| How to Get to Sleep on Christmas Eve Posted: 24 Dec 2021 04:00 PM PST Finding it hard to get to sleep on Christmas Eve? Well, you're not alone. It's a hard night to fall asleep, as excitement and eagerness accumulate. Santa is coming and you cannot stand how long it takes for the time to pass. Here are some suggestions that might help you to overcome excitement and get some much-needed sleep before the big day. [Edit]Distracting and Tiring Yourself on Christmas Eve Day - Wake up earlier than normal on Christmas Eve morning. Doing this will make you more tired when you want to go to bed later that day.
- The night before Christmas Eve, stay awake as long as possible. Set your alarm for an early time like 6 am. When you wake up, you will be very tired and will want to go back to sleep, but resist the urge. When you have to go to sleep later that day, you will fall asleep easier because you are exhausted.
- If you use your phone as an alarm, change it to a sound you hate so you want to get out of bed. Put your alarm across the room so you must get out of bed to turn it off. When you get out of bed, you will be "awake" for the day.
- If you have a calendar in your bedroom, turn it back to a different month and pretend it's that month during the night. Make a playlist of songs you liked listening to at that time to capture the feeling even more.
- Exercise regularly throughout the day. Do some jumping jacks, go for a walk, or do some cycling.[1] If it's too snowy outside to exercise, play an exercising game, such as Wii Fit.
- Make up a long song and try to memorize it. This will wear out your brain and make you tired.
- Help your family, friends, and even neighbors to prepare for Christmas Day. Keeping busy and being helpful will take your mind off the excitement but will still help you to feel involved and happy.
- Track Santa. Tracking Santa's progress around the world is always a great way to get you excited for Christmas on Christmas Eve! Use websites such as NORAD Tracks Santa or Google Santa Tracker.
- Tracking Santa, in some cases, actually may do the opposite of what you want to happen. It may make you more excited so it's harder to sleep. The blue light from your electronic device may keep you awake as well.
[Edit]Preparing for Bedtime - Think of it as a normal night. Tell yourself that tonight is not Christmas Eve. Do the same things you always do in your bedtime routine: brush your teeth, read a book, chat with your friends, etc.
- Say to yourself: "What am I gonna do tomorrow?" -- like it's any normal day: "Oh, hey, tomorrow maybe I will hang out with my 'bud', ______".
- Play a game with someone. A technique that, strange as it sounds, works well is to play a quiet game you can play alone (or with another hyper and excited friend or sibling), such as Mad Libs, while in bed. This will help take away your energy and help you fall fast asleep.[2] Santa came a lot quicker than you thought!
- Exercise. Although this may seem counterintuitive, exercise can help to calm you down. A couple of hours before you go to bed[3], see how many push-ups, crunches, or jumping jacks you can do in your room. Exercise only for thirty minutes, though; you don't want to stay up too late. Exercising is a great way to help you feel physically tired so that your body will want to sleep. Better still, it will take your mind off Christmas for a little while.
- Take a warm bath. Having a warm bath will relax your muscles and make it easier to fall asleep.[4] Squirt bath toys at imaginary targets, submerge yourself in bubbles, and relax your muscles. Try scented bubbles and soap.
- Don't peek at the Christmas tree. This might spoil any surprises and will keep you very excited and awake! Remember, Santa Claus knows when you are sleeping and when you are awake. He won't come if you are peeking.
- Drink warm milk. In addition to providing you with nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and L-tryptophan, warm milk can be a soothing, comforting drink that lulls you to sleep.[5] You can also try hot herbal tea; it is soothing to drink. Just make sure it doesn't contain caffeine!
- When you're setting up a cookie plate for Santa is a great time to have some warm milk.
- Or, drink hot chocolate after you are in your pajamas. This will also help you to relax and stay warm! Don't drink coffee. The caffeine in it can keep you awake.
- If warm milk disgusts you on its own, add some honey. It will make for a relaxing treat.
- Relax. If you are just jumping up and down and feeling hyperactive, you need to calm down; you're only feeding a buildup of excitement that it'll be hard to come down from. Read a book. Listen to music. Whatever makes you calm down and relax.[6]
- Read a book. It can be about Christmas, although it doesn't really matter. Try reading a school textbook, a really boring one from your least favorite class. Read a boring book to induce sleepiness; read an exciting one to get lost in and to help take away the urgency of thinking about Christmas things. Some good non-Christmas books are Harry Potter, Twilight, School of Fear, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. They are fairly long and can keep you occupied for a while.
- Burn a sweet-scented candle for a little while in a safe place in your room. The scent will help you to relax, particularly if you choose a scent like lavender or jasmine. Just make sure to extinguish it before you fall asleep!
[Edit]Going to Sleep on Christmas Eve - Remind yourself that the more you can relax and feel like falling asleep, the sooner it will be Christmas Day!
- Get into a comfortable sleeping position while in bed. Scrunch up really tightly—as tightly as you can. Hold that position for 30 seconds, then relax again, trying to stay still. You will become tired. This is important anytime you try to get to sleep, but relax and close your eyes.
- See some of the related wikiHow links in this article for more ideas on helping you to fall asleep, or visit the whole category on better sleeping.
- Fluff your pillow. If you fluff your pillow, it will give you something more comfortable for your head to rest on and make it easier to fall asleep.
- Snuggle up with pets. If the pet is small enough to fit in your bed (or wherever you are sleeping), try to fall asleep with it. It helps you to sleep when you have someone else in the room with you. It will make you fall asleep a bit faster, although if it is a hamster or something of that size you may squish it.
- Make sure you're warm or cool enough, depending on where you live. If it's cold, turn a heater on, put on some warm and comfortable clothes, or put some extra blankets on your bed. Just make sure you don't take yourself too hot, or it will be just as hard to fall asleep as it is when you're cold. If it's too hot, turn on the air conditioning, or open a window and sleep with just a sheet on you.
- Count sheep or even reindeer. Any of these methodical, centering and calming methods will help to move you out of being too excited into a calmer state, which may help you to feel sleepy. Try focusing on each of the sheep as they jump over the fence (or any other high platform). What do they look like? What type of fence are they jumping over? How high are they jumping? Focusing on these details will let your mind trail away from the idea of Christmas and will help you fall asleep.
- Lie in bed and say this in your head: "Relax my toes." (Wiggle them for a moment.) "Relax my arch. Relax my ankle. (Flex your ankle.)" It might sound corny but it really does work through the power of suggestion.[7] Continue, working all the way up to your head. Even keeping up the effort of concentration on doing this is a great distraction from the night's excitement. You may not even get up to your head before you're snoozing away!
- Listen to slow Christmas music and think about the real reason why you celebrate Christmas.
- Make a playlist on your iPod "sleep songs." Soothing music will definitely help take your mind off Santa, and lull you to sleep.
- Don't sit at the computer, laptop, or iPad late at night if you can't sleep; this will only keep you awake. The light actually fools your body into thinking it's not bedtime.[8]
- If you watch TV before bed, try to turn off or down all the other lights, so the room is darkened. That will get your body ready to sleep.
- Watch a movie. If you still have trouble going to sleep, watch a movie. Some good Christmas movies that play a lot during Christmastime include: A Christmas Story, The Polar Express, Elf, Home Alone 1, 2, 3, and 4, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause: 1, 2 and 3, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
[Edit]Waking Up on Christmas Morning - Set a time to wake up. Make sure that the whole family agrees with it. That way, when it turns (for example 7:00) everyone is prepared to get up. If you get up earlier than this, have some breakfast, go to the washroom, get ready so that you actually look OK on video.
- If you know you are going to be videotaped in the morning, prepare your best set of PJ's. You don't want everybody to remember you wearing that raggedy old t-shirt and a pair of shorts on Christmas morning, do you? Don't forget to brush your hair in the morning before galloping downstairs!
- Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
- You might flex your toes, fingers, and shrug your shoulders. Then after a few seconds, stop, and your body will feel relieved and you can relax and go to sleep!
- Clean your room before you go to bed it will be easier to sleep because you don't have to worry about a cluttered room.
- Stay up late the night before Christmas Eve. It will make you tired on Christmas Eve if you stay up for the whole day.
- Make sure your door is closed. It helps you feel more relaxed and you fall asleep. And it makes less light shining in your bedroom.
- If you like to keep a lamp on in your room while you sleep, keep it on low so it's easier to fall asleep.
- Turn all of your lights off so it will be easier for you to get to sleep.
- If you keep your stocking on your bed or anywhere you can see it then, put it under the bed; If this isn't possible you could always find a big cushion and stuff it at the foot of your bed with the stocking behind it. Or, place it somewhere outside your room where, from your bed, you can't see it but whoever walks by it can put a gift or treat! That way, you won't be panicking that Santa won't be able to find the stocking!
- Think about how great the day ahead will be and this will make you drift off dreaming.
- Keep your stockings downstairs and lock the door so that you won't be tempted to peek in your stocking.
- The sooner you fall asleep the sooner it will be Christmas, so make sure you fall asleep otherwise it will feel like forever before Christmas comes.
- If you're worried about not getting to sleep, stop looking at the clock, take deep breaths, and remember, it's very hard for the human body to stay awake for more than 18 hours at a time, so you'll probably fall asleep eventually whether you want to or not. Not to mention, on Christmas Day, when all the excitement is over, you'll catch up on any sleep you missed by going to bed early for a few nights.
- If you're feeling restless and want to open the gifts ASAP, say this to yourself: "No one is going to take the gifts from me at any time. They will be there whether I open them at 4 a.m. or 9 a.m."
- If you must, ask your parents if you can open one present on Christmas Eve. The satisfaction will calm you down for a while.
- Try not to drink too much liquid an hour or two before bed. Just take a sip of water and empty your bladder before you go to bed. This will decrease your need to get up during the night.
- Don't think about Santa Claus, that will make you feel excited and will take twice as long to fall asleep.
- Stop exercising around 2 hours before you go to sleep.
- Slowly change your bedsheets and put on your pajamas in slow motion, after your nice hot bath; this can make you feel bored and relaxed; so you can sleep.
- If you really want to, leave your room about half an hour before everyone else wakes up and look at the presents and the tree. It may not sound like it, but it actually might calm you down a little bit. Be sure not to peek at the presents though! This will just ruin Christmas for you.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't keep looking at the clock, as this will make it seem that Christmas Eve will never end.
- When reading your book, keep an eye on the time. You want to be asleep by midnight, so try putting your book down and closing your eyes around 10 or 11 p.m.
- Don't drink any caffeine at least six hours before going to bed. If you go to bed at 10 p.m., don't drink any caffeine after 4 p.m.
- Go to bed at the same time you do on a normal night. If you go normally go to bed at 10 p.m. and go to bed at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, it will not feel like a normal night.
- Don't unwrap any presents. Save the excitement so you can share it with everyone else.
- Once officially in bed, only get up for bathroom breaks, and if you do, try to get back into bed in the same comfy position you were in before.
- Be sure to empty your bladder before you go to sleep. It's harder to fall asleep with a full bladder, and if you do manage to fall asleep, you don't want to wake up in the middle of the night having to go to the bathroom.
- If you do exercise, don't exceed 30 minutes and make sure that it is at least one hour before you want to sleep. The endorphins you get from exercise can keep you buzzed and therefore awake, so leave some time to chill out. Leaving some time before bed gives you time to relax and maybe even try some other techniques!
- Don't leave your room; it will only make you more curious.
- As much as you may want to, peeking at gifts will ruin your Christmas. Sure, instant gratification is nice, but in the long run, it really isn't a good idea.
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References |
| How to Wrap a Gift Basket Posted: 24 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST Wrapping a gift in a box is hard enough. But wrapping a basket? Eesh. Oval, circles, hexagons; it can all be quite the decorating nightmare. But with some pretty cellophane wrapping in hand and some tape, you'd be surprised what skills you didn't know you had. [Edit]Getting Set Up - Grab everything you need. Once you have your basket assembled, you're ready to start wrapping. Items can jut out a bit, but not too much. And don't worry about your basket's shape; any shape and size basket will work. Here's what you'll need:
- Arranged basket
- Printed cellophane, shrink wrap, or wrapping paper (triple the amount of the size of the basket)
- Clear tape
- Scissors
- Twist tie, pipe cleaner, anything to cinch wrap together
- Bow
- Packing tape (optional).
- Roll the cellophane onto the table and place the basket in the middle. Spread it out on an even surface and place the basket in the middle on all sides. If the basket is absolutely huge, you may need another piece of cellophane, under the basket horizontally.[1]
- Again, on all sides. That means it needs to be centered on the right and left and top and bottom.
- Center the basket so there's about one foot (30 cm)of cellophane in the front and back of the basket. You'll probably only have a few inches on the sides, and that's fine. But as for the front and back of the basket, center it on your sheet so there's 10-12" (30 cm, or a bit under) on either side. This will cover the front and back of your basket and leave plenty of room at the top for some pretty frills.
- When you've found these measurements, cut your cellophane (or shrink wrap, etc.) to size. Again, if your basket is of titanic proportions, cut another sheet of similar size to cover the sides.
- Make sure all four sides are even. Line up the edges to be sure, and readjust as necessary.
[Edit]Wrapping Beautifully - Lift up the long sides of the cellophane and fold in the short sides. Take the front and back sections of the wrap and lift them up, pressing them against the basket, covering both ends and meeting the sides at the top. The sides of the wrap will then stick out.
- Then, take the wrap touching the table (or surface) in the center and bring it up to the side of the basket. You'll then have a right and left "flap" jutting out. Do this on either side of the basket.
- Alternatively, you can just pull down the sides. Pull it taut; there will be a slight overlap in the middle where the front and back meet, but that's it. You can then tape them down on the bottom of the basket from there.
- Fold the front edges toward the back and the back edges toward the front. You know how you have two "flaps" on either side of your basket, from where the center sides were brought in? Crease those at their bottom edges (like you're wrapping a standard box-shaped gift) and bring them in, back flap first. Then fold the front flaps over the back flaps, creating a sort of V-shape on the sides with the creases.
- Take the pieces that you folded down last (likely the front flaps) and secure them with tape. Transparent, double-sided, or packing tape all work. You'll probably want pieces that are around 2" (5 cm) long.
- Hold the cellophane at the top of the basket in your hand, and pull tautly. This is where you start making the frilly firework fanfare at the top. By now the cellophane is taped down on the sides and jutting into the air at the top. Right at the top of the basket, grab the cellophane and cinch it together, as tightly as can be.
- With the wrap in one hand, use your other to "fluff" the top. Spread out the edges so it juts out symmetrically on all sides until it looks like you'd like it to.[2]
[Edit]Adding the Bow and Final Touches - Twist your twist tie around the neck of the basket. Place a twist tie where you're holding the neck of the frilly top. This could also be a pipe cleaner, or anything that'll hold it together. And remember, you can always take it off after the bow is placed on.
- Alternatively, you can use clear packing tape on the neck, but this isn't removable.
- Tie the bow around the neck of the basket. No gift basket is complete without a bow, and yours should go right around this neck in the wrap.[3] Tie it around twice, forming a knot that won't slip. Make sure it's facing the front!
- If you'd like, you can now remove your twist tie, pipe cleaner, or whatever you used to cinch the wrap together. The bow has that job now and will keep everything in place.
- Tape down any awkward corners. Oval baskets especially tend to lead to awkward angles. If you have little corners toward the bottom of your basket (anything circular may lead to this), just tape them down and under if at all possible. Tape should be on the bottom of your basket more than the sides.
- Then fluff and adjust as necessary. Your basket is sealed and ready. If it's shrink wrapped, it could even be ready for delivery via the post.
- Need to place a tag? Around the ribbon of the bow is your best bet. The neck of the wrap works well, too.
- Use a printed cellophane to get a personalized touch while still leaving the glory of the basket evident from within.
[Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Your House Smell Like Christmas Posted: 24 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST When it comes to Christmas, one of the best things about it is the wonderful smells it brings. Of course, those smells don't just appear on their own. You need to invite them into your home. You can make a simmering potpourri, for instance. You can also use candles and oils to create your favorite Christmas scents or make items that you can use around your home that also smell good. [Edit]Making a Simmering Potpourri - Pick some of your favorite scents. The key to simmering potpourri on the stove is to pick scents that remind you of Christmas. Some people enjoy something subtle, such as oranges and thyme.[1] However, you can use whatever combination you want, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cranberries, and clippings of pine.[2]
- Add them all to a pot. Place the items in a pot big enough to hold them. With spices, you can use whole spices, like cinnamon sticks or whole cloves, or just ground spices if that's all you have. Pour in enough water to cover everything.[3]
- Boil and simmer the potpourri. Bring the pot up to a boil on the stove. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat until it just maintains a simmer. You can simmer the potpourri all day, but you'll need to add water throughout the day as it evaporates from the pot.[4]
[Edit]Adding Scent Through Candles and Oils - Make your own peppermint spray. Add 8 ounces of distilled water to a small spray bottle. Squeeze 20 drops of peppermint essential oil into the bottle. Place the lid back on, and shake the bottle well. Once it's mixed, spray it around your home. You can even use it on fabric.[5]
- You can also use cinnamon oil (three drops), pine oil (three drops), and orange oil (four drops) as a spray. Mix it with six tablespoons of water and one of vodka.
- Burn candles. One simple way to add scent to your home is to burn candles that remind you of Christmas, such as cinnamon apple or pine. You can also make your own simple candle by adding any oil that burns (including vegetable oil) to a mason jar. Add a lantern wick, and your favorite scents from your kitchen or essential oil cabinet, such as cinnamon or clove.[6]
- Try a wax warmer. Another option to add scent to your home is to use a wax warming system. These systems often don't require an open flame, so they are safer to have on. You simply plug them in, turn them on, then add scented wax to the warming area. The wax releases happy Christmas smells into your home.
- Create your own diffuser. Start with a small glass bottle. Add water to the bottle, filling it most of the way. Add drops of your favorite essential oils that remind you of Christmas, such as cinnamon, clove, orange, and cedarwood. Also add in two tablespoons of vodka. Finally, drop in a handful of bamboo skewers, which will diffuse the scent into the air.[7]
[Edit]Creating Useful Scents - Make scented fire starters. Fire starters help get your fire going more quickly, plus these add a nice scent to your home. Start by placing scented items in paper cupcake liners, such as cinnamon sticks, pine cones, rosemary, bay leaves, and cloves. Use a piece of cotton lint, and center it in the middle of the liners. You can let it hang over the edge; it doesn't need to be perfectly centered. Finally, pour in melted beeswax or soy wax. Let it cool, and you've got scented fire starters in your fireplace.[8]
- You can also simply add a drop of cinnamon essential oil per log in the fire before you light it up.[9]
- Mull some wine. Mulled wine is a warming winter drink. Add four cups (0.94 liters) of apple juice, a bottle of red wine (750 milliliters), 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) of honey, the zest and juice of an orange, and your choice of spices to a pot. You can use 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves, and 3 star anise. Bring to a low simmer, and let it heat for about 10 minutes before serving. This mixture will create an enticing smell, as well as make a great drink for guests.[10]
- You can also do all apple juice if kids are enjoying the drink, too.[11]
- Make your own sachets. Sew up scraps of fabric into small bags, and then stuff them with the scraps leftover from your Christmas tree trimmings. Some tree lots may let you pick up trimmings for free if you don't have a fresh tree. Sew the trimmings into the bags, and place them around your house for a fresh scent.[12]
- Create a scented garland. Garlands are lovely to look at, and if you do them properly, you can add a hint of Christmas to the air. Start by slicing apples and oranges. Then, make a thick dough out of cinnamon, cloves, and applesauce. Roll it out, and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Bake the fruit and "cookies" on a low heat (250 degrees Fahrenheit) in the oven until they dry out (or use a dehydrator). String them up together.[13]
- Alternatively, you can use this same method to make a homemade potpourri. That is, make the dried fruits as you did above. Mix them with whole, dried spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise to make a homemade potpourri.[14]
- Use scented pine cones. You can pick up pine cones that are already scented from your local craft store. Alternatively, you can find your own pine cones and scent them yourself. All you need to do is spritz them with a bit of cinnamon essential oil or spray. Place the pine cones around your home in small groups.[15]
- Make spiced oranges. Also called pomanders, these beauties have been used since the Middle Ages. All you need to do is poke holes in oranges or grapefruit with a toothpick or skewer. Poke a whole clove into each hole, and use the completed fruit to decorate your home.[16]
[Edit]References |
| How to Wrap Cylindrical Gifts Posted: 23 Dec 2021 04:00 PM PST Not all gifts fit nicely into rectangular boxes for wrapping. As a result, there will be times when you will need to wrap an oddly shaped gift, like a cylinder. Although this is tricky, it can be done. In order to wrap a cylinder-shaped gift, you can use a number of different methods. Try wrapping with paper and fold the ends like a fan or twist the ends to make the gift look like a candy. Alternatively, you could place the present in a gift bag for an easy wrapping solution. [Edit]Using a Fan Fold - Measure and cut the paper. When you are wrapping a cylinder-shaped gift, you can easily measure out the amount of paper using the gift as a guide. Place the gift on the wrapping paper and make sure that the paper can go all the way around the cylinder. Cut the paper so that there is about a ½ inch of overlap. For the ends of the gift, pull up the paper on either side. The paper should be able to reach the center of the gift on both sides.[1]
- It is always a good idea to give yourself a little bit of extra paper.
- Use a durable wrapping paper that does not tear easily.
- Wrap the paper around the cylinder. Once the paper has been cut, place the gift in the center of the paper with the good side of the wrapping paper facing downwards. Make a tiny ¼ inch fold on one of edges of the long side of paper. Place a strip of double-sided tape along this fold. Then wrap the paper around the cylinder and seal with the tape.[2]
- Check to make sure the gift is in the center of the wrapping paper and adjust accordingly by sliding it into the middle.
- Use your finger to create pleats. Begin with one end of the gift. Take the seam of the wrapping paper and fold it into the center. Hold down the piece with one finger and then with your other hand grab the edge of the paper and pull it into the centre. This should begin to fold the paper like a fan with pleats. As you move around the cylinder you can use your finger to crease the pleats. Continue this process all the way around the gift.[3]
- Once finished complete the same process on the other end of the gift.
- Remove or hide any blemishes. After you have created the fan fold at both ends of the gift you can remove any excess paper by cutting it off and taping the end down using double-sided tape. Alternatively, you could cut a small circle of wrapping paper, either using the same paper or a complimentary color, and tape it at the centre of the end to cover up any blemishes.[4]
- Finish with a bow and/or ribbon. Stand the cylinder-shaped gift upright and place it on the centre of a long piece of ribbon. Pull the ribbon up the side of the gift and tie a knot in the center at the top of the gift. Cut the ribbon so that there are two long tails of ribbon on either side. Then add a bow to the center of the gift on top of the ribbon knot.
- If desired, you can curl the ribbon and let it hang down the sides of the gift.
- Alternatively, could put a bow on the top of the gift without adding a ribbon for a simpler look.
- Choose a bow and ribbon that complement the color of the wrapping paper. For example, if you are using a red paper with gold stars, you may want to use a gold ribbon and a gold bow.
[Edit]Twisting the Ends - Measure and cut the paper. When you are wrapping a cylinder gift using the twisting method, you will need more wrapping paper. Start by placing the gift on the wrapping paper and make sure you have enough paper to circle the gift. Leave a ½ inch of extra paper for overlap. For the ends of the gift, pull up the paper on either side and make sure that the paper fully covers the gift.
- The measurement for the ends does not need to be perfect, just make sure that you have an even amount on either side.
- It is best to have extra paper that can later be cut off if needed.
- Wrap the paper around the cylinder. Place the gift in the center of the paper with the good side of the wrapping paper facing downwards. Make a tiny ¼ inch fold on one of edges of the long side of paper. Place a strip of double-sided tape along this fold. Then wrap the paper around the cylinder and seal with the tape.[5]
- Make sure the the gift is situated in the center of the tube and adjust by sliding the gift with your fingers.
- Twist the paper at both ends. Grab the excess paper at either end of the tube and gently twist. You can can do this one end at a time for a more precise twist. Place a piece of tape around the twisted part of the wrapping paper to hold it in place. Fluff out the excess paper at the end to make the gift look similar to a candy wrapper.[6]
- This method works best for cylinder-shaped gifts that do not need to stand upright because the gift is meant to lay horizontally.
- Tie the ends with ribbon. In order to add some decoration and finishing touches, you can take a piece of ribbon and tie it around the twisted part of wrapping paper on either end. Tie the ribbon in a knot and leave some excess ribbon hanging loose.
- Match the ribbon to the wrapping paper.
- Add a gift tag or card, if desired.
[Edit]Creating a Sack - Place the gift in the center of the wrapping paper. This method works best for cylinder-shaped gifts that can be stood upright. Place the gift in the center of the paper so that it is standing. Use a thick and high quality of wrapping paper, so that it can support the weight of the gift.
- Pull the opposite corners together. Grab the two opposite corners of wrapping paper and pull them together so that they meet over top of the gift. Then do the same thing with the other two corners. All four corners should meet in the center. Pinch them together with your finger and then using your other hand, squeeze the paper close to the gift.
- Pleat the paper. In order to create a more professional and finished look, you can pleat the paper using folds and creases. Rather than have a bunched look over top of the gift, the pleats will give your wrapping a more professional appearance.
- Tie a ribbon around the paper. Once you have folded or bunched the paper at the top of the gift you can tie a ribbon around the paper to hold it in place. Choose a ribbon that matches with the wrapping paper.
- Fluff up any excess paper.
[Edit]Using a Gift Bag - Cover the gift with tissue paper. This does not need to be done in any fancy way because it will be hidden in the gift bag. Essentially, you just want to cover the gift with tissue paper so that it is not visible if someone glances into the bag.
- Choose a gift bag that can support the gift. If you are wrapping something breakable, you should add a few pieces of tissue paper to the bottom of the gift bag to provide extra cushioning. Make sure you use a gift bag that fits the size of the gift. For example, the entire gift should be able to fit in the bag.
- Situate the gift inside the bag. Depending on the gift, you can either stand the cylinder upright or lay it down along the bottom of the bag. For example, if the gift is a jar of homemade sauce, you will want to stand the gift upright in the bag so that it does not spill.
- Alternatively, if you are wrapping cloths that you have rolled into the shape of a cylinder you can lie them down horizontally in the bottom of the bag.
- Add decorative tissue paper. Simply, take a piece of tissue paper and grab it in the center. Flick your wrist while holding the paper and then smooth the paper in a downward motion using your other hand. Turn the tissue paper upwards so that the puffed up part of the paper is facing up and then place it in the bag. The pinched end of the tissue paper should be inside the bad, with the fluffed ends sticking out the top.[7]
- Repeat this with three to four pieces of tissue paper.
- Choose tissue paper that matches with the color of the bag. You can use one color of tissue paper or multiple colors.
- Finished.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Wrapping Paper
- Gift Bag
- Tape
- Scissors
- Measuring Tape
- Tissue Paper
- Ribbons
- Bows
- Gift Tag
[Edit]Warnings - Be cautious when working with scissors.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Christmas Eve As Special As Christmas Posted: 23 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST Christmas Eve often gets overlooked in the excitement of the holiday season. However, with some planning and creativity, Christmas Eve can be just as special as Christmas day. Create a holiday atmosphere with decorations, Christmas music, and warm lighting. Additionally, start new Christmas Eve traditions with your family to create a sense of togetherness. Finally, consider baking Christmas goodies to brighten up the evening. [Edit]Creating a Christmas Eve Experience - Leave milk and cookies out for Santa. This American tradition began during the Great Depression as a way for children to show gratitude for the gifts that "Santa" brought.[1] Continue this holiday tradition by helping your children set out some treats on Christmas Eve. The treats usually include milk and cookies, but there are variations based on what "Santa" likes. These variations include:
- Brownies and milk
- Eggnog and cookies
- Sherry and a mince pie
- Watch a Christmas movie. Many families enjoy watching Christmas movies on Christmas Eve to help get them in the festive spirit. Let your children choose from an assortment of movies or watch the same movie every year. Make sure to provide Christmas cookies and hot chocolate during the movie! Some excellent Christmas movies include:
- A Christmas Story (1983)
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Miracle on 34th Street (different variations)
- Participate in local Christmas Eve events. Many cities and towns host free or cheap family events on Christmas Eve. Look online or call a local government representative to get more information about events in your area. Examples of Christmas Eve events include:
- Christmas tree lighting
- Holiday carnivals
- Meeting Santa
- Christmas Church Services/Carol Services
[Edit]Starting New Traditions - Consider starting new traditions. Christmas Eve traditions can create a sense of community and comfort in your family.[2] If you feel like your Christmas Eve is lackluster, start some new traditions to give your family something to look forward to. For example:
- Let your children choose a present to open before they go to bed.
- Make them a Christmas Eve box with pyjamas, maybe a book or film, and some of their favourite sweets.
- Collect special ornaments that can only be hung on Christmas Eve.
- Let your children loot their stockings before Christmas Eve.
- Use the Santa Tracker to follow Santa's journey. Google has created an app called "Santa Tracker" that allows you to follow Santa's adventures online or on your phone. He "stops" all over the world to give presents to children, teaching you a little bit about each place. On Christmas Eve, gather your children up and watch Santa's progress together for a magical holiday experience.[3]
- You can download this app from the Google Play store or use the browser version online.
- Go Christmas caroling around your neighborhood. Bundle up your family in warm clothing before leaving your house. Next, collect some flashlights to help you see your way. Walk up and down your block, knocking on the doors and calling, "Christmas carols!" When your neighbor opens the door, begin singing carols for them.[4]
- Gather a few families together to create a fun group caroling event.
- Go caroling after dinner to avoid interrupting your neighbor's meals.
- Sprinkle "reindeer dust" to attract reindeer. Make a batch of reindeer dust in advance from a mix of oatmeal, cereal, rice, and dried fruits. Separate the reindeer dust into several small plastic bags and write each child's name on them. Next, lead your children into the yard and let them sprinkle the reindeer dust into the grass. This will draw the reindeer (and Santa!) to your home.[5]
- Many people avoid throwing uncooked rice on their lawn, believing that it's unsafe for birds to eat. However, this is a myth.
[Edit]Baking Christmas Goodies - Decorate Christmas cookies with your family. This is a fun and creative activity that your whole family will enjoy. First, make some sugar cookie dough and cut out holiday shapes with cookie cutters. Once the cookies have been cooked, let your children decorate them with candies, icing, and sprinkles.
- You can buy premade sugar cookie dough in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store.
- Buy cookie cutters, icing, sprinkles, and other decorations from the baking section of your local grocery store.
- Bake some gingerbread. Gingerbread is a delicious spiced holiday dessert. Traditionally, this treat is baked in loaf form and eaten like a slice of cake. You can also roll out gingerbread, cut it into holiday shapes, and decorate them with icing and sprinkles. The most popular way to serve gingerbread is to roll out squares, make a gingerbread house, and decorate it with icing and candy.
- There are many excellent gingerbread recipes available online. If you don't want to mix your own, you can buy it premade at your local grocery store.
- Cook some International Christmas goodies. Christmas is celebrated in many countries around the world. Each country has their own set of traditions associated with this holiday. Take the opportunity to teach your children about other cultures by baking an international Christmas treat. Some examples of international goodies include:
- Powdered tea cake cookies from Russia
- Sachertorte, a moist chocolate torte, from Austria
- Hearty stollen fruit cake from Germany
- Decadent risalamande rice pudding from Denmark[6]
[Edit]Creating a Holiday Atmosphere - Decorate your home with Christmas decorations. Choose red or green (Or other Christmas colours) decorations to add a traditional touch to your festivities. Incorporate wreathes and Christmas lights into your decorations. For example, you can frame mantles and bookshelves with long green wreaths or a string of Christmas lights. Other Christmas decorations include:
- Christmas-themed scented candles
- Mistletoe
- Christmas stockings
- Play holiday music. Set a festive mood by playing Christmas-themed music. There are many kinds of Christmas-themed music, from traditional classical music to heavy metal covers. When choosing a Christmas playlist, consider what mood you'll create with your song choices. For example:
- To create an energetic atmosphere, play upbeat folk music.
- To create a calm and cozy atmosphere, play soothing classical music.[7]
- Arrange your furniture to facilitate conversation. Move your couches and chairs into a circular arrangement to encourage conversation. Push the seats close together to create a sense of intimacy. The closer the chairs, the more comfortable it will be to talk with the group.[8]
- Add throw blankets, pillows, and a plate of cookies to make the space more inviting.
- Use warm lighting. The term "warm lighting" refers to any lights that are yellow in tone. Warm lighting can be used to create a cozy, festive atmosphere. Instead of using harsh overhead lighting, set out some candles or plug in a string of Christmas lights. Some other ways to creatively incorporate warm lighting into your decorations include:
- Placing tea candles in mason jars
- Arranging an illuminated nativity scene
- Lining windowsills and coffee tables with Christmas lights
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