Caroline Birkett

This is a reprint of a classic. We have had three copies in our library system for years, and they circulate well and the content is still very relevant.

This is an approachable, thorough guide to both the basic, intermediate and advance forms of gift wrapping. No previous experience is necessary to begin using these techniques to improve your wrapping skills.

After reading this book, you should be able to successfully wrap oddly shaped packages, make your own bows, boxes, cards and bags, and up-cycle materials around your house to make gorgeous and original wrapped gifts.

This is a valuable reference to have around the house. The only downside is that there were no new additions to the original edition.

**eARC netgalley**… (más)

Aide-mémoire

Just now I looked at the images resulting from a Google search "Fancy gift wrapping paper" and I saw lots of different ideas for wrapping paper and a headshot of Gwyneth Paltrow. Don't know what she was doing in there but otherwise there were lots of photos of paper and ribbons and tags and a little girl with a rolling pin doing something on the floor. I have never figured out how Google photo algorithms work, I always find the strangest things in my searches.

Anyway, a similar search using "Fancy gift wrapping ideas" brought up some of the same photos (no Paltrow or rolling pin but with photos of a homemade popsicle, some pies, some wrap sandwiches, and a field of daisies) and many new photos. Take away the word "fancy" from the searches and you get even more interesting and attractive ways to wrap gifts.

Which brings me to this book.

There are lots and lots of good photos in this book suggesting ideas for wrapping gifts. Seeing the photos will trigger memories of other designs you have seen. The book also has instructions on how to do the projects listed. Not great instructions, but reasonably good ones.

Whether you should spend your money on this book depends on whether you want the idea and the instructions in the same place or whether you want to go online and see a photo and then work out a way to create what you see.

Up to you.

I received a review copy of "The Gift Wrapping Book: Over 150 Ideas for All Occasions" by Caroline Birkett (Dover) through NetGalley.com. It was originally published in 2002 in the UK by David & Charles, an imprint of F&W Media International, Ltd.… (más)