The Fat Faced Family Nightmare before Christmas

Probably the best fake family scene at Christmas we've ever seen.

Firstly, who lights candles on Christmas morning?

Now take a closer look at the shot. Does it have a bit of a sinister edge to it? For us, it almost gives the impression we're looking in at this perfect family scene as if we were a balaclava-wearing intruder who's just pushed the door open quietly and is about to about to ruin Christmas morning with a crowbar.

I can see it now. 20 minutes later and the family are literally 'all wrapped up' with gaffer tape to chairs. Gagged and crying, we pick up a candle and use it to torch the house before scampering out the door with all their Fatface knitwear and pyjamas.

We've all seen the countless 'You've Been Framed' home videos of Christmas morning and know it's nothing like this. The tears of disappointment, the fake 'I love it' looks from wives to husbands - this isn't Christmas from any land we're aware of - apart from Adland.

And that's the point.

This one definitely sells the sizzle of Christmas and not the sausage. Not sure how Christmas is 'all wrapped up' in this one but we've got so 'wrapped up' in the backstory, it doesn't really matter any more - unless there's a stylish knitted garment for every Christmas item.

A slightly darker CAWU today - must be the weather, the darkness setting in at 3pm and the sodding cold I've been trying to shake for a week.

Just promise us you won't leave any windows or doors unlocked on Christmas Eve night!

All Wrapped Up Norf'

Every time I look at this all I see is a woman holding a Lightsaber.

I imagine a lot of Art Directors will be shaking their heads at the positioning of the type - and rightly so.  It does look a bit 'plonked' on and it's a not the easiest thing to read from distance. And as far as a Christmassy vibe goes, the woman's not exactly full of festive cheer or spirit. I've seen that look before from Mrs CAWU and I can tell you it's more like 'Stop leaving the f**king cupboard doors open!'

I suppose it is snowing but not sure exactly why she's in an underpass - perhaps it's to highlight the homeless at this time of year. A noble cause. I had to get 'Big Coat' out today it was so cold. So thanks 'Blacks' for bringing this to my attention. I'm going to pop a quid in a homeless person's cup this Christmas - providing there's no meths or Brew L'Special residing in the receptacle, that is.

Big love to our friend Richard Barnes in the North for taking the snap.

Merry Kitsch-mas

 

Our first complete CAWU campaign. Window displays, DM, Online - Cath has really gone to town and brought the line to life in her own stylishly twee way. Exciting times ahead for the 30-something who's looking for a £10 Christmas bauble or a decorative rolling pin for the 'Bake Off' inspired hipster (Do hipsters bake? I suppose they used to before it was trendy). 

Anyway, there's no getting away from the line but i'm just not getting Christmas from it. Yes, there are snow covered 'Dickensian' houses and the trees are laden with snow but the choice of colours give it a 'Mardi Gras in Miami' look and feel. Where's the snowman on the path? Where are the eight Reindeer and a sleigh on the roof? Surely they can't be too Kitsch for Kidston? 

Keep the line, the dial up the Christmas. If anyone has a licence to do Kitsch-mas, Cath has.

Lot's of people to thank for pointing this out. Special thanks to Sarah Wood who took time out of her holiday in freezing cold St Ives to take a shot of the window display. XXX

How do you wrap a Pony for Christmas?

ASCOT and Country Living Christmas Fair & Racing Weekend has taken the Wrapped Up part of the line literally and created an interesting scene using rolls of wrapping paper. I must say this is a new take on the line and one that we approve of here. 

Not entirely sure anyone's ever seen Horse Racing wrapping paper, but this is advertising and so it only takes a production manager and a few telephone calls, an email, a small team of designers, a favour from a printer and a courier and there you have it - A lovely roll of it.

That said, it's still a refreshing creative way of executing the CAWU line. 

Many thanks to a seasoned CAWU finder, Mark Cochrane. An Epic photo-taking stance in the reflection of the glass - one hand, side-on to the ad and leaning slightly forward. Powerful.

All Wrapped Up by the Post Office, literally

If there was a checklist for the perfect 'All Wrapped Up' ad there would be a tick in almost every box for this year's festive offering from the Post Office. The Ad geniuses have pretty much thrown the Christmas sink at this and it's glorious. An inspired piece of casting too.

Celebrities  √
Christmas Puns √
Animals in Comedy attire √
Festive Music (Bells included) √
Decorations & Trees √
Double Entendres √
Festive Fonts √
It's Snowing √
Elves & Pixies (A Punderful use of Celebrity again) √
Presents √

For the complete set, some reindeers and of course jolly Old Saint Nick featuring would've have been an added bonus, but I think we can all say that this is greatest CAWU ad of all time.

A work of true Christmas Joy!!!!

Experience the Joy > All wrapped up at the Post Office

Wrapping (News)paper spot

This is fabulous for so many reasons. It's page 12 of the Metro, Anna P (another life-long CAWU advocate) who works for Samsung (their tablet is the star) spotted it and sent it over. And more fantastically, we had a chat with the SAD of O2s ad agency (only last night) saying he'd do his best to make sure they never ran the line.

Well Matt, EPIC LOLs all round!

I would like to know why the woman has gone out in a hat and scarf but no coat though?

God bless you O2, for helping us get through our Friday morning hangover.

Week two and CAWU is moving up a gear. Usually we've got about two/three weeks left before the line has been totally purged for '14. Please keep 'em peeled

A wrap of blow for the Christmas Party?

The designer went font crazy on this poster. Art Directors of the World will be listing the different ones as we speak. And the rich aubergine and gold gives this poster a high class feel.

No idea what a Fast Beauty product is and why there are over 1000 of them but the salon looks high end, so it's probably expensive. That said, I'm really hoping this place has a great punny hairdresser's name. Something like 'Crops & Bobbers' or 'Sherlock Combs'.

A great find from a lifelong advocate of the CAWU blog, James Devon. Thanks James, we always know we can rely on you to locate one for us.

CAWU 2014 - Officially open (snip!)

On the day John Lewis unleashed its Christmas schmaltz featuring another wintery cliche (We've had snowmen & women, a hibernating bear and a hare and now a Penguin and his... well I won't spoil it for you, if you're the only person who isn't going gooey on the internet about it.), it gives us great pleasure to announce the opening of 'Christmas All Wrapped Up 2014'.

As various establishing members of CAWU have gone their own way since last year, we have high hopes that the message will be spread further. Also, we have new members and it transpires that CAWU (in various guises) exists in other forms, in other agencies - but none so comprehensive as this (obvs).

Anyway, here we go for another year and we start with none-other than actor/performer/comedian/BGT Judge/Can't-work-out-if-we-like-him-or-not, David Walliams.





As CAWU's go it's pretty bold - there's an Owl wearing glasses sitting on a bauble - there's a great pun on the bauble. There's snow - it should tick all the boxes. However, (if you'll excuse the pun) it leaves me a little cold. This could've been more Christmassy - a bow round a book, some elves legs in striped stockings poking out the snow. I appreciate it's early November, but if you're going for the Christmas jugular, you need to go Jingle Balls in.

Still, a solid start, fingers crossed for more.