Fancy Wrappin'

It seems most people don't put a ton of effort into wrapping presents. "It's going to get ripped open anyway…what's the point?" Although this is a true statement, fancy wrappin' can make a present so much more desirable! Also, it doesn't have to cost as much as the present itself. Using a few common household items and left over scraps from previous crafts, you can make your gifts this season look beautiful. Instead of giving directions for this post, I will be giving hints and ideas.

What you'll need:

- Brown paper shopping bags (I like Trader Joes or Whole Food)

- Scissors

- Packing Tape

- Scraps of fabric

- Twine or Hemp

- String

- Letter Stamps and Ink Pad

- White paint pen

- Left over birch circles from the "Button Birch Garland" project

- Left over pillows from the "Pillow Garland" project

Ideas and Hints

1. Brown paper bags are GREAT for wrapping presents. They don't rip if you pull a corner too tight and the paper is a great foundation for other decorations. Also…they're free!
2. I like Whole Foods and Trader Joes bags because they often have cool designs on their bags that I can cut out and glue or tape to add color and interest.
3. I like to use packing tape with the brown paper because it holds better than regular scotch tape.
4. Use old scraps of fabric cut into strips to tie a bow. If your strips are too short, simply tie them together in a small knot to make them longer.
5. Use multiple strings, twines, or fabrics to tie a bow. It makes it more interesting and adds more volume to the bow.
6. Letter stamps are a great way to signify who the package belongs too.
7. Use a paint pen to draw designs or borders along the edges of your packages or the ribbons.
8. Left over pieces from either of my previous posts, "Button Birch Garland" or "Pillow Garland", are great additions to gift wrap. Glue the pillows at the base of the bow to add volume or thread the ribbons through the holes of the birch and tie a bow to add a rustic feel.

I hope these ideas have gotten your creative juices flowing. Happy Wrapping and Merry Christmas!