakes and trees.
It's a very literal way to accessorize nurture with nature, and a lot cheaper than the crap you'll find at the stores.
Tag, you're hip.
Kiss those boring "to/from" stickers goodbye. Throughout the virtual boards of Pinterest you'll find a variety of vintage inspired DIY gift tags, varying in textile and typography. They're cute, creative, and probably take way more time than they're worth, but it's the thought that counts, people-the thought, and the possibility of making the outside of a gift cooler than the actual gift itself.
Get old school with your gifting.
Old timey photos, old paper road maps (you know those things we used before smart phones), and even the pages of old books and newspapers can turn your generic Amazon.com box into a work of art.
Personalize them further with thoughtful illustration, notation, and yes, more glitter.
If done correctly, your gift recipients may not even want to unwrap their gifts, for fear of tarnishing the masterpiece that you've just created.
Branch out with new materials.
Twine, wax, cloth and even buttons are making a come back under the virtual Pinterest tree. These materials have withstood the test of time and therefore can undoubtedly be salvaged for next Christmas. Plus they say that you mean gifting business. Regardless of if your gift is a long-sought memento from overseas, or a Starbucks gift card, the use of such reusable and unusual materials will outshine all competing forms of tangible generosity this Christmas.
