Music to our CAWU ears

HMV, the last resort when it comes to Xmas presents if truth be told. It's an easy out when you're stuck for an idea for dad and then you end up getting everyone something from here - Downton Abbey for mum, Stand up DVD from one of the latest crop of cool comedy kids for your brother, and a Whitesnake Tee for Nan.

Few twinkly lights, lots of lens flair and a smattering of snow (although it could be dust or dandruff). Pity the HMV logo wasn't topped with snow, but the CWU line is bold and is doing its job in letting the public know you can have it all done in just a few clicks.

Many thanks to David Hustwit for another great spot - I guess we all know what his family are getting this year.

Ye Olde Christmas All Wrapped Up

It's full steam ahead for this Network Rail ad in Monday's London Metro newspaper. A big bag full of shop logos with a snow flake motif on the front. It's not a 'cracker' (unless you discount the fact that a 'T-R-A-I-N Station has created a press ad) by any stretch until...

You read the copy underneath.

Hats off to the copywriter; I've not seen the words 'Yuletide Treats' for about 180 years. Bring back more of this vernacular. The only thing missing is a picture of Dickensian London at Christmas we're not far off a scene from the lid of a Quality Street tin.

One thing tiny tiny little question, what exactly is Euston Station giving us again?

Christmas all padded up

An electronic behemoth today. Sony.

Lacking Christmas cheer somewhat though, we think a bit more Christmas and a little less shop logo could've put this up with the Tescos of this world.

They claim it's the gadget to give this Christmas however, they obviously haven't seen the B.I.G Power Hand you can buy at all good gadget websites. Now that's something we could all use. Very big thank you to Dexter Ginn for uncovering this little gem in last weekends Guardian newspaper.

Unsuitably wrapped

Putting the 'UP' in a black box at a jaunty angle with a bow expertly photoshopped on does not make your website more festive. It's almost embarrassing to see CAWU looking like this when only 2 days ago we saw it in all it's majesty as an all-singing-all-dancing poster campaign from Tesco.

Hang your heads Williams & Brown, hang your heads.

Billboard all wrapped up

It's big, it's bold, it's even made to look like wrapping paper. Tesco's 48-sheet poster campaign has blown us away. Massive respect to their ad agency for taking the line and making it better than we could ever have imagined.

A massive 48-sheet hug to regular contributor Jody Louie for what is by far the best CAWU to date. Now, if we could get an actual 48 sheet poster of this, that would be something...

Don't wrap it, i'll wear it.

This appeared in our inbox last week from Mark Cochrane (cheers, again) who was walking past eBay's pop-up store on Dean Street in Central London. Of course, we've already featured an eBay post but as a digital ad has made the leap into the real world, we felt it was worthy of a post.

That said, they could've dialed up the Christmas element somewhat. It looks more like somebody's attic or cupboard-under-the-stairs than a shop.

Don't forget your borough this xmas.

Will any other Greater London Borough be getting gifts this year, which also begs the question, what do you get a borough for Christmas? - We're dying to know what's in the box.

We're feeling the love more than Christmas with this outdoor 6-sheet, however, a win's a win as they say at Bolton Wanderers.

On the first day of CAWU...

Christmas has officially started and women in houses are leading the charge. We have no idea what this website is about but we have a feeling that there's a lot of wrapping holly in ribbon and pushing cloves into oranges when it comes to making your home a suburban Winter Wonderland. (I'm expecting something very similar from Mrs CAWU this weekend)

Lovely swirly festive font for the word 'Christmas', good use of snowflake clipart and the killer sign off 'You'll find everything you need' Great stuff...we do have one question though - did you make the stockings yourself, is there a free pattern to print out on the website?

A big Christmas cheer to Helen Metson who joins the ranks of the CAWU eagle-eye crew.

Wrap the Halls...

We were wondering when our first overseas CAWU would arrive...and here it is!!! All the way from Australia.

Pearsons Florist - Sydney's Flower Experts.

Does this mean they're only experts in flowers that are indigenous to the Sydney area? Big red clipart bauble, festive foliage and (as Jody pointed out) lovely use of quotation marks to ramp up the 'All Wrapped Up' message.

If you're not sharing Christmas with loved ones this year why invite a bunch of lilies,  roses and perhaps the odd Pearsons staff member, as apparently they are joy to be with at this time of year.

Many thanks to Jody Louie for a most excellent find.

Mistletoe and Wine

Another ad from the M&S book of typefaces.

Interesting choices of background colours, fortunately the bow and single snowflake help to justify its Christmas credentials. If drinking's your thing this Christmas then visit Vinopolis, fortunately it's right next to the river if you fancy skinny dipping after one too many mulled wines.

On a personal note, avoid the Indian Chardonnay - unless you're running low on unleaded.

Christmas all priced up

Classic Christmas movie style typeface, a bauble, some snow on the left side and a big red backdrop with 'from £3' written on it on the right can only mean one thing. Sainsbury's have released their agressive in-store DVD Christmas sale strategy.

I'll bet a figgy pudding that National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is bang on £3. (I know it's worth at least twice that but what can I do?)

Profitting off the CAWU line

We're guessing that's not a train set inside. It's good to see the Co-op haven't forgotten about direct mail when it comes to Christmas. Although the designers seemed to have until the last minute when they dragged and dropped the Christmas Tree tag clipart onto the envelope.

Remember people of Adland, financial can be fun and jolly at this time of year too.

Many thanks to Mark Greenwood who had this gem literally delivered to his doorstep.

Golden Baubles

Chalk up a second one for the Evening Standard. While many were blown away by the big CAWU line from a few days ago, only Emma Leaney spotted a second one just a few pages further down. To be fair the euphoria and excitement of the first one has not been matched in this press advertorial/competition for 3's MiFi so we can understand why it was missed.

Nice use of present, bauble and gold however, gold in print always loses it's sheen somewhat and looks a bit beige - which sums this up really.

Wrap that Ass

Amazing, awful and audacious - bit like Arsenals' Season at the moment. Two ex-Arsenal players and Van Persie literally wrapped together with a bow, a failing Travel Agent, snowflakes, baubles, star bursts on the 'BREAKS' and CAWU in italics - the only thing missing is Santa in an Arsenal kit.

When it comes to Football teams sporting the CAWU line, it's definitely Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0.

N.B. Dedicated to Grandpa Spain.

Terry's Fabriculous Christmas Deals

Lovely metallic effect on the bow and ribbon, the use of two typefaces and the word 'Christmas' at a slightly jaunty angle sets this up to be the best CAWU fabric ad we've seen this year. It's still November, but we think the others may have to pull out the stops to beat it.

Have a Terry Christmas T-dog.

A generous portion of CAWU...

So what did Beckie Crumb find as she unwrapped her latest copy of Square Meal this morning? Boom! The only thing missing was Jingle Bells to start playing in the background and for it to start snowing outside to make this the very best CAWU ever.

Rich Christmassy Green and Red colour palette, clear visualisation of the CAWU line and beautiful Typography present finished off with a bow - Somehow feels very Dickensian.

Standard Wrapping

And next into the CAWU ring is the daily favourite of the Capital commuter - The Evening Standard. Big, bold, unashamed and (like snow,) covered front-to-back in a generous amount of Christmas adjectives. It gives us a warm feeling just holding this. Well done ES for a winter warming end of the day.

Tip-o-the-hat to Emma Leaney for a fine spot on the 17.59 from Charing Cross and then again from Chris Fielder on the 18.21.

Play it off Keyboard Cat...

Nothing says ideal Christmas present for a loved one than one of their many labelling products.

Having seen CAWU around for a week or so now, we do feel that the line is being asked to do a lot in this ad. Just writing it and adding a stack of stock image gifts to the foreground does not make it Christmassy. More bells, holly, santa hats and maybe an animated gif of a snowman waving could definitely help shift a few more cash registers if you ask us.

Thanks to Jody Louie for another CAWU donation.

Taking TimeOut to do some wrapping

Stuck for ideas on what to get your nearest and dearest this Christmas? Fortunately this article in the latest copy of TimeOut has a few thought starters. Lovely use of italics again to accentuate the 'all wrapped up' part. Could've been more tinsel for our liking and perhaps a Santa's Grotto image somewhere on the page but happy to see the line anyway. CAWU hug to Mark Cochrane for still buying the paper version of TimeOut (and of course for the spot).

Every little thing wrapped up...

First it was Ocado, now a major player in the Supermarket arena gets involved.

Italic font, Wingdings created Christmas tree and a Star (with what can only be described as a visual representation of the Joy of Christmas trailing behind).

Tesco.com really are the embodiment of the 'Christmas all wrapped up spirit'.

Wrapped with constipation pain?

The model looks desperate for the loo. More of a wintery observation than Christmas, however as 'tis the season' we'll let it in from the cold to warm itself by the CAWU fire. Many thanks to Stephanie Ross for spotting this article in this week's 'LOOK' magazine.

xM&S look alike

I have little or any knowledge of Yate Shopping centre apart from Arg from The Only Way is Essex turned on the Christmas lights yesterday, their online designers like the M&S font (Helvetica Neue Thin for all you font nerds) and if she spills mulled wine on that top, that's the end of that.

The Stamford Bridge Wrap

Golf balls, a watch, a book and a key ring. I think CFC could have made more of this space and the line. Surely John Terry verbally abusing Santa, Abramovich parking his helicopter outside a lowly cattle shed or Ashley Cole's Sexy Grotto would've been more fun?

Wrap up warm

So guys, we make outdoor clothing, Christmas is approaching and we know it's cold this time of year...any ideas on a line we could use to entice potential shoppers into our store???

Many thanks to the Littlest Hobo account man - David Hustwitt for finding this gem on the mean streets of London.

Christmas Tree is the magic number

For the 2012 photoshop extravaganza into Christmas Trees alone, this one stands proudly as a personal favourite. However, like the gift that keeps giving, it also has one of the most random dates I've ever seen associated with Christmas - 1st - 3rd June.

I can't work out if this is for this year - welcoming in 2012 or Christmas 2012? Baffled and enchanted at the same time.

Super-Marketing from Ocado

No-one can have Christmas more wrapped up than a supermarket and fortunately for us, one of their affiliates hasn't disappointed. Not sure the AWU line is being shown in it's best light as it seems to be fighting with the background image (I'm sure my Art Director would be shaking his head at this). However, a bonus mark for getting 'simple, stress-free Christmas' into the copy.

Wrapping without the sarcasm...

Occasionally there is a line that you do not cross. So avoiding all the Stevie Wonder jokes and 'Have you seen this?' gags, i'll simply say what a great use of the CAWU line and wish them all the best for their appeal this year. 

Coming up next... something to do with Terry and a carpet.

He definitely wants to unwrap her...

Proving that this line is not just for Christmas Advertising, the Daily Mirror's Gilly Ferguson uses it with aplomb to give extra 'PAZAZZ' to that fascinating topic of Kelly Rowland's wardrobe. Like the guy in the picture, we're licking our lips too in enjoyment of its appearance in the national press so early on. Can't wait for our first TV ad post.

Teaching the Welsh to Wrap

Learn the true meaning of 'Christmas All Wrapped Up' with the Christian Council of Wales. Lovely use of a star instead of the 'tittle' in the 'i' of Christmas. Not sure many churches would be that welcoming to my Secondary Modern Comprehensive - unless of course they were planning an insurance job.

Boys love books at Christmas

Our first digital display of CAWU. Good to see the behemoth that is eBay aren't afraid to roll out a classic. Many thanks to Beckie Crumb and her internet eagle eyes for spotting this.

N.B. To all those considering buying a book as a Christmas present for a boy, boys do not like books for Christmas. As a former boy, I can vouch for this.

An addition to this post, more to point out the line is featuring on their home page and seems to be the strapline to all their Christmas messages on .co.uk. Double Bubble.

All waxed up...

Our first submission from outside the inner circle. Many thanks to Richard Barnes for taking this snap and sending it to us. I believe this is the place in South West London to get all your Christmas Candle treats. Beautiful use of ribbon effect to make the building look like a present.

Scotland's covered

Snow, people in woolly hats and scarves, gifts all stacked up, a tree and shopping bags aplenty all bursting out of a large present. Glasgow certainly does have Christmas all wrapped up this year!

Now we're cooking...

Nothing says I love you than a white good at Christmas. I don't know about you, but if I gave my other half an oven or a vacuum cleaner, I can pretty much guess where the attachments would end up.

...and now your skin can be too.

Liz knows how to sell at this time of year. Just add the CAWU line and watch the product fly off the shelves.

The Wrap Party

Get the drinks in because we're celebrating another 'Wrapped Up' classic. Thanks Co-op!

Our first day at 'Wrapped Up' wrapped up.

Congrats to all you Chrimbo Copywriters who dusted off this gem and used it with these glorious publications and promotions. A tip of the hat to all.

Let the wrapping begin

Well here we go. And first out of the traps with our first glimpse of our old festive friend is Waterstones. Simple and understated type which doesn't distract from the message - Joy Oh Joy. A great start.