Gift Wrapping Tips for the Holidays from Simone Shubuck

I’m going to bet that the Rapoport-Shubuck household is like most others: Duties are clearly divided between husband and wife. I do the dishes (though Simone often points out that I forget to scrub the backs of pots and plates). And I happily iron—I find it strangely calming. Simone is like the family’s creative director: She curates the look of our apartment, she coordinates our vacations, and, as I’m always reminded this time of year, she handles all of the gift giving.

When I’m mumbling, “Wait, we’re supposed to bring a gift to this thing?” she’ll not only have bought a present, she’ll have already wrapped it, too. And that’s where her real talent lies. Simone is a working artist, and she never settles for a basic wrap job. Instead, she keeps a trove of ribbons, papers, and tchotchkes in her studio, using them to transform even the most mundane toy or book into something truly beautiful—to the point that you feel bad opening it.

I realize that I’ll never get a shot at wrapping duty in the RapoBuck house—I know my place. But perhaps you can pick up a tip or two for the holidays from Simone’s ideas on this page. Consider it my present to you. (For once, I remembered.)

Follow Simone on Instagram at @simoneshubuck