Tag Archives: bohemian wrapsody

DIY Washi Tape Tree Tags

Gift tags certainly aren’t expensive and there are many beautiful options now a days, but that wasn’t always the case. I used to find that a majority of tags were either tacky or used colour combinations that were difficult to work with. The styles and designs have really improved over the last few years with many more options that are less busy and more versatile. These “Washi Tape” Christmas trees are not so much about saving money (although they probably cost no more that a couple of cents each), but rather just a fun DIY project that takes no more than a few minutes to add a personal homemade touch to your gifts. It is also a great way to use up those rolls of Washi Tape that you’ve collected and have yet to use!
I simply mounted the Washi Tape on a chunk of leftover card stock (about 4″ X 8 1/2″). My tape was older and wasn’t sticking well, so I just reinforced it with double-sided tape. I then flipped the cardstock and measured off 2″ staggered guide marks across the top and bottom (on the back). The guide marks were made every 2″, but with one end starting 1″ in from the edge to set up the “stagger” for diagonal cuts. I then used the guide marks to cut narrow triangle Christmas trees.

Check out this short video to see how it’s done!

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Holiday Gift Wrapping: Brown Paper & Polka Dots

Let’s face it…polka dots are fun! For this brown paper gift wrapping idea, I used a pencil eraser to add white polka dots to the surface of the gift. I love how the white polka dots give off a “Charlie Brown snowflake” kind of a vibe. I decided to stick with the snow theme and add white ribbon, a cute felt snowman garland and a splash of colour with the snowflake.

Check out my latest video to see how it all comes together!

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Holiday Gift Wrapping: Distressed Brown Paper

I have to admit….I’m addicted to brown paper wrapping! One of the reasons I love it so much is that it’s perfect for tutorials. Although many of my tips and tricks can be adapted and used with different papers and patterns, I like to demonstrate with plain paper (brown, black and white) primarily because it is so duplicatable. The whole premise for the tutorials is to make the designs achievable. Not only are the ideas simple and inexpensive, but I’ve also tried to use materials that are readily available.

In this video tutorial, I demonstrate how to use a dry brush technique to distress plain brown packaging paper. The paint in and of itself does not actually look that great, but when combined with simple rustic embellishments the final design makes quite a statement. Never underestimate the impact of dollar store items, especially when strategically combined. The burlap ribbon and wooden snowflake were purchased at the dollar store and the sprig of greenery is from my front yard cedars. I love how the embellishments stand out against the white paint.

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Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas: A Festive Touch

As previously mentioned…this roll of Martha Stewart birch bark-like wrapping paper was certainly a great thrift store find! The paper is excellent quality and I love the simplicity of it. This design was inspired by a basic white on white look. Although the birch bark paper has some grey and black, I feel like the overall look speaks “white”. I love the concept of combining different shades of the same colour, as well as multiple textures. For this project, I used my DIY white paper ribbon along with a simple wired white ribbon. I recently picked up a package of wooden snowmen ornaments from the dollar store. They come in a pack of 6 for $1.25, so well worth the money. The wooden snowman really compliments the birch bark paper and helps create a very nature inspired look. The sprig of greenery not only brings a hint of colour, but also gives the gift a festive touch.

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Happy wrapping!

Holiday Gift Wrapping: Brown Paper with Layered Snowflakes

This simple tutorial combines a cream coloured felt ribbon with snowflakes. The larger snowflake is made from plain chipboard and the smaller wooden one came from a set purchased at the dollar store. I often find that the wood elements the dollar store sells are comparable in quality to the higher end craft stores. These snowflakes would probably cost close to $5 at a regular craft store. I picked them up for a $1.25 ….what a steal. I love how the smaller wooden snowflake picks up on the cream colour of the ribbon. This is a very simple design, but looks great with the brown paper base. Do you have 45 seconds? Check out my latest tutorial to see how simple it was to pull it all together.

Happy Wrapping!

Holiday Gift Wrapping: Birch Bark Paper & Snowflakes

I really scored when I picked-up this brand new roll of Martha Stewart birch bark-like wrapping paper at a thrift store for 50 cents! The paper is excellent quality and I love the simplicity of the design. What better combination than snowflakes and birch bark! Check out my latest wrapping tutorial that incorporates dollar store snowflake buttons. I bought a large bag of the snowflakes for $1.25 and they make fantastic embellishments for Christmas wrapping. Always be on the look out for great deals!

Happy wrapping!

Holiday Gift Wrapping: Simple Snowflake

This brown paper gift wrapping idea couldn’t be easier. In this video tutorial, you will see how to take a dollarstore Christmas ornament and transform it into the focal point for this gift. Snowflakes are one of my favourite Christmas gift accessories, but you want to make sure your purchases don’t look cheap (even though they are!) I often use dollar store elements in my gift wrapping, but the key is to pay special attention to the “finish” of the ornament when making purchases. I will usually opt for white or wood finishes, as I often find that the sparkly ornaments tend to look cheap and tacky. (I do purchase glittery elements as well, but I make all of my purchases with a very critical eye.) Another trick to up staging the quality of your embellishments, is to give careful consideration to the other elements you include in your design.

For this look, I combine a plain white string with a white plastic snowflake ornament. The simplicity of the string off-sets the finish of the ornament. The finishing touch in this look is a Scrabble Tile “gift tag”. I placed the name in the bottom corner, to add more interest. Even if you don’t use the Scrabble tile idea, this gift would look great with a simple brown or white coverstock tag. Don’t ruin the look by sticking on a tag that doesn’t fit the look of the gift….stick with the theme!

You can check out the full tutorial (‘Tis the Season) or opt for the quicker version (READY, SET, WRAP!}. Enjoy!

Happy wrapping!

Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas: Scrabble Tile Gift Greetings

I’m so excited about the holiday season and have been busy pulling together tons of gift wrapping ideas. I’ve been making some tweaks to my videos and will be launching something new beginning with this video. The holidays are a very busy time of the year and to save us all some time, I’m producing shorter versions of my video tutorials. I’m hoping this will eventually shorten the editing process and thus allow me to post more tutorials. It’s great for you as well because you can get the same info in a condensed version. The biggest difference is that I’m using subtitles in lieu of verbal instructions. I know how tired I get of hearing my own voice, so perhaps this will be a blessing for you too! I will see how this new system works and may continue to produce full versions as an option for those who like the additional tips I typically add in throughout my videos.

‘Tis the SEASON

‘Tis the SEASON is the name of my holiday video tutorial playlist. It will contain any videos that I produce in full version with verbal instructions.

READY, SET, WRAP!

READY, SET, WRAP! is the name of my holiday video tutorial playlist in a condensed version with my voice removed and replaced with subtitles. Much of the video will be in “fast forward” mode to move along at a much quicker pace. This is a great way to watch the video in its entirety without it taking so long to get through. Obviously, if you watch the condensed version and want more information, you can always view the full version on my ‘Tis the SEASON playlist.I

In today’s tutorial, you will learn how to use old Scrabble tiles as Christmas greetings on a gift. I often pick-up old Scrabble games when out thrifting. You can purchased them for a buck or two and the possibilities are really endless. I also demonstrate how to create your own custom paper ribbon. This is both a cost effective and easy option for customizing your gift. This particular video combines white paper ribbon, cord and the Scrabble tile greeting on a brown paper surface. Simple, yet eye catching!

Check out my first video from my new READY, SET, WRAP! Christmas Playlist.

I would really appreciate some feedback on how you like the new tutorial format. Feel free to comment below.

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Gift Wrapping Ideas: DIY Pillow Box

Have you ever been faced with the problem of wrapping an awkwardly shaped gift? We’ve all been there…it won’t fit inside any boxes you have on hand, you end up with this weird shape and if you’re like me, the gift always ends up getting bumped and torn because of how the paper is sitting. I hate that! Well, I may have a great solution to your problem….a DIY custom made pillow box.

What is a Pillow Box?

A pillow box is generally oblong with curved ends and a shape that resembles a pillow. They are relatively easy to make and you can even find templates online. However, if you really want to make a pillow box work for you, the key is to learn how to customize the size to accommodate the size of your gift.

Kinderarten Challenge:

In this tutorial you get a bonus tip: find out one of the most important skills I teach my kinders and see if you pass the test and employ this strategy!

DIY Custom Pillow Box Tutorial

Today’s video tutorial is a bit longer in length, but it takes you through the steps involved in creating your own customized pillow box. I offer a specific demonstration for creating a small pillow box using a standard 8 1/2″ X 11″ card stock so that the size is a bit more camera friendly to work with. This is followed by instructions on how to enlarge the scale of the design to create a full bristol board sized box.

Not only is a pillow box a great option for those difficult to wrap gifts, but it is also a simple way to change up the same old. Perhaps a long, narrow pillow box might be a great alternative to the standard gift bags used for wine and other bottled gifts.

Of course, you’ll be limited by the colours of bristol board available, but don’t let that stop you …..they rarely run out of black and white and to me those are the two best options anyway.

I hope you find this video helpful! Please remember to LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to my channel: BOWhemian WRAPsody for more great gift wrapping ideas.

Gift Wrapping Ideas: Braided Belt Ribbon

This quick gift wrapping tip highlights a recent thrift store find. I love how this simple braided belt serves as both the ribbon and the bow for this gift. The braided suede-like belt offers interest and creates a very natural look. I love how the buckle serves as the focal point. This is a quick watch and the concept of using a belt might spark many other ideas for creative gift wrapping projects.

If you like this gift wrapping idea, be sure to check out my other wrapping tutorials for more great ideas. Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE to my blog and Youtube channel: BOWhemian WRAPsody.