11 Christmas Stamps to Take Your Gifting Wrapping Game to the Next Level

Pixel Weave Gift Wrap

The pixel weave is an old classic here at Brit HQ — our co-founder, Anj, introduced it waaaay back in 2011! We thought we’d give this weave method a little V-Day spin for these gifts.

Tools + Materials:

— wrapped gift

— paper (2 colors)

— tape

— paper cutter or scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut your paper into one-centimeter-wide strips.

2. Line up your first set of paper strips in a row on top of your wrapped gift. Fold the strips where they meet the edge of the gift box, then tape each strip to the side.

3. Weave the second color through the taped strips to create a heart pattern.

4. Tape down the second side of your first set of strips once you’ve finished weaving. Then carefully tape down the other set of strips.

To begin, cut one-centimeter-wide strips of paper in two different colors. We cut nine strips in dark pink and eight strips in light pink.

Next, line up and center the first set of strips on your wrapped gift. Fold each strip where it meets the edge of the box, then carefully tape each strip to the side. You can use double-sided tape for this step if you don’t want your tape to show.

Now, for the fun part! Carefully weave each strip of your second set through the taped strips. Study these images to get the heart shape down, or go rogue and make your own pattern. It’s kinda hard to make a pixel weave look ugly, so have fun with it! When you’ve created the pattern you like, tape down the second side of the first set, then tape each side of the second set of strips.

This technique would also work using yarn, ribbon or fabric strips. There you have it! You just gave your V-Day gift a facelift in less than five minutes.

Confetti Tape Gift Wrap

We challenge you to find an easier way to dress up your gift wrap. Seriously.

Tools + Materials:

— wrapped gift

— confetti

— double-sided tape

Instructions:

1. Place a strip of double-sided tape on your wrapped gift.

2. Cover your tape in confetti. That’s. It.

First, place a long strip of double sided tape on your present. You can keep it simple with one strip, or add more to amp up the drama.

Next, place your confetti on the sticky tape. Because we used large confetti, we placed each piece on one by one, but you’re welcome to us a “dip” effect, too. The smaller the confetti pieces, the harder it is to mess this one up :)

Another pro tip — go with a very simple wrapping paper pattern if you’re using multicolored confetti. This way, the viewer’s eye will not feel overwhelmed by all of the differing shapes and colors.

Look at that gorgeous gift wrap! A little confetti goes a long way, huh?

Peek-a-Boo Heart Gift Wrap

Like with the confetti tape hack, using simple wrapping paper patterns is best with this technique.

Tools + Materials:

— wrapped gift

— wrapping paper

— pen or pencil

— X-Acto knife

— scrap paper

— tape

— cutting mat

Instructions:

1. Make heart stencils: Draw different-sized hearts on your scrap paper, then cut each out with your X-Acto knife.

2. Trace half of each heart stencil onto your wrapping paper.

3. Cut along the traced lines with your X-Acto knife, then fold over the cut piece so that it creates a heart shape.

4. Tape the wrapping paper to your wrapped gift. Voila!

First, draw different-sized hearts on your piece of scrap paper, then cut them out with your X-Acto knife. These are your stencils for the peek-a-boo hearts.

Trace HALF of each heart stencil onto your wrapping paper, and repeat as many times as you’d like. Be sure to space out each trace so that they won’t overlap when you eventually unfold each heart. When you’ve drawn all of your half-hearts, cut along the lines with the X-Acto knife. Then fold over your cut piece to create a full heart.

Once you’ve unfolded all of your hearts, tape the wrapping paper to your wrapped gift. Be careful as you fold and tape the paper, ensuring that you don’t squish the folded hearts.

Not that we’re picking favorites… but this technique is kind of our favorite ;)

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Wrapping 101

If you're new to wrapping gifts and are looking for some tips, just break the process down into step by step instructions. From taping to folding to how to tie a ribbon, you'll get the hang of wrapping in no time!

How To Wrap Tiny Things

For those gifts that are too small for regular boxes, try your hand at making your own box with a piece of paper and some tape. Pretty soon, you'll have enough gift bags for all your tiny trinkets!

How To Wrap Round Gifts

Give round or tubular gifts a festive flair by cutting slits in the wrapping paper. That way you can fold the same sheet in a bunch of different directions without ripping it!

Measure Your Paper Needs Accurately

With all the gifts you have to wrap this holiday season, you definitely don't want to waste paper. This hack will give you an idea of how much you actually need depending on the size of your gift.

DIY Your Own Paper

To make your gifts stand out from the rest, DIY your own paper! Just grab some paint and rollers to turn some plain paper into something beautiful. Not only will everyone will love the design, but also the effort you put into it.

What To Do When You're Out Of Paper

For those instances where you realize you don't have enough paper, never fear. Just turn your gift diagonally, and continue wrapping like normal! You'll end up with a perfect gift without having to use up any unnecessary paper.

How To Make A Paper Bow

If you have some extra paper lying around from previously wrapped gifts, you can turn it into a bow with a little bit of cutting and some hot glue. Tiny, cute, and it matches the rest of the gift perfectly.

Make A Gift Bag Out Of Wrapping Paper

There are tons of gifts that we just jam into boxes because we don't know how else to wrap them, but next time you're in that situation, consider making your own gift bag instead of trying to figure out how to wrap it.

Braid Your Paper

You don't need any extra paper to create this look, all you have to do is fold the paper up the front instead of at the sides. Once you have the braided effect, just stick some festive trinkets into the folds for some extra gifts!

Seal And Stamp Your Gift

We love how this wrapping hack, with a ribbon and wax seal, makes your gift look like a letter. You can mix and match materials to create the perfect color scheme and customize it to your recipient's favorite shades!

Safely Store Your Paper For Next Year

To keep your rolls from ripping or separating, keep the wrapping paper closed with a toilet paper roll. You can hide the cardboard with extra wrapping paper and voilà!

Keiko Agena has a complicated relationship with 'Gilmore Girls' character Lane Kim.

“I think what [the role] was for people was different than what it was for me,” she tells Juliet Litman on an episode of the Dear Felicity rewatch podcast (via People). “In a weird way, I feel like I want to honor the experience that people had from the show, and what it meant to them, especially young Asian people, because I get that comment a lot, about what it was like for them to see someone like that on screen.”

And it's no surprise that as much as Gilmore Girls viewers love Lane, Keiko "[loves] her too. I can tell, when I meet someone who knows Gilmore Girls or who loves Lane, it's like, I recognize that love. I see that you love that person."

But it's possible to hold two conflicting emotions at the same time, and although Lane Kim was an incredibly special role at the time, there are some things Keiko would do differently today. “The best thing is to have a Korean American writer [and a] Korean American actor,” she says. “I don't think that that role, cast that way, would happen today. But at that time, in 2000, it was such a different time that I definitely know I wouldn't have said no or pulled myself out of that situation at that time...Now it's just a mix of just having gratitude for having gone through that experience and having that experience.”

Keiko Agena also keeps in touch with two very special 'Gilmore Girls' costars!

And one aspect of Gilmore Girls that Keiko Agena is thankful for is her relationship with the Gilmore Girls cast! And there are two costars in particular she frequently keeps in contact with: John Cabrera (who played Brian) and Sean Gunn (who starred as Kirk).

“There is this kind of lovely nostalgia for that time, and yet also we have years since then,” she says. “I [have] gone to both of their weddings. Our friendship is part Gilmore Girls and appreciation for that crazy time, and then part just like a million other things that are just like friends.”

I was totally surprised to learn she keeps in contact with John and Sean (supposedly) more regularly than Alexis Bledel, but it makes sense when you remember Keiko, John, and Sean are all around the same age — and Alexis is 7 years younger. Hopefully we get another Gilmore Girls reunion to see our favorite television BFF's reunite!