Gift tag labels on christmas presents

[Inigo]

I mentioned to my kids (18 and 22) that I might just put their names on the gift tags this year, and both look extremely disappointed, and said I'd better not. I thought they might be tired of my games. I just started doing this to be silly one year, and they had so much fun that I've been doing it for the past 15 Christmas.

You see, every year, I come up with some way to label the gifts as I wrap them and put them under the tree so that no one knows which present goes to which person until the morning of the 25th. I might use numbers or letters (but never their initial!) to label the presents, or a word/phrase such as "jingle bells" or "rudolf". I've used different color stickers or markers to label the presents.

One year, DD might be odd numbers and DS might be even, or vice versa. I might number them sequentially as I wrap, with a master list locked on my computer.

Both DD and DS said they love trying to figure out what's in a package and who it might go to in the time before Christmas.

So, does anyone else get creative or weird in labeling presents as a game?

 

[golfgal]

I mentioned to my kids (18 and 22) that I might just put their names on the gift tags this year, and both look extremely disappointed, and said I'd better not. I thought they might be tired of my games. I just started doing this to be silly one year, and they had so much fun that I've been doing it for the past 15 Christmas.

You see, every year, I come up with some way to label the gifts as I wrap them and put them under the tree so that no one knows which present goes to which person until the morning of the 25th. I might use numbers or letters (but never their initial!) to label the presents, or a word/phrase such as "jingle bells" or "rudolf". I've used different color stickers or markers to label the presents.

One year, DD might be odd numbers and DS might be even, or vice versa. I might number them sequentially as I wrap, with a master list locked on my computer.

Both DD and DS said they love trying to figure out what's in a package and who it might go to in the time before Christmas.

So, does anyone else get creative or weird in labeling presents as a game?

No, but I might start now--HOW FUN!!!! I tend to wrap things in misleading packaging-like putting a gift card in a huge box loaded up with books or other things to make it heavy. I think I am going to steal your idea though--especially since the kids are asking for bigger ticket items this year and there won't be as much under the tree. I would be disappointed if my mom had done this over the years and suddenly stopped. You COULD put their names on them this year but put your DH's name on your DD's gifts, your DS' name on DH's gifts, etc.

 

[maslex]

I never have. But it sounds like what my grandmother used to do. LOL I remember my sister being ABC and my brother was XYZ while I was LMNOP. Like you also said, she used numbers at one point too. It was fun to try to figure out what gift was who's. But one year, she lost her list on who had what "code", so it was basically a free for all. We all just took a gift and opened it one at a time, oohhed and aahhed, then passed it over to who gramma said it was for. Made for a memorable holiday.

 

[golfgal]

I never have. But it sounds like what my grandmother used to do. LOL I remember my sister being ABC and my brother was XYZ while I was LMNOP. Like you also said, she used numbers at one point too. It was fun to try to figure out what gift was who's. But one year, she lost her list on who had what "code", so it was basically a free for all. We all just took a gift and opened it one at a time, oohhed and aahhed, then passed it over to who gramma said it was for. Made for a memorable holiday.

That actually sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[clovergirl5]

Thats a fun idea! I don't put the kids presents under the tree until xmas eve cause they are from Santa, you know
Once all are past the age of believing in Santa(usually around 8 in our house)...Im gonna start a game, how fun! Great idea!

 

[cabanafrau]

Somehow or another, I cannot even remember how I got started, several years ago I began labeling my husband's gifts w/ acronyms that stood for some title I gave him -- VIB -- Very Important Brewer, etc., or by a crazy nickname inspired by the gift. He & the kids love it. It's a lot of fun, but sometimes I think I have created a monster because it's become incredibly challenging.

Thank goodness I never did it for the girls -- I might require meds if I did.

 

[starrzone]

I don't do this now, and neither does my family, but I absolutely LOVE the idea!!! When I have my own family (whether or not there are children), I'm definitely going to start this tradition. Who says kids have to have all the fun!

 

[Julia M]

I have three kids and I started using NO tags a few years ago. When my kids got older and I no longer worried about presents being "even" (ie, the same # of packages), I began to just wrap gifts. I use a different style of paper for each child and make sure I put small things in bigger boxes or odd shapes. The trick is that the kids don't know whose paper is whose. It helps keep them guessing.

This way, I can wrap as I acquire things and not worry about hiding gifts.

It's always fun on Xmas morning when they finally learn which paper is theirs.

Julia

 

[Nolcrest]

I have three kids and I started using NO tags a few years ago. When my kids got older and I no longer worried about presents being "even" (ie, the same # of packages), I began to just wrap gifts. I use a different style of paper for each child and make sure I put small things in bigger boxes or odd shapes. The trick is that the kids don't know whose paper is whose. It helps keep them guessing.

This way, I can wrap as I acquire things and not worry about hiding gifts.

It's always fun on Xmas morning when they finally learn which paper is theirs.

Julia

Me too.