The Scoop: Gift Wrap My Face started with two designers goofing off and became a popular online store where customization comes first. The family-run company can print your favorite selfie on wrapping paper, socks, stockings, face masks, and other fun products that promise to give loved ones a good laugh. Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or wrapping Christmas gifts, Gift Wrap My Face can add a personal touch to any special occasion and make a significant other feel seen.
In 2007, Aryel Rivero wanted to impress his love interest Vanessa Clavijo, who was working in another state, by sending her a fun gift that would make her think of him. Aryel used his design skills, a photo of himself, and a copy machine to make wrapping paper with his face all over it.
“It was a big hit when she got it,” Aryel said. “We’re both graphic designers, so that kicked off the idea of turning it into a business one day.”
Aryel and Vanessa are now married and live in South Florida. They co-founded Gift Wrap My Face in 2014 while Vanessa was pregnant with their second child. The couple launched the website expecting it to be a side gig, but the insert-face-here wrapping paper designs quickly went viral and got picked up by national media outlets, including Bloomberg TV and ABC.com.
In 2016, Gift Wrap My Face was featured among Oprah’s favorite things in O Magazine. A couple years later, Khloe Kardashian took to Instagram to show off her new favorite Christmas wrapping paper featuring her daughter’s face.
The personalized wrapping paper is great for any occasion. It can offer a laugh over a gag gift, or it can be a memorable way for couples to recognize a relationship milestone.
“Couples really love it because it’s fun,” Aryel said. “We’ve seen a lot of boyfriends giving gifts to girlfriends and wives giving gifts to husbands. Valentine’s Day is our busiest time outside of Christmas.”
Combining Technology & Artistry to Impress Customers
Gift Wrap My Face can bring a smile to people of all ages and backgrounds. Its personalized wrapping paper has been used for birthdays, anniversaries, bridal showers, and holidays all year round. Emblazoning a partner’s face on wrapping paper can strengthen relationships by showing a little more consideration and effort went into selecting the perfect wrapping paper.
“We thought it would be a fun gag gift thing,” Aryel said. “And it turned into so much more.”
Today, the online store has gift wrapping options for everything from dog birthdays to weddings, and it can seamlessly incorporate human and animal faces into its designs. Some wrapping papers feature the face alone against a colorful background, while others show the face attached to a snowman, a superhero, a grinch, or other cartoon bodies.
Aryel and Vanessa are continually pushing the boundaries of wrapping paper and coming up with new ways to impress and amuse customers.
Recently, Gift Wrap My Face has leveraged augmented reality technology to make its personalized designs dance on a person’s smartphone screen. All the receiver has to do is scan the QR code to activate the elfie dance animation.
Customers can also send personal video messages with their wrapping paper. The code links to a YouTube video uploaded by the gift giver. This is a great way for couples in long-distance relationships or families separated by thousands of miles to add a special message with their gift. Vanessa said she could also see someone using this wrapping paper in a surprise proposal.
“It’s a unique proposal idea you’d never see coming,” Vanessa said. “We’re always combining technology and creativity to come up with new ideas to make gifts more special. We’re already looking at design ideas for this upcoming Valentine’s Day.”
Now Customizing Giftable Stockings, Socks & Masks
During the coronavirus pandemic, many people are missing out on facetime with their loved ones. The pandemic has made holidays particularly challenging for large families or couples in long-distance relationships. However, you don’t have to be physically present to show a partner, friend, or family member you care.
Over the last year, GiftWrapMyFace has expanded its product line to help people send their love — and their face — to that special someone. The company now offers socks, stockings, and face masks that can be personalized to send a touching message or give someone a much-needed laugh.
“You’re far away from people, but you can send them something personal,” Vanessa said. “Our mission is to bring joy and laugher in unexpected ways. We want our products to bring a smile to people’s faces.”
Aryel and Vanessa have put their heads together to create funny and interesting designs that catch people’s eye. As the coronavirus swept through the U.S., the couple went to work coming up with facemasks in a variety of colors and styles. The superhero masks have been particularly popular among customers.
As the holiday season approaches, GiftWrapMyFace has unveiled personalized stockings and grinch-themed wrapping paper. The online store also has holiday cards to go with the gift. You can even get a personalized banner with your loved one’s face on it.
Whether you’re planning an intimate party for two or sending a care package to someone under quarantine, you can browse Gift Wrap My Face’s virtual shelves for funny and meaningful gift ideas and decorations.
“We’re not just putting faces everywhere and on everything,” Vanessa said. “We want it to mean something and look nice, so we design everything in house.”
Couples Love Giving a Personal Touch to Holidays
GiftWrapMyFace isn’t some faceless and impersonal corporation. It’s a family-owned business based in South Florida. Vanessa and her husband come up with design ideas, and Vanessa’s mom handles the printing.
The team takes pride in their work and goes the extra mile to make sure all orders arrive on time and look great. If you need a wingman for the holidays, Gift Wrap My Face has you covered. Customer support is available through email and live chat, and a representative typically responds within 24 hours.
Many customers have reached out to provide glowing reviews and share pictures of their wrapped gifts or personalized products. Over the last year, Gift Wrap My Face has received over 800 reviews from happy customers.
Tiffany P. ordered wrapping paper with her boyfriend’s picture on it to cheer him up on his birthday during the coronavirus pandemic. Her order took only two days to ship. “Once I opened the package, I smiled so big,” she wrote in her review. “The quality of the paper is good, and the picture is vibrant.”
“It made our celebration even more special and intimate,” wrote a woman who bought a banner with her boyfriend’s face on it. “Thank you so much for bringing my idea to life.”
Vanessa said she has seen couples use Gift Wrap My Face to celebrate their paper wedding anniversary or their baby’s first Christmas. These touching stories mean a lot to the team because it shows how meaningful that personal touch can be.
“It becomes a tradition,” Vanessa said. “People get it for Christmas and come back for birthdays or anniversaries. They cannot wait to get more wrapping paper.”
GiftWrapMyFace Offers a Fun Way to Show You Care
Over a decade ago, Aryel won over his future wife by plastering his face on wrapping paper and showing that he cared. He and Vanessa shared a laugh over his original design work, and now they’ve turned that idea into a thriving business.
Gift Wrap My Face has upgraded traditional wrapping paper by giving it a more personal touch, and now it has launched customization options for socks, stockings, face masks, and holiday cards. Couples love the colorful and themed prints, especially if they are celebrating important relationship milestones and want to create an unforgettable gift-giving experience.
“We love what we do,” Vanessa said. “It’s something fun and creative that brings a lighter note to the world. Our designs are unique, and our products make people laugh and feel loved.”