Why wrap when you can bag?

My husband asked me when people started being so lazy about wrapping presents. He’s referring, of course to the phenomenon of gift bags.

You know, people used to find a box, find beautiful wrapping paper and then make a wonderful bow for the top. My mother was one of those. She had the knack for cutting the paper straight and folding the corners with a sharp crease. It was a work of art.

I tried, but couldn’t come close.

And I’m sure whoever invented gift bags felt the same way.

I look at gift bags as a form of recycling. Whenever someone gave me a beautifully wrapped present, I would unwrap it carefully so I could save the paper (just ask my brothers how long it took)  and I would try to reuse the wrapping paper. But it didn’t really work. The paper had creases so you had to cut around the creases and it got all wrinkled and people knew it was reused paper.

Gift bags are made to be reused. They fold up nicely and can be stored for years at a time. All you need to do it add complimentary colored tissue paper, some curly ribbon and go. I never write on the little tag that comes with the bag because I want people to reuse it.

I’m not saying it can compete with a perfectly wrapped package, but I’m saying it works for my hectic lifestyle and I no longer fret about my corners.

If you’d rather wrap than bag, Scotch is offering the perfect opportunity to compete and win money. Who knew?

I don’t have time for that. I have to run out and buy a gift bag for the baby shower I’m attending.