GIFTS Find extraordinary ways to present presents

Part of the gift can be in the packaging.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Look for extraordinary ways of wrapping and decorating ordinary gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this holiday season.
Allana Baroni, author of "Simplify the Holidays", published by Reader's Digest books, offered these suggestion during an appearance on Maty Montfort's "Smart Solutions" show on Home & amp; Garden Television:
UWrapping socks, underwear and T-shirts in a shiny lunchbox is an innovative way to present these perennial presents. Add a few chocolate goodies to spruce up what children widely consider the dullest present they receive.
UBreathe life into the standard fruit basket with a monochromatic look. A red ceramic bowl filled with apples and wrapped in red tulle and a red bow follows this theme. Tulle is easy to work with, is inexpensive and can be found in many colors at any craft store. Green apples, pears, oranges and other fruits can all be packaged in this single-color manner.
UA chenille scarf is an easy and practical gift that can be given in an evening bag for added fun and flair. Instead of a scarf, give the evening bag as a Hanukkah gift with a silver dollar bearing the birth year of the recipient.
UA Kwanzaa basket can be filled with practical gifts for the whole family. A Kwanzaa compact disc, stationery, stamps, potpourri teddy bear and photo album are among the items included in the bucket, which can be used to store magazines, toys or other items.
UInstead of breaking out the velvet stocking every year, why not create a "teen dream" stocking? Purchase the teenager's favorite pair of blue jeans, secure with ribbon at the leg ends and fill with things such as perfume, sunglasses, compact discs, hair scrunchies, makeup, and sports equipment and accessories.