How to Host a Holiday Gift Wrapping Party

With the busy schedules and the holiday festivities, it can be tough to find moments to get together with your girlfriends this time of year. The weekends are booked solid, the to-do lists are running long, and the whole season passes by in a blur.

This year, I decided to combine a task on my to-do list with a little entertaining and host a holiday gift wrapping night at our home for the moms in my mom group. An evening of wrapping, snacking and good company--there's nothing better than that!

There's still time to plan your own gift wrapping evening with your girlfriends. Here is a little how-to for organizing a fun and productive night.

1. Send Out An Invite

A few days beforehand, post an invite on Facebook or send a text to your girlfriends with the details for the night. Make sure they have a few days to finish their shopping, gather their supplies, and secure a babysitter (ahem, dad). 

For our upcoming gift wrapping night, I've asked the mommas to bring the following:

• A pair of scissors

• 2 Rolls of wrapping paper

• 1 Roll of Ribbon or 1 Package of tags

• 1 Roll of tape

• Any gifts that need wrapping

The idea is to have a variety of options for mixing and matching papers, ribbons and bows--so the more participants, the merrier. 

2. Clear Space In Your Home

Wrapping gifts can take quite a bit of space. In order to accommodate the wrapping, make use of floor space. I'll be pushing all of the furniture up against the walls of our living room, so we can spread out to wrap the gifts. 

3. Use Baskets To Organize

When your guests arrive, have areas set-up where they can drop off their wrapping paper, ribbons, and tags. I keep the gift toppers on our kitchen table, along with a few extra supplies people may need like twine, glue, glitter, and Kleenex for cleaning up any sparkly messes. Flat trays are perfect for spreading out tags and jars or cylinder vases make great ribbon storage. Keep a big basket near the wrapping room where your guests can drop off their rolls of paper. 

4.  Set the Mood 

A wrapping party is the perfect excuse to catch up with your friends while checking off a task from that never-ending to-do list. I like to keep the entertaining simple with easy to grab finger snacks and hot chocolate (spiked with Peppermint Schnapps, of course). Don't forget to turn on festive music as well. 

My go-to for easy snacks are mini cheesecakes, brownie bites, and cream puffs that I keep stocked in my freezer for any entertaining during the holidays. No time to stress about baking this time of year! I also keep a stash of Viva paper towels on hand for guests. They are thick and cloth-like, making them the perfect option when you don't have paper plates or cocktail napkins in your pantry. Tip: Download the Ibotta App and you can earn cash back on Viva Paper Towels, Kleenex, Toilet Paper and other holiday entertaining necessities for your home.

5. Have Fun Wrapping!

Now that your home is ready to go, have fun wrapping up your special gifts. You can even host a little contest with awards for best wrapping job, most creative etc. Or just enjoy the evening tackling that to-do list and catching up with your girlfriends!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.