The wrapping on the package can be as heartfelt as the gift inside -- if you make it yourself. Using inexpensive tissue papers, sheets of gauzy rice papers and small strips of beautiful ribbons and metallic cords as adornment, you can make your holiday packages extra special.

What's more, it doesn't have to be time-consuming. And it's as simple as mixing and matching colors and textures and repeating basic patterns. The possibilities are endless! Here's a quick guide:

WHAT YOU NEED:

Along with scissors, tape and your choice of ribbons and papers, here are some other items you'll need to get started making your own gift wrap (all can be found at art supply and craft stores):

*Stamp pad.

*Rubber stamp.

*Snowflake paper punch.

*Wine cork.

*Metallic cord.

*Hole punch.

*Acrylic paints.

HOW TO PROCEED:

Polka dots and snowflakes can liven up tissue paper and Japanese rice papers and serve as a great background. Then add your own flourishes.

1. Use the snowflake punch on a strip of red textured paper. Wrap this strip like a sash around the middle of a wrapped box. Add a twist of filmy ribbon and a gift tag with the same snowflake punch. Tie with a silver cord.

2. Start with stamping a few sheets of white and blue tissue paper with the snowflake design using the rubber stamp and silver ink stamp pad. Wrap the present with the white stamped paper and wrap a folded sash of blue paper around the box, attaching the sash at the back. Wrap the box with rows of silver cord and tie casually. A rubber stamp can add personality to a plain shipping tag that is embellished with a shiny cord or ribbon.

3. Dip one end of the wine cork in the copper acrylic paint. (It helps to have a cork for each color.) Proceed in dotting the surface of a piece of textured rice paper. Do the same with a smaller, red piece of paper. After wrapping the package, lay the small piece on top and wrap with a wide filmy-gold ribbon. The red paper doubles as decoration and a gift tag.

4. Use the same cork to dot white and red tissue paper with red and white paint. After letting them dry, wrap the gift with the white tissue and fold the red tissue around the wrapped box. Hold the sash in place with a red metallic cord. Make an envelope out of extra piece of the polka dot paper and stick a white card inside for your gift card.

These ideas also can be used to personalize paper bags for wines, holiday cards and wrapped baked goods. So have at it, and give your holiday presents -- presence.

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