Tiny tip and a winner!

The tree is up and decorated, and my 12-year-old, Lee, is asking for gifts to be placed under the it. I can't say that I blame him. There's something magical about being a kid and looking forward to what treasures might await inside the packages.

But my sweet 12-year-old is not above picking up a package and trying to see through the wrapping paper for hints as to the contents. Honestly, some wrapping paper is so thin, you could read a dissertation right through it!

Here's a simple, inexpensive solution. Look at the One Spot at Target for this:

Foil Gift Wrap. These little rolls are $1.00 each, and they're just wonderful. Each roll contains 40 square feet of paper, which is quite a lot for a buck. They're super easy to work with, because they're just 18 inches wide. At first I was put off by the fact that the paper is so narrow, but I've found that this width works just fine for most boxes, and it's much easier to handle than wide paper. Less cutting! Quicker wrapping! Hot dog!

And the fact that it's FOIL means that it is impossible to see through. Even for a kid with keen vision and determination. Now, take note: lots of the papers sold at the One Spot are just paper, and they're pretty thin. Look for the label that says "Holiday Foil Gift Wrap." You'll see patterns like these:

Lots of fun. And they make pretty packages:

Do you like the oatmeal-colored backdrop for my photos? That would be the carpet in my guest room, which is currently Gift Wrap Central. Where do you wrap presents?

Oh, I almost forgot! The winner of my little stocking-stuffer giveaway is:

Lucky #13! Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage! Gina, shoot me an email with your address, and I'll send off your Victorinox paring knife right away!

If you didn't see the post with that giveaway, I encourage you to read it here. You'll love the Busy Day Soup recipe. It's the easiest soup I've ever made, and it's absolutely delicious. Perfect for a cold day when you have lots of packages to wrap and not much time to cook. Enjoy!