Personally, I've never managed to successfully plan and execute a theme, but I can say that one of the biggest differences between the feeling of opening a package I ordered from a random etailer and the feeling of opening a care package from somebody who loves me is the personal touches. So, once you have your package contents settled out, doing little extra things like taking the time to individually wrap gifts in a pretty way, adding a personal note on a nice card, using unique and witchee-useable packing materials, and otherwise paying attention to the presentation of your package can give your witchee's package opening experience a huge boost and make em feel extra special.

Tissue paper is cheap, pretty, and makes a great lightweight wrapping. I'm not a wrapping-paper-saver, but I DO save reasonably-unripped tissue paper from whatever source, fold it flat, and store it against the inside of my "Switch Witch & swaps supplies" box, which I also keep stocked with smaller stuff I want to remember to add to my witchee's package, smaller materials I've bought for witchee projects, samples of tea my witchee might like, BPAL/BPTP swag (stickers, postcards, etc), padded envelopes, saved bits of (good condition) bubble wrap, packing/teflon/scotch tape, Priority Mail address stickers, Delivery Confirmation slips, and occasionally shipping boxes that I've broken down flat for storage. This ensures that I always have exactly what I need, right down to a variety of colors of tissue paper to ensure I have some of my witchee's favorite colors, to quickly pack & send a package to my witchee on the slightest whim.

Other good things to boost the presentation of your package include bits of ribbon, pretty yarn, sparkly elastics, etc, for use in wrapping - they make it easier to get into small packages than tape, and they're reuseable if your witchee is a thrifty witch. Also those little plastic bags with themed stuff painted on them make a good and inexpensive presentation boost. Halloween, holiday, hearts & flowers, smileyfaces, whatever. If you're a longtime Switchwitch or you do a lot of swapping, chances are you'll find an occasion to dress up your gifties in a fancy bag like this.

Say, for example, it's the Halloween round and you'd like to send your witchee some unique candy corn you found. Or maybe you made em a batch of Jack-O-Lantern cookies. They'll be yummy and great if you ziplock them, but it's even better if you dress them up in a little Halloween-themed baggie tied with black ribbon or yarn.

Now, say for some reason you're fresh out of tissue paper and pretty decorated baggies. Never fear, you can get creative with ziplocks, newsprint, etc, and permanent markers! Or nail polish! Or whatever you have on hand (just remember to put down newspaper first). You could even send a package that's 100% handmade - right down to the wrapping paper.

Seriously, adding that extra little personal touch of wrapping it up pretty is something that can be done inexpensively, quickly, and makes a HUGE impact.

Happy budget-witching!