Wrapping Paper Cards...

Last year for my birthday my sister, Marie, gave me several gifts and each of them were wrapped in doll themed paper.  She knows how I love dolls.  One of the wrapping papers had wonderful vintage dolls on it and she told me the story of the paper. 
You see, Marie is the most giving and kind hearted soul.  She cleans houses for elderly folks and also spends lots of time just listening to them and being a comfort.  One of her ladies knew that Marie was meeting me for my birthday (this was last August) and that I love dolls.  That sweet lady who doesn't even know me told Marie that she had some wrapping paper and went to get it.  It was a roll of vintage wrapping paper with these amazing dolls all over it.  How very thoughtful. 
So when I met Marie for our get together and she told me the story I decided that I would make some cards with the paper.  I made two sets...one for Marie and one for the lady who gave her the paper.  I made each card different and sometimes added lace or paper doilies.  I lined each envelope with pretty paper.  Then I tied the sets with ribbon and gave them to Marie for herself and to pass along to her client. 
This is such an easy way to use paper that would otherwise be thrown out.  I like to crumple the paper and give it a real worn look with all the wrinkles and character. Wrapping paper works really well because it is lightweight and easy to work with.  You can tear around the image for one look or cut around it for another version.  If tearing...remember the paper torn off away from you will leave a clean edge and the paper torn off towards you will leave a white edge.  That can also be part of the look for the finished cards. Try using tissue paper on cardstock.  You can either buy blank cards and envelopes or you can cut card stock and use that for the cards.  Envelopes are fun and easy to make from templates or just buy blank envelopes at the supply store. 
Hmmm...gifts for birthdays, holidays or next Christmas.   Make a few sets here and there and put them into that gift cupboard for just the right occassion. 
P.S.  It is always extra nice to stamp handmade on the backs of the cards.  I don't date them from experience of misplacing them and finding them years later...not good to give an old dated card set that has no vintage value. 
Do you make and give handmade cards?  Do you premake cards and keep a supply on hand for all those occassions that pop up at the last minute? 
Now I should do as I say and play in the studio making some card sets.
Joyful January 2012 to everyone...

Off to the Studio...

 Is this my studio?  Did I leave it in this condition?  I know I have been busy but who made this mess and where is my worktable surface?  Let me walk around to the other side...

 Well this is quite the crowded space.  Where ever shall I work?

Oh here is a small spot I can work in.  I need to wrap some gifts for mailing.  Wow...this table is over 4 feet by 8 feet large and here I am trying to work in about a 1 foot space.  Elves?  No, I see nothing accomplished by elves.  Well, let me work on another project that I might have enough space for...

Printing some business cards for an upcoming boutique sale.  I punched each card with a heart and tied some red ribbon so each card is uniquely mine and maybe the person taking it will remember me and need some gifts in the future. 
Maybe I should tackle the studio worktable and put things away and clear a larger space in which to work.  Hmmm...maybe later as I have much more pressing things on my list to work on and complete.  There is something about horizontal surfaces and me.  They never stay empty.  I always manage to fill them up and pile too much stuff on them.  Hmmm...maybe I will work on this in 2012.
Right now I am so thankful for having my spaces and being able to create gifts.  I am thankful for my family and I am thankful for each of you...my blogging friends. 
Please take time to enjoy the moments and the joys of all we have during this busy season. 

Wrapping Presents...

Wrapping presents can be quite the chore and take lots of precious time...unless you enjoy wrapping and making each gift look special. My mother was the best at wrapping each and every gift. She would make the paper look extra special and you would never see any tape and every fold was perfection. Then she handmade each and every bow the old fashioned way. I used to take forever to unwrap a gift as I didn't want to ruin her hard work. I would untape and unfold and save every piece of paper with no rips or tears. Her bows got reused for years until they litterally became shabby before shabby was chic.
These gifts I wrapped with paper and ribbons and an ornament and tag. I am quite pleased with them. Then in a very few minutes each was opened and all was tossed in the trash except maybe the ornament and some ribbon.

Now this is how I am having fun this year wrapping some gifts. I have used felt or flannel and serged the little bags to hold a gift. This bag holds a ceramic ornament and can also serve as storage to keep it safe during the year. The photo colors are off but I added a green button and string to close the bag.

This square bag I actually serged entirely closed with the gift inside. Then I wrapped it with green string and a green button to look like a real package with a bow. What is inside? A package of note cards for the recipient who by-the-way loved the packaging and didn't want to ruin it by opening however a pair of tiny scissors did the trick. Even after opening, this little bag will be reused for another gift and sent along it's way.

These fabric bags take no more time to stitch up than wrapping with paper. I really think they are quicker and a lot more fun.

What is your favorite way to wrap a package?

I am off to the studio to wrap some more as I need to get them in the mailing system very soon. I wish you a wonderful day of magic and creativity and hope you stop to enjoy the season.

Happy Holly Jolly Joy...

Halloween Gift Quickie...

Let's see what we will need...Fabric, Felt, Ribbon, Scissors, Glue (optional), Sewing Machine (or hand sew)...what else...CHOCOLATE bars (non eaten preferably!).

This technique has been done many ways especially with paper. I thought it would be fun to use felt and fabric and ribbon. After the chocolate bar is gone (usually in a matter of seconds with me around) this wrap could be used for drink cups or journals or what ever you think of to wrap.

I stitch everything together with my zig zag stitch on the sewing machine. I only use a dab of glue stick to hold the fabric to the felt for stitching. The ribbon is long enough to wrap completely around the bar and tie in the front. Very easy to make.

After the photo was taken I added a small orange tag with the recipient's name and tied to the ribbon was also an orange, yellow and white pony bead to look like candy corn.

Truthfully I don't think anyone cared about the cute wrap however they all loved the chocolate bar beneath it.

This is an easy and inexpensive way to use scraps and give a little gift to lots of people who love chocolate. Of course I try to personalize the type of chocolate to each of the recipients likes but that is not necessary at all.

I have one made for Mr. C and after he tears off the cute Halloween wrap I know he would just throw it away so it will be mine to re-use in another project. The creating just continues and I love that.

Happy creating...

Wrapping tip...

Here is my handy wrapping tip for this busy holiday season.

As you are wrapping presents and you are in a hurry and you still want to be safe...

Measure your paper around your gift and then fold the paper. Instead of grabbing the scissors and cutting the fold line or worse yet opening the scissors and sliding them down the fold line reach for your painting pallet knife and slide it down the fold line. The pallet knife is actually safer and it is offset so you can see what you are doing. I found it quite by accident and am really happy with using this method.

After 40 plus years I still bear a nasty scar from using the open scissor method which slid right through my hand between my thumb and forefinger.

Yes, you can go to the store and purchase a new fangled tool made by Scotch to slice your paper but who has time?

Let's use what we have and be safe all at the same time.

I hope this little handy tip will help you get those gifts wrapped safely.

There are those who love to wrap presents and make it quite a creative experience and there are those who will do most anything to not wrap gifts. I fall into the first category and learned how from my mom who was brilliant at making a gift look like a very special present made just for the recipient. It takes lots of time but with shortcuts like the pallet knife great wrapped packages are doable.

Merry Christmas to everyone and happy gift wrapping.