Lovely gift boxes that take the ugh out of gift wrapping.

I am beyond grateful for all the pretty boxes and gift bags out there because I am 1. Totally spazzy with wrapping paper (seriously, it's sad) and 2. Totally impatient with long gift wrap lines at department stores. Let's also add 3. Tot…

Lovely gift boxes that take the ugh out of gift wrapping.
I am beyond grateful for all the pretty boxes and gift bags out there because I am 1. Totally spazzy with wrapping paper (seriously, it's sad) and 2. Totally impatient with long gift wrap lines at department stores.
Let's also add 3. Totally annoyed with the $5 gift wrap charges that some shops want to bilk you with over the holidays.

So here are a few cool holiday gift boxes and gift bags I've come across recently that make things easy for those of you like me:

Martha Stewart Crafts does a smashing job with the holiday cookie and treat boxes. Of course. The gingerbread boxes are just adorable - especially if they contain gingerbread men - and the iced cookie boxes are festive but still clean and modern.

I'm not in love with all of the holiday gift bags at the Container Store this year, but I do adore the modern birch veneer wine bottle cylinder (right) which gussies up that bottle of Beaujolais. For something "from the kids," check out the inexpensive snowman bottle tote which we featured in our holiday gift guide as an original way to serve up a stack of home-baked cookies.

Olive Paper is a long standing CMP favorite, and I love that you can find the wrapping paper to match the box to match the feather boa. Really. Add a little West Hollywood to your gift wrap this year, why not!

[Editor's Note: Unfortunately, Olive Paper has gone out of business since the publiciation of this post.]

Living Ethos has a holiday collection of reusable gift bags that you don't have to be an ecoista to appreciate (right). Although even the grosgrain ribbon is in fact made of 100% recycled PET. Best of all, all you need to be able to do is tie a bow to make them look good. Perfection. -Liz

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