One of the great rewards for finishing the holiday shopping early is having the luxury of time on your side when it comes to wrapping all of those gifts. That means there is time to get the rubber stamps out! Presentation is always important, whether we’re speaking of food or gifts. Here is a way to combine both.
A beautiful pair of chopsticks will look even more special in a handmade holder such as this. The chopsticks would make a welcome addition for guests attending an Asian-themed holiday dinner party. Match the colors to your décor or party decorations. You could also personalize them to match your guests’ favorite colors.
Gift bags are quite handy for oddly-shaped gifts. They are just right when you need to wrap in a hurry, too. Any time you decorate a gift bag, make an extra one or two while you have the supplies close at hand. On a day when you’re short on time, you’ll be glad you did. This gift bag exhibits a crisp, clean look, which is easily adaptable for any occasion or season. Feel free to adapt the colors. Brown Kraft bags are another option that would look great “dressed up” with stamps, a pouch, and a handmade gift tag.
Solid gift wrap can be enhanced with stamped images. Be sure to test the ink and paper combinations on a small swatch before embellishing a large piece. Because the paper is sometimes glossy, it’s a good idea to use permanent ink, such as Memories or Staz-On. Be sure to let the ink dry thoroughly before you wrap the gift. If you decide to decorate your own paper, why not make a matching gift tag, too?
Holiday crackers have long been a holiday tradition, and using a cardboard tube for wrapping instead of a rectangular box is especially apropos, because it replicates the cracker shape. This is a creative (and easy) way to disguise a small or unusually shaped gift. I chose to cover my tube with my own dyed mulberry paper, which is a favorite with “paper hounds”. It is durable, flexible and versatile. It’s my guess that the mulberry paper you dye will find its way into a future art project or collage. While the colors used in this paper are not traditional holiday colors, you may find them to be a refreshing change from the red and green of the season. When selecting colors for this project, be sure to choose colors that blend well. Don’t over-blend, as that could result in” muddy” colors.
