You’re in the home stretch now: You’ve found great gifts for everyone on your list, and all that’s left to do is wrap them up. This year, skip the ho-hum rolls of stripes and Santas (and those bags of smushed bows), and make the wrapping as special as what’s inside. These pretty trimmings—all made in and around the Mile High City—make it easy:

lana's reindeer wrap kit Photo by Lauren Louise Photography
Exclusive Reindeer Wrapping Kit, Lana’s Shop, $12. Photo by Lauren Louise Photography
lanas shop gift wrap box Photo by Lauren Louise Photography
The Exclusive Reindeer Wrapping Kit includes enough material to wrap lots of little stocking stuffers, or a couple of medium-size gifts. Photo by Lauren Louise Photography

 

Wrap it.
Lana Effron, the former Vogue graphic designer who now uses her skills to hand-illustrate paper goods ranging from stationery to wallpaper, sells the most charming holiday wrapping paper from her online boutique Lana’s Shop. Choose dogs or cats sporting festive holiday attire, cute penguins, shiny red Vespas, or—new this year—a handy gift-wrapping kit ($12) complete with Effron’s “Enchanted Reindeer”-patterned paper, two matching gift tags, and three yards of pretty cream-and-gold ribbon.

Idea Chic Naughty Nice tag Photo courtesy of Idea Chic
“Naughty or Nice” gift tag, Idea Chic, $4/set of 4. Photo courtesy of Idea Chic
Idea Chic bird tag Photo courtesy of Idea Chic
“Berry Branch Bird Tags,” Idea Chic, $4/set of 5. Photo courtesy of Idea Chic
Idea Chic chevron tree tag Photo courtesy of Idea Chic
Letterpress tree tags or ornaments in chevron pattern, Idea Chic, $5/set of 3. Photo courtesy of Idea Chic

Tag it.
Idea Chic, the Glendale design studio and workshop run by husband-and-wife team David and Julie Sandusky, makes holiday gift tags so stylish they can double as tree ornaments. Some of the vintage-modern designs—like our favorite “Naughty or Nice” tags—are printed on “Hazel,” the company’s 1930s letterpress; others are printed flat on sturdy paper stock.

red ryder card Photo courtesy of Dogs & Stars Letterpress & Design
“I Want An Official Red Ryder…” letterpress holiday card, Dogs & Stars Letterpress & Design, $4. Photo courtesy of Dogs & Stars Letterpress & Design

Write it.
Boring boxed greeting cards, begone! Brian Wood’s letterpress offerings are far more stylish and clever. The maker behind Dogs & Stars Letterpress & Design takes a minimalist approach to his designs and messages, which are refreshingly smart and simply stated. Our picks: the “Elf” and “I Want An Official Red Ryder…” cards, which feature favorite lines from classic holiday movies on the fronts, and room for your own greeting inside. $4 each

holiday rubber stamp Photo courtesy of Ladyfingers Letterpress
Seasons Greetings Interior Greeting Rubber Stamp, Ladyfingers Letterpress, $125. Photo courtesy of Ladyfingers Letterpress

Stamp it.
It’s an ongoing dilemma: Do you scrawl a personal greeting on your holiday photo cards or let the pictures of you and the family in matching pajamas do the talking? Why not compromise with a personalized rubber stamp from Ladyfingers Letterpress? Each one is hand-lettered by artist Arley-Rose Torsone—who runs the Colorado Springs-based business with fellow design-school grad Morgan Calderini—and can include two first names or one last name (e.g. “Clark and Ellen” or “The Griswolds”), along with a “Merry Christmas!” “Happy Holidays!” or “Seasons Greetings!” salutation. $125, plus tax and shipping

custom calligraphy Photo courtesy of Ink & Root
Custom calligraphy by Hannah Howard of Ink & Root. Photo courtesy of Ink & Root

Address it.
Denver calligrapher Hannah Howard is known for adorning wedding invitations, banners, and signs with her lyrical, looping script, but the founder of Ink & Root is also available to address your holiday cards or party invitations, hand-letter gift tags or place cards, and even write a note to Santa. Prefer to do it yourself? Sign up for one of Howard’s calligraphy workshops, which take place around Denver throughout the year.