Preparing for Sinterklaas: building a surprise, wrapping presents, and mailing them on time
,
by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
You draw lots in October, but you usually buy the cardboard far too late. A plan from September to December 5th, with what you need for surprises, parcels and gifts that go in the post.
Raffles are usually drawn in October. The cardboard is typically sought on December 4th, around eight in the evening, in a shed where not a single whole box can be found. That's the real Sinterklaas problem: not coming up with a surprise, but having the mundane materials to build it on time.
Sinterklaas is on December 5th, and from mid-November, the country is filled with it. If you arrange something now, it doesn't have to be much. A few boxes, a roll of tape, and an idea of what needs to be sent by post.
Count back from December 5th
A practical planning, counting back from gift-giving evening:
When
What you do
September
Agree on who you're celebrating with, set a budget per person
Early October
Draw names, order gifts coming from abroad
Mid-October
Get cardboard, tape, and small boxes
November
Build surprise, write poem, send gifts for faraway recipients
Early December
Only wrapping and labeling left
The biggest time-saver is in the third line. Cardboard and tape are items you'll need eventually anyway, so you can buy them well in advance without risk.
What to build a surprise from
Almost every surprise starts with a box large enough to cut into. A moving box is the most practical for this: lots of cardboard for little money, and flat sides that are easy to cut shapes from. The Action Moving Box 480 x 430 x 330 mm (50 liters) costs €3.50 and provides enough material for a substantial construction, especially if you cut it open into flat sheets.
If you want a surprise that holds its shape without needing to be built, a cube works better than a flat box. The Cardboard Shipping Box 15 x 15 x 15 cm for €1.99 is white, so you can paint or decorate it without advertisements showing through. For smaller, handheld gags, the Yellow Treat Box with Handle 15 x 8 x 8 cm for €2.99 is an easy base: it stands upright, it's portable, and you can fill it in one go.
Not every gift needs to be a surprise. For small, expensive, or fragile items, a box is often nicer than paper, and you don't have to fold anything. A few useful sizes:
A box with a window has a practical advantage you'll only notice on the evening itself: you can see from the outside whose gift is whose, without having to open it.
Gifts to be mailed
Family who can't come, a gift for someone in another city, a colleague on leave: every year, some gifts are sent by post. Keep two things in mind.
Firstly: send it in November, not in the first week of December. In the weeks before the holidays, carriers are busy and delivery times increase. Check the current latest shipping dates and conditions on your carrier's website, for example, the PostNL customer service.
Keep what remains intact. Loose boxes, leftover tape, and unused small boxes will go on to Christmas and the birthdays after. A small bin with wrapping supplies in one designated spot will save you that exact December 4th search next year.
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports, and with switches
· 3 min reading time
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports and with switchesYour desk needs three USB devices, but your laptop only has two ports. Or...
Power outages in autumn: emergency supplies you'll actually use
· 2 min reading time
Autumn Power Outages: Emergency Supplies You'll Actually Use October to December. Heating isn't in full swing yet, but the nights are getting long and cold. If a power outage strikes...
Choosing a power bank: capacity, charging speed, and weight compared
· 2 min reading time
Choosing a Power Bank: Capacity, Charging Speed, and Weight Compared Your phone dies when you're out and about. The classic emergency solution is a power bank. But what capacity do...
