Wreath Chandelier and Ball Garland

Hey Friends!  

Come see me over at Under the Table and Dreaming for a fun Handmade Holidays series where I share the tutorial to make this Wreath Chandelier and the little Ball Garland underneath. There are some pretty incredible Christmas posts to get your holiday inspiration on! Just click the button and you are there!

DIY Fabric and Paper Twist Ties

Just a quick tutorial to share how to make festive twist ties. The possibilities are endless with this packaging DIY.  I love the idea of custom twistie ties...you can customize them to your packaging.  These cuties are perfect for food gifts, sweet little favors, or tiny stocking stuffers.

I  actually experimented with all of these and I ended up liking the fabric and paper the best.  The washi tape works well too but if you twist these TOO much the paper can rip.  So if you want to use paper, use more then two layers and make sure your twist tie is not too thick. I was not a fan of the wrapping paper. It was too thin. Grosgrain ribbon was really hard to glue together but the eyelet ribbon above worked great. But my ultimate go to material for this is definitely:  Fabric scraps. But try different things out and see how it works for you and school me on your mad tricks and tips. :)

Fabric scraps, scrapbook paper/cardstock, ribbon, washi or paper tape

Fabric and/or craft glue
scissors

paddle wire  (or other kind of floral wire)

The process is pretty simple.  Cut out strips to desired length, cut some paddle wire and fold in half (if desired), line the fabric with glue and fold over.  You could also lay an additional layer of fabric on the top but be sure you are thorough with sealing it closed with glue.

With washi tape I just folded it over and it stuck together.

Did that even require mentioning?

And of course with paper, I used craft glue but a very thin layer to seal it closed.  I found if I made it too gooey, the paper would soften and tear.

I decided to wrap these cute coasters and use a coordinating twist tie. I got on the bandwagon of these fun tile coasters made with mod podge and scrapbook paper and seriously...the easiest craft on the planet.  And such an awesome result.  The ceramic tiles cost me 16¢ at Home Depot and I used paper I had on hand. 

I wrapped them up and used a matching twist tie. Now I have a cute, coordinating package.

And sorry to be so blog absent lately.  I have 2 more deadlines by Thanksgiving to meet and I am rushing to get them done.  I will fit a few more goodies in through Thanksgiving so I hope and pray you are up on your blog reading! 

I will be...we literally have NO PLANS FOR THANKSGIVING!  Ours kind of changed last minute. One of you can invite me over and I will bring a yummy dessert.  Maybe an apple cream cheese tart from Martha that I have made for YEARS.  It is truly a blissful caloric experience.

Oh and if you have flyer miles for a family of four that would help too.

And clothes for cold winter if you live where it cold.

And maybe a lesson on etiquette since I am asking myself to your Thanksgiving.

I'm done now.

Happy Packaging!
♥

This post brought to you by:

Pom Pom + Washi Tape Gift Tags

So my preoccupation with all things yarn continues.  And as most of you probably already know...making a pom pom can be rather addicting.  They are so fun, so colorful, and I thought to myself...something this fun should be on a stick. Seriously, aren't things cuter on a stick?

So that is just what I did.  

After gluing them on lollipop sticks I added some washi tape for a sweet little message.

{Oh and I have already made several sets of these for my soon to happen shop!}

I also decided that making little pockets on a gift would crank up the cuteness factor.  

To make the pockets I used leftover paint chips.

 I used washi tape and double sided tape to secure the pockets.

 This one I just folded over and taped the edges but left a little space by the fold for the stick to slide into.

So fun!

 But of course my favorite is with a little bit of simplicity.

Just taping it to the gift with some extra washi tape.

This makes me happy. :)

Would any of you be willing to purchase gift tags like these? 

(I'm curious) :)

I know I would which is why I made them.  And I really don't mind sharing them with you.

It's more fun to share.

Right?

♥

Pretty Packages: Natural & Vintage

A whole new round of packaging ideas to try!  As much as I love the peppermint and lace theme, this one also makes my heart beat just a little faster.  I find myself uncontrollably drawn to vintage fabrics, natural textures, and I love the shabby and worn look of burlap. So I came up with a few more packaging designs to share.

I kept a neutral palette using brown and white kraft paper and also a brown paper bag.  The embellishments are made using wonderfully different textures like lace, vintage fabrics, satin, a paper doily, a wood tag, a clay tag, raffia, twine and burlap.

This simple paper bag is secured with a fabric wrapped dowel ties on both ends with twine. I folded the paper bag closed and using a hole punch, made two holes and slid the dowel through the holes.  Then I wrapped the bag vertically with satin and lace ribbon and tied it off.

The tag is made of camphor wood from the tree in my front yard. I actually made these over a few weeks and every time my girls went outside to play, I would just start sawing. :)  I made about 50 circles from a branch and drilled holes in them to create tags. The wood tag is stamped with mini alpha stamps and threaded with twine.

I love this one a lot too.  This is a clay tag and using a CLEAN set of alpha stamps, I made the word rejoice and used twine as well.  It is wrapped with ripped strips of vintage fabric and just tied around a few times.

Here's the same fabric around a large wooden spool and used as a ribbon in the center. I love all the frayed edges so much!  I also wrapped a paper doily around the one edge.  The spool is tied on by the selvedge edge of the fabric.  (I waste nothing!)

How crazy fun is this raffia pom pom?  I was staring at this huge bag of raffia and thought of making a pom pom out of it would be just ADORABLE!  I love how it ended up turning out so spiky and sweet. A smaller paper doily girls it up a bit and softens the look. :)

Oh this fabric bow is what truly makes my heart go pitter patter.  I adore this particular one so much (that I  saved it for last) because it appeals to my love of texture.  I just roughly cut several strips of fabric (lace, burlap, linen, satin) and piled it all in a big stack.  Then I tied it off tightly with some twine threaded with a wooden bead and then kind of fluffed it out into an almost flower pattern.

I just loooooove pretty, pretty packaging!

Hugs!

♥

P.S. I heard a rumor that I might...just might...have an ETSY shop opening with some packaging goodies like the ones I will be sharing over the next few weeks. But it might just be a rumor. We shall see.

(check out sweet Andrea's guest post at 36th Avenue woo hoo!)

Pretty Packages: Peppermint and Lace Theme

WOO HOO! I get to show you my first packaging idea of the season! This one is my favorite combination and the colors feel festive and happy!

I have bestowed my pretty packages with a theme I like to call Peppermint & Lace which inspired my... 

CHRISTMAS BLOG MAKEOVER! 

 I already decorated around here...can you stand it? 

My precious friend Amy who did my original design...more then came through for me on this one.  When I came to her with an idea, she literally wowed me once again with her fabulous, "perfect for me" style.  

I could not be more smitten with it...or her! Thanks sweet Amy!

Over the next few months I hope to share different styles and ideas of packaging with you since packaging happens to be one of my heart loves.  Don't you think a pretty package is like getting an extra special treat in addition to the goody inside? And who does not need fun wrapping ideas and other Christmas craft inspiration? 

I DO! I DO!

Now let's talk packaging!

First up...this little bag is made from waxed tissue paper. Does it look familiar to some of you?  Yep...I wrapped the deli sandwiches in this for my girl's picnic party and I decided to craft up the leftovers.

Add some bakers twine and stuff it with a little doily...

you got yourself the cutest little bag in the whole wide world.

This little ruffle bow was made with polka dot wrapping paper and the striped wax paper.  I decoupaged a little wood bead with it and wrapped it around the box several times with baker's twine.

This little box is probably my favorite.  

I decoupaged a button this time and used the twine for this simple wrap job.  And I added a little lace flag as an embellishment. 

Oh and the box?  I spray painted the blue snowman cookie tin white.  Perfection.

Hello there little white lunch bag!  Who would have thought a humble white bag could get so much love and attention, right?  The top is just folded over with a piece of wrapping paper and clipped closed with two mini clothespins holding a twine bow. I added a little square of scrapbook paper with a glue stick to make a pocket and stuffed it with lace and added a white yarn pom pom on a lollipop stick wrapped with twine. 

 The end of the twine holds a little wooden spool. 

Here's a little bunting I made to wrap around a larger gift like a shirt box made from twine, red felt, the striped wax paper, and lace.  I just adore it!

I would love to hear what you guys think of this themed packaging!

Other packaging styles and ideas to come...

HUGS & Smiles!!

xoxo

♥
this post sponsored by:

A Portable Gift Wrap Station: 3 Simple Ideas

 
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to do Christmas posts for an ENTIRE YEAR! And I know Halloween is barely over but I just can't wait any longer.   I have an inspiration board full of envelopes, receipts, and grocery lists full of ideas that would come to me and I would scribble them down before I forgot them. Now I get to put them into fun posts over the next few months.

I am a bit giddy about it. ♥

So what better way to kick off my Christmasy stuff then a post about getting organized with all our pretty holiday wrapping supplies?  I, for one, feel absolutely ready to conquer ANYTHING when I get organized.  So I came up 3 ideas using what I have around the house and I am so excited to share them with you wonderful friends!

Number 1:  Market Cart
I found this cutie at a yard sale.  This fun find was needing some major TLC.  I bought him for $5 bucks and after some sanding, a fresh coat of spray paint with a kind of undefinable color that I totally adore (called Catalina Mist) it's got a fresher look! I even wrapped the handle with some thick, comfy yarn (until I can make a fabric handle) for more simple character.  I love how roomy it is for all my wrapping paper and supplies.  I thought another great find would be one of those small vintage wire grocery carts for storage.  That would be cuuuuute!

I rigged a little dowel rod for twine and ribbon in the middle.

One end holds scissors, tape, and some other ribbon...

...the other side has some washi tape and a little bucket full of tags.

The white bucket holds tissue paper, bags and other wrapping supplies.

I absolutely love my little portable wrapping cart and it has a nice little home in my craft room!

♥

Number 2: Shallow Metal Wire Basket
Obviously, not everyone has a wheeled market cart.  So I came up with a more attainable idea. This basket is from IKEA and is actually one of the powder coated steel basket drawers.  But you can buy them separately and use one of these as a nice wrapping caddy to stow under a bed or at the bottom of a closet until you need it.
Just thread your trusty dowel through the holes to keep your ribbon and twine handy and all your other essentials are at arms reach. And with the basket being shallow, you can see everything at a glance.

Number 3: White Wastebasket

Simple is sometimes best.  Just pile your wrapping gear in an inexpensive white wire waste basket and you are all set! Use a dowel standing up on end for your ribbon and twine.

Throw in a little pencil case with scissors, tape, and some tags.  There you go!  Simple and perfect to stow in the corner out of the way.

Now that we have ideas to get organized, I will be back tomorrow or the next with some pretty packaging ideas. I can't WAIT to share them with you! I can't promise to post every day.  But I promise to share as many ideas as I can with you.  This is going to be fun...I just know it!

Merry Hugs!

♥

this post sponsored by:

Andrea's blog has some beautiful projects ♥

linking to: 

the 36th avenue

show and share

a crafty soiree

It's beginning...

...to look a lot like Christmas around here!

Stayed tuned my sweet friends...

the fun starts tomorrow!

♥