Gift Wrap Ideas?

Yesterday morning one of my girlfirends here in Bahrain introduced me to a veritable Aladdins Cave of a store just a few minutes drive from my apartment. The Al Anwar Discount Store in Tubli claims to sell everything for the home and it does, incredibly cheaply. Two floors of vases, artificial flowers, glass pebbles, tacky furniture in the heavily ornate style so popular here, candles, stationery, craft items, toys and an incredible array of gift wrapping supplies.


The Bahraini's and the Indians love to give small gifts to their guests and to throw large parties so the shelves were stacked with the twee, the tacky and the possibly suitable for a more staid European taste. Hundreds of 18 inch-wide rolls of tactile wrapping materials including net in all sorts of glamorous colours, a green leaf print paper-fabric, crepe-type materials in pretty pink or blue prints on white and more. All around 3.5BD (approx £5) for 5 metres or so.

There were thick packets of patterend and plain organza doilies in every shade, huge hanks of coloured twine, stacks of ribbon on reels, large organza bags, tiny blue gingham lined baskets, tiny feather covered white doves, net butterflies in sugary colours. Everything had one thing in common it was very cheap, just a few pence for most items. Packaging heaven!

I avoided the very twee royal blue velour ring boxes in the shape of a top hat but came away some butterflies and lots of ideas for presenting my jewellery makes. What about enfolding a bracelet or some earrings in a couple of layers of gold or blue organza doily gathered up with a couple of contrasting ribbons?