Ribbons And Bits

Grab your paper, scissors, tape, glue gun and bits! 

This has to be what I believe, one of the funnest things ever!  Not sure funnest is even a word but I'm going with it.  I love to wrap gifts!  I truly believe that presentation is everything.  Not everyone likes to wrap gifts, I know that!  This is where you either run like hell and hide or you use a glue gun like the best of them.  I love to pick up Christmas decorations right after Christmas when all the great sales are on.  These decorations after Christmas will make for amazing embellishments on your gifts next year.  Don't roll your eyes, plan today for next year and you'll be glad you did!  If you can face the crowds, it's so worth grabbing all those discounted picks, berries and branches.  Next year, clip them apart and use them to embellish all your Christmas gifts.  Better yet, hit both the decorations and Christmas ribbon isles!  Once you start doing this, I promise you'll be wrapping like a pro!

Wrap some wired ribbon around your wrapped gift and tie it in a knot.  Cut a piece of raffia or something similar and tie a bow around the knot of the ribbon, glue some greenery, berries and pine cones.  All that's left to do is add a gift tag .....and your done!  Who wouldn't love to be given this gift?

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations!

Recycled Wrapping

If you don't have time (can't run out to get wrapping paper) and don't want to spend money (who wants to spend more if you don't have too) and would like to wrap up a little gift (or a big gift), I'd like to show you how.  It won't cost anything either, and that's a good thing!

Let's begin by getting 2 pieces of used tissue.  Anytime there is tissue in a gift at our house, I take it and fold it up and store it away for later.  It always comes in handy!  So here I've decided on two sheets of used pink tissue.

Get your iron out and set it on a very low setting, one of the lowest until you figure out just how much heat you need.  Very little steam as you don't want your tissue wet.

Start in a corner and make sure that the iron isn't too hot.  When you have the correct heat and the iron is taking the wrinkles out of the tissue continue to iron both pieces of tissue until wrinkles are gone and paper is smooth. 

Once you have ironed your tissue you will need to get your ribbon. I'm using the curly ribbon dangly stuff you can purchase at the dollar store.  If your ribbon is super wrinkled or looking a little tired (mine was) you may either steam it using a kettle or regular steamer.  I happen to have a clothing steamer so I will be using this. 

Holding the ribbon a safe distance away from the steam, begin to steam your ribbon and you will see the bends and wrinkles fall out.

On this particular bow I will be taking off the clear plastic sticky piece.  I just pull it away from the bow and it becomes unattached.

I need to then remove the staple and tape holding the ribbon together

Now that we have prepared everything let's begin to wrap.

I have a book about 6" X 7" that I'm going to wrap so I cut both pieces of tissue approx. 20" X 20" square and they are now one on top of the other.  I'll be wrapping using both pieces together.

Note how I've got the tissue placed on the table (diamond shape), it makes it easier when wrapping.  I've placed the gift in the centre.

I'll take the top corners and the bottom corners and hold as shown.



I Bring up the left corner (or right doesn't matter) to meet at the top.

I'll bring up the last corner so I'm now holding all four corners.  Note how the sides are all sticking out?It almost looks as though you see and "H".  Each one of those pieces sticking out will need to be tucked inwards.  Look at the bottom right corner that's sticking out.  I will begin by gently easing that piece in towards the middle of the gift all the while holding the top corners.  I tuck it in as if it popped out and I need to put it back.  It's easier than you think!  I repeat for all remaining corners.

Once all the corners are tucked in I gently grab the tissue as close to the the gift as possible being careful not to pull too hard as the tissue may tear at the corners.

I take one of the loose ribbons

Wrap it around where I was holding the tissue and tie a knot.

Once the knot it tied I gently separate the two pieces of tissue at the top.







 I will now tie three (3) more pieces of curly ribbon on the gift and begin to embellish.

Here is where you may get creative.  You may decorate your gift with almost anything but I'm going to grab my paper scraps I had previously cut and never used (I keep these in a zip lock bag, perfect for this) it makes the wrapping go so much quicker.  I chose a piece of leftover loopy border and cut it in half.  I then took my scissors and snipped apart two loops.



I twisted the paper and slipped the one side into the slit I cut and it created a bit of a curl.





I found a flower in my cut scraps and added it to the two curly pieces.  Because of the tissue being separated at the top (it makes it easy for items to stay in place) the pieces I added hooked right into the middle of the tissue and didn't move.  Perfect!

Here is the finished product.  I wanted to show you how easily you can wrap a gift using some recycled tissue a recycled bow and some left over scraps.   It makes a lovely wrapping for your gift. 
The possibilities are endless and with a little imagination you can turn your wrapping into a work of art at no cost.  It's your turn...go ahead and suprise someone with one of your lovely recycled wrapped gifts.  No one has to know!

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wishing you many wonderful creations.



Last Minute Changes to Yesterdays Blog and Pixie Dust - I think!

Well, my girlfriend didn't make it over as planned last night she will be over this evening. Things happen so it's not a big deal. Now get this.....the wrapping paper we are now using is a soft lilac colour with cream ribbon. So what could have happened during the day yesterday that the cream paper turned to soft lilac, hmmmmmm? I just checked the card I made an it's still cream so whatever got into that paper hasn't hit my card yet. I'll be keeping an eye on it today. 

Check it out!!!

I've added a second video to my page The Art Of Gift Wrapping.  In this video I will demonstrate how to wrap a simple gift in cello.  Enjoy!

Cello Wrapping

I think today is a great day to show everyone how to cello wrap a gift.  Step by step instructions will be posted on my page "The Art Of Gift Wrapping" by the end of today.  Cello paper can turn any gift into something that would be a absolute delight to receive.  Remember, presentation is everything!  I use cello often when wrapping.  I have different lengths as well as many different patterned cello wrap.  You will find it  available at most craft, party and dollar stores.  I personally prefer the heavy cello wrap.  There are different qualities and the thinner wrap tends to tear easily.   I believe with cello...you get what you pay for.  The heavier quality is a little more expensive, however, it is worth the extra dollar or two. 

 I've chosen to wrap a candle approximately

3" X 3" in clear cello and thought I would show two different looks. 

Using a rectangular piece of Cello

 I left the cello the original length that was cut.  I used curly ribbon as a bow and then added a few extra pieces of the same ribbon and curled it slightly. 

Same as above only once it was completely wrapped I cut the top straight across

 I added a pink bow and curly ribbon to give this gift a different look.  The video for this particular bow will be added soon to my page "The Art Of Gift Wrapping."  

So there you have one candle and two looks.  By changing up the bow, trimming the cello and even adding an adornment if you wish ....the possibilities are endless. 

I will also be showing how to make a gift look twice the size when wrapped in cello as well as wrapping multiple items with cello in one package.  Hope to see you then.

Have a great day!  Thanks for visiting.
Visit my page on The Are of Gift Wrapping for the video