Are you looking for religious Christmas wrapping paper to keep the meaning of Christmas front and center this year? I was too! But look no further, after finding nothing in my local stores, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own! Read on for how I channeled this frustration into the development of my Nativity Toile Wrapping Paper.
The Search
I always buy the one or two rolls of religious Christian gift wrap when I am out shopping. The year 2023 found me in more wrapping paper aisles earlier than usual due to my art supply addiction. "Christmas" items began to appear around September. It can feel devastatingly early, but at least it offered me a chance to get the items I truly was after. I thought for sure I would find some religious Christian gift wrap at Hobby Lobby. Then Wal-Mart. Back to my old stalwart, CVS, where I'd bought the most beautiful deep cobalt blue Madonna and Child wrapping paper on Capitol Hill sometime before the pandemic. At first I was casually looking for it, but then I began hunting it down. Target in Virginia, Target in DC. Target in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Target in Prince George's County, Maryland. Target in Montgomery County, Maryland. All the Michael's locations I could visit.
Then I began to feel like a maniac. September went by. Still searching. October went by. Still searching. I was taking video of the long aisles in stores with no Christ-centered gift wrap for my Instagram stories. Friends and strangers shared their reactions. They weren't seeing any either. We were all shaking our heads. How could a celebration that's cause is the birth of Christ Jesus have him completely missing from the holiday decor? It was like going to a birthday party with no birthday boy!
The Idea
Then it dawned on me. There were vast communities of people all over the world for whom Christmas is a religious holiday. There are believers all over the world who want their Christmas decor to reflect their faith, values and beliefs. There is a community of Christians whose needs were not being met by traditional (or non-traditional!) retailers. I realized that perhaps designing religious Christmas gift wrap was my calling as an artist. Perhaps I could design and make Christian wrapping paper to serve the needs of Christians all over.
The Development of my Religious Christmas Wrapping Paper
Putting Jesus on Christmas gift wrap! What a concept. I knew I had to do it but it was November when I realized this was my mission. It was late. Maybe too late. Nevertheless I sat on the hallway floor and the playground bench waiting for my parent-teacher conferences on Veterans Day completing the drawings for my Nativity Toile Gift Wrap. Since I was designing it I decided to merge two things I love: toile, the narrative French textile style; and the nativity story, which tells of the birth of Jesus Christ.
I drew the drawings in ink, created the design and digital file and found a vendor. I received the final proof on November 21 and the wrapping paper on November 30! Talk about cutting it close. But the response was phenomenal!
Nativity Toile Religious Christmas Gift Wrap is Born!
I knew I wasn't the only one. I was able to share my Christ-centered Christmas wrapping paper design with my online friends through Instagram, Facebook and my website. Even though Christmas was only days away, more and more people were adding it to their carts and buying it, convicted about sharing more than just the gifts, but also sharing about the gift of the Messiah in the very wrapping paper that contained the gifts.
I hope you'll agree that the drawings, design and style of this religious gift wrap is what has been missing from your gift wrapping station. Your support for this small business is so meaningful whether you choose to shop online or just leave a comment that this fills a necessary need for Christians everywhere. When we wrap our gifts in paper that aligns with our beliefs and preferences we are making our Christmas gifts even more meaningful. Let us give glory to the one from whom all gifts flow!
Amen?
XOXO,
Anne
P.S. You can check out my Nativity Toile Gift Wrap here.