Make your presents extra pretty with these easy, unique wrapping ideas

If gift giving seems to be getting tougher and tougher, don't discount some of the most popular options out there. Sometimes the easiest gifts to give are the best. That's why so many gift cards, bottles of wine and books will be exchanged this season. But, these presents could certainly use an elevated look before they go under the tree, so Steven Sabados and designer Jillian Harris demonstrated how to take the presentation of go-to gifts from ordinary to extraordinary.

Gift card or subscription

This is Jillian's favourite elegant non-conventional gift wrap idea for gift cards, and it's so easy!

What you'll need:

• Gift card
• Pre-cut gingerbread house
• Royal icing
• Icing sugar

Directions:

1. Assemble your gingerbread house, hiding the gift card inside.

2. Decorate with royal icing and icing sugar to get the snow effect.

3. Attach a card telling the receiver that they have to smash the house to get their gift!

Bottle of wine or liquor

This year, don't show up to a friend's house with wine in a paper bag. Take this gift to the next level with just a few elegant embellishments.

What you'll need:

• Bottle of wine
• Wire basket
• A few sprigs of evergreen greenery
• Battery operated twinkle lights
• Cellophane to cover the entire basket
• Holiday bow and embellishments

Directions:

1. Find a basket that fits your wine and fill it with greens (you can find these in your backyard).

2. String twinkle lights through the greens.

3. Place your bottle into the basket and pull the cellophane to gather at the top.

4. Add a bow and special ornament.

Coffee table books

There's basically only one way to wrap a book, but this gift can be bumped up a notch with the addition of a homemade pom pom bow. Here's how to get the look.

What you'll need:

• Wrapping paper
• Thick ribbon
• Decorative ornament
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Wrap the book in wrapping paper and tie with a ribbon around the middle on both sides.

2. To make the bow, form a circle of ribbon that's approximately the width of your bow, and wind the ribbon 10-15 times around. Fold the bundle in half.

3. With scissors, cut notches into the thicker folded edge of the ribbon on either side. Unfold.

4. Take a smaller piece of ribbon and tie it around the middle to secure it and so it looks slightly crimped.

5. Starting from the middle, take the inside layer of the ribbon, pull out, and twist upwards.

6. Do this for all the loops. Puff them open so they take on volume.

7. Attach a decorative ornament to the bow, and voila!