Six Easy Gift-Wrapping Ideas

Using Seasonal Scented Flowers, Foliage, Herbs & Berries

We've just enjoyed our first mince pie of the season and having just put together these quick and easy DIY festive gift-wrapping ideas we're starting to feel really quite Christmassy!

Christmas at our Hampshire flower farm is always such a magical time of year. Our workshop is brimming with scented seasonal foliage - eucalyptus, fur, lavender stems, rosemary and thyme plus our beautifully scented Fairtrade and David Austin roses in soft white, cream, blush, cafe latte, peach, soft antique pinks and velvety red.

The weeks just before Christmas go by like whirlwind here on the farm with our Christmas wreath, Christmas bouquets (check out our Christmas collection here) and flower subscription gift orders to prepare. So this year we've decided to plan our festive gift-wrapping ideas further in advance.

You can also find more Christmas gift-wrapping ideas here on our Real Festive Gift Wrapping Pinterest board.

1 Scented Rosemary Wreaths

Wreath-wraps

Gift Wrapping Tutorial

You'll need:

- Rosemary stems - at least 20cm (8 inches) in length is best*

- String - we’ve chosen brown natural jute twine

- Optional - green floristry wire

- Your choice of gift wrapping paper - plain wrapping paper works best here - we've chosen textured white paper.

- Scissors

- Gift tags - brown card tags work well

Rosemary-wreaths

How to make the Rosemary Wreaths

- Gently bend the tip of your rosemary stem round to make a circular shape.

- Secure in place using either green floristry wire for an invisible join or string - tied in a bow to add an extra detail.

- After you’ve wrapped your present, cut a piece of string long enough to wrap round your parcel twice. Wrap the string around the parcel, threading the Rosemary Wreath onto the parcel at the front as you go, cross the string at the front and back - like a traditional brown paper parcel.

- Add your gift tag and then secure the string with a simple double knot at the back.

Wreath-berry

Extra gift wrapping ideas:

A small sprig of berries or rosehips added into the base of your Rosemary Wreath when you fasten your wreath adds an extra festive touch to your natural Christmas gift wrapping.

*Rosemary Stems - If you don't have rosemary in your garden, farm shops and farmers’ markets often sell longer sprigs. If you are in London we stock a range of foliage including herbs from our Hampshire Flower Farm in our Chelsea Green florist shop (link to shop info and address page).  Supermarket rosemary stems tend to be shorter but can still be used to make pretty miniature wreaths using the same method.

2 Say it with a Rose

Rose

Easy Gift Wrapping Tutorial

You'll need:

- Single stem roses - about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) in length. We’ve chosen our scented Café Latte blush roses.

- String - we’ve chosen white & pink baker's twine - you could also use ribbon

- Your choice of gift wrapping paper - plain wrapping paper works best here - we've chosen brown kraft paper

- Scissors

- Gift tags - brown card tags work well

How to do this easy gift wrapping:

You can prep your roses in advance. Remove any thorns and cut the stem at a 45 degree angle. Place the cut steps in a large zip lock bag which you've spritzed in advance with a light spray of water and place in the fridge. Your roses will stay fresh for at least 12 hours. Tuck your rose under the string or ribbon just before you gift your gift.

3 Handmade Ribbon and Berries

Berries-and-ribbons

DIY Ribbon Gift Wrapping Tutorial

You'll need:

- Foliage stems - about 15-20cm (6-8 inches) in length - we’ve used silver dollar Eucalyptus

- Berries on stems - about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) in length - we’ve used red Rosehips and pink Hypericum berries

- Floristry tape - sellotape also works fine if you don’t have floristry tape

- A length of printed fabric* - small patterns work best - we’ve used Liberty Tana Lawn “Wiltshire Berries”

- Your choice of gift wrapping paper - plain wrapping paper works best here - we've chosen kraft paper

- Pencil and ruler

- Scissors

- Gift tags

Handmade-ribbon

How to make the Fabric Ribbon:

- Find or mark then cut a long straight edge on the fabric.

- Mark out strips parallel with your long edge about 1.5-2.5cm (half an inch to 1 inch) wide using a ruler and pencil on the wrong side of the fabric.

- Cut the fabric into strips - if you are brave you can tear the fabric into strips for a more natural look.

- You can knot your handmade ribbon together to make longer lengths.

- If you are making lots of strips - try winding them onto a reel or round a twist of paper so they don’t get tangled.

How to decorate your gifts:

- Choose suitable stems of foliage and berries.

- Cross the stems over each other and secure with tape.

- Wrap your present and tie with your handmade ribbon ribbon. Thread the berries and foliage onto the parcel at the front as you go - so the ribbon hides your tape.

*Fabric choice - you will need about 10cm (4 inches) of a 90cm width to give you 4-6 strips of fabric 90cm (1 yard) long.

Alternative handmade ribbon ideas:

Try using pinking shears to give your ribbon a zig-zag edge.

Why not use upcycled fabric from an old favourite or a charity shop garment for your handmade ribbon.

4 Print & Pine

Print-&-Pine

Easy Gift Wrapping Tutorial

You'll need:

- Foliage stems - about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) in length - we’ve used Rosemary and silver dollar Eucalyptus

- Pine cones - we’ve used long thin Spruce pines cones

- String -  we’ve chosen brown natural jute twine

- Your choice of gift wrapping paper - we've chosen white and pink (Financial Times) newsprint

- Scissors

- Gift tags - brown card tags work well

How to do this easy gift wrapping:

- Once you’ve wrapped your present tie the string twice around the parcel - on the first round thread the foliage onto the parcel at the front - then catch the pine cone on the second round.

- Secure the string with a simple double knot at the back.

5 Real Rosehips

Berries-and-string

Easy Gift Wrapping Tutorial

You'll need:

- Rosehip stems - about 8-10cm (3-4 inches) in length

- String - we’ve chosen brown natural jute twine

- Your choice of gift wrapping paper - plain wrapping paper works best here - we've chosen white

- Scissors

- Gift tags

How to do this easy gift wrapping:-

- Wrap the string several times around the wrapped present, threading the sprig of rosehips onto the parcel at the front as you go.

- Add your gift tag and then secure the string with a simple double knot at the back.

6 Lime, Pine & Foliage Posy

lime

Natural gift wrapping

You'll need:

- Foliage stems - about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) in length - we’ve used dried Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) - dried grasses also work well

- Berry stems - about 8-10cm (3-4 inches) in length - we’ve used rosehips

- Pine cones - we’ve used Scotch pines cones

- Dried slices of citrus fruit - we’ve used dried lemon

- Floristry wire or string to tie the fruit on

- String - we’ve chosen brown natural jute twine

- Your choice of gift wrapping paper - plain wrapping paper works best here - we've chosen brown kraft paper

- Scissors

- Gift tags

How to prepare your foliage, fruit and pine cone

- Cut a short length of floristry wire or string - about 5-8cm (2-3 inches) long.

- Thread the dried slice of fruit onto the middle of wire or string and then add the pine cone - by threading from side to side near the base.

- Secure the wire round the two items by folding and twisting the two ends together - if you are using string then secure by tying together, leaving the two ends hanging down.

- Make a small bunch - start with the foliage, then add a sprig of berries and the prepared fruit and pine cone, and secure using the wire or string from the fruit.

How to do the gift wrapping:

- Wrap the string several times around the wrapped present, threading your small bunch onto the parcel at the front as you go.

- Add your gift tag and then secure the string with a simple double knot at the back.