This is a super simple gift wrapping design, but the fun is in the unexpected. Such an unlikely Christmas look…plain black paper dressed up with dollar store metal ribbon (love this) and a cork snowflake. The design is anchored with a plain canvas looking fabric ribbon that draws on the cork colour. The lesson in this look is really just about thinking outside the box. Black and brown are not typical holiday colours, but I think it’s the simple colour scheme with a variety of textures that makes the design so elegant. You really have to pick up some of that metal ribbon…such a cool embellishment!
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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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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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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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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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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.
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!
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!
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.
Have you ever needed a box for a gift (or other purpose), found the perfect size, but hated the fact that it was covered with print/graphics that identified its original use. I love reusing boxes, but always feel like the print on the outside of a box takes away from the beautiful wrapping. Although this hack won’t work every time, I’ve pulled it off many times in the past. Simply take the box apart and reassemble it inside out!
Check out my latest video to see how simply it can be done! Now you don’t have to feel so bad about using that old tampon box to wrap that special gift…Ha! Ha!
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