Odd Shaped Gifts Wrapping

I can't believe Christmas is almost here. Yay! This is definitely my favorite time of the year because one of my pleasures is to give gifts, and watch people's reaction - especially children's- when they open them. Some of the presents though are difficult to wrap because of their odd shape. Like stuffed animals for instance. What to do? Just throw them in a bag? Wrap them in cellophane paper and ruin the surprise? NO! You want to do more than that. So here is a simple and reasonable solution: Round VINYL TABLECLOTH. Really? That cheap thing with flannel inside? Yep. Look at this.

 I had a stuffed reindeer to wrap,

so I opened the tablecloth on my bed,  sat the reindeer in the middle of it,  pulled up all the 'sides', tied it with an 1/8 in ribbon, added a bow, and trimmed the excess from the top. Voila! My reindeer was wrapped in less then 10 minutes, and the package looks cute.
Plastic tablecloths will work too. The paper ones won't because they would be just like wrapping paper. 
Now you have another idea to wrap that cute stuffed animal you bought for a special someone in your life.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a very blessed day.

     Vanías Reed    

A Christmas Tip: Two Ideas Wrapped in One

Brown bag as gift wrapping. What a simple, but creative idea! Decorate it and use it for a "Christmas Favorite Thing Party". What is a Favorite Thing Party? I'm glad you asked. Each guest brings their favorite item (5 of the same thing) costing no more than $10.00, and a favorite treat or dish to share with everyone! Great idea for us who are tired of White Elephant and Secret Santa. 

I found some of the ideas above in websites and added my own touch. 

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you. 

Vanias Reed    

Candy Style Gift Box - Free Printable Template

Valentine's Day became a big holiday for couples. But I've been blessed with a husband that doesn't wait for Valentine's Day to give me a little something. Once in a while he likes to give me a treat like my favorite candy bar or a rose 'just because...' So, even if you already have a gift and/ or a card for your Valentine, keep this box in mind for any other occasions or 'NOT occasions'. The possibilities are endless. Just change the cover. 

Supplies used
Paper: white cardboard, white with red polka-dots scrapbook paper
Tools: template, 1/4" circle punch, spray adhesive
Embellishments: red bows + optional embellishments shown in pictures below

Template (12"x 12" paper)

Right click on picture to save to your computer and/or print.

After cutting white cardbord, spray it with spray adhesive and glue it to a 12" x 12" scrapbook paper. Let it dray well before cutting and folding.

Some embellishments options

 Thank you for visiting my blog. Happy Thanksgiving.

Vanias Reed   

 

Gift Wrapping

Some of the ladies in my gift-wrapping class say that they have tried hard, but seem not to be able to wrap presents very well. Some just like bags better. I don't see anything wrong with gift bags. Sometimes I prefer them too. Yet I like to make them personal, one of a kind. So today I'm sharing with you a bag that I decorated a bit to give to a dear friend.

Supplies Used
Paper: Red bag, white and red cardstock
Tools: 1" circle punch to make the borders on my sticker
Embellishments: Homemade sticker, white (bow) and red (bag handles) ribbons, red gemstone, Christmas gift tag (see my post from 10/01/13)

Now we have a personalized gift bag that tells the person who is receiving it that they are special.

Thank you for checking out my blog. My the CHRIST of CHRISTmas bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed   

Penguin Gift Bag

If you are a teacher,  you are probably thinking of a little something to give to your students for Christmas. Some teachers like to give candy, some prefer to give little toys, or books, bookmarks (see my animal print bookmarks idea)... Whatever your choice is, you will need wrapping. You can buy those plastic favor bags from a store or you can give something more personal. That's why I'm posting a bag that I made for my students as an idea for you.

I used both the bow tie and the snowflake here in order not to post too many pictures, but you will use either one or the other.

 Supplies used
Paper: Small red bag - I bought them in bulk- black, white, orange and red cardstock
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, top note die, triangle, oval and circle punches
Embellishments: bow tie (for boys), snowflake (for girls), clear gemstone.

You can add a personalized gift tag (see my Christmas gift tags) for each bag, and switch the eyes for big wiggly eyes. 
Thank you for visiting my blog, and may the Lord of the Lords give you a wonderful week.

Vanias Reed    

 

Silver Anniversary

A dear couple, related to may family, just celebrated their silver anniversary. What a special occasion! So the card and the gift wrapping tip I'm posting today are the very ones I made for them. Here is the card first.

 Supplies used
Paper: White, silver and black carstock (the Paper Studios)
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine (Sizzix), embossing folder (Darice), scalloped heart puncher, plain heart puncher, 1" circle puncher (for the corners of the sentiment phrase label), computer and printer
Embellishment: Silver numbers 2 and 5, clear gemstones, silver glittered letters, see through white ribbon, silver twine, pearl dove stickers

 The gift wrapping

The paper I used had 2.5" silver stripes, so I could use them to embellish my wrapping by folding them in on both sides. 
Supplies used
Paper: roses and silver stripes wrapping paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, standard circle dies (Spellbinders), 3D 7/16" foam mounting circle.
Embellishment: Wired silver ribbon, 1/2" heart white lace, silver and white card stock paper, silver numbers 2 and 5

I put a circle of silver paper on the back of the lace before attaching it to the bow with the foam mounting circle.
As you can see, I try to make my presents, wrapping and cards as personal as possible. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. God bless you.

                                                                                                                              Vanias Reed

Gift Box - No glue needed

After posting the pillow box and the box bag, I decided to post a little box that I use for small gifts like jewelry, for instance. Remember that you can always make the boxes I post bigger or smaller then their original size. So here is the little box with its template.

 Supplies Used
Paper: plaid (black, white and grey) cardstock 
Tools: template, scissors
Embellishments: black bow and pearl

Template

One of the things about this box is that there is no need for glue to build it, which makes it much less messy.

Thank you for checking out my blog. Have a blessed time crafting!

Vanias Reed   

Box bag

I posted a pillow box a few months ago and did not get back to posting more gift wraps. Today I'm posting a gift box that looks like a cute bag, and as my gift to you, I'm posting the bag template too. Enjoy.

 

 Supplies used:
Paper: brown with light pink polka dots cardstock
Embellishments: golden bow

Here are some extra pictures and the template for you. 

 Right click on the pictures to save in your computer and/ or to print. Use the % to print to  bigger or smaller.

Please let me know if you have any questions on how to build the box. And thank you again for stopping by. Many blessings.

Vanias Reed        

Pillow Box

We have learned how to make gift bags and square boxes, now we are going to make a pillow box. Pillow boxes are so cute  and fun. So here is the one I made. There is a template for you too. Enjoy.

 Paper: purple cardstock.
Tools: 1/8" punch, scissors, paper creaser, craft knife and rule
Embellishments: 1/4" white ribbon and silver 'pearl'
Extras: Computer and printer

Right click on the picture to save in your computer and/or print. If you want to make a printer box, adjust your printer to custom and enlarge the picture.

 

Cut the template, place it on the cardstock paper and trace the box. Cut it on the black line. Fold it on the dotted lines. Punch two holes on the top flap, fold it over the box and mark where the two other wholes will be punched. Pass the ribbon through the holes and make a bow. Add the embellishment of your preference. The top of the box will be closed. But, like any pillow box, the sides will be used to put the gift in, and to get it out as well.

I hope you have as much fun making this project as I did.

Happy Crafting.

Vanias Reed    

 

Gift Bag 2

We made a gift back a couple of weeks ago, and I decided to change it a little. Here is the other bag.

 As you can see, this bag has a handle on the top, the top flap is bigger and it closes.

You will fold the top wider than the bag #1, punch the small holes, and settle the eyelets there. 

  Use a ribbon to make the handle. Pass both ends through the holes and glue them to the paper. Score and crease top of bag at 1" and paste over the ends of handle.

Cut a 3"x 5" piece of the same paper or a matching one, crease at 1/4" and glue it to the top of the bag to make the top flap. Decorate it as you please.

 

Glue pieces of velcro on both top flap and bag to close it.

And here is your final product

 

The side and the bottom of the bag will look the same as bag #1

Let me know if you need anymore information on how to make the gift bags.

Happy crafting!

Vanias Reed     

Gift Bag

A couple of months ago we learned how to make a box. Today we are going to make a gift bag. 

Handle and bow made with the same ribbon

 Gift Bag Tutorial

Take a 12” x 12” sheet of paper and cut to 9” x 12”

Score at 5” and 7”

Turn the paper and score the bottom at 2”

Crease the lines to fold, and cut on the other lines as shown on template

Cut the 3” x 12” strip to 3” x 9”. Score at ½” and 2 ½”

Turn the paper and score the bottom at 2”

Trim away the outer ½” pieces

Use runner adhesive to adhere the side panel (3”x 9” strip) to the main piece, one side at a time.
Fold the flaps at the base and paste them. Score top flap at ¼” and 1” and fold over the bag

Punch holes through the top of the bag, including the  flap.

Put eyelets to make the handle support stronger and for a better finishing.

Decorate your bag as you please.

 

Gift bag attempt to template

side strip        

Adhesive on side strip

The side will look like this

Top flap

Eyelets

 

Handles, lace and a pin to decorate.

Now you know how to make a box and a bag. To make a bigger bag just use a bigger piece of paper and change the measurement proportionally.

Happy gift giving!

Vanias Reed    

   

Gift Box

Whether we obey the three-day rule or not, we all know that sending a thank you note to someone who gave us a gift is the right thing to do. But why stop there? Sure we can make a cute card, but why not do something different? Why not thank someone for a gift with another gift? Nothing major, but something that will say, " I really appreciate your thoughtfulness". Like a few cookies, or a couple of candy bars. Stretch that idea a little bit and make the box for the gift too. 
With that in mind, I decided to post the directions to make a gift box. I made a small one as an example, but you can make it in any size. Let's do it? 

 The material and the instructions you will need are in the pictures below.

A square piece of paper with the pattern of your choice

Turn the paper with white side up and draw a line from one corner to the other on both sides

Fold the corners toward the center

Make sure the four corners are folded as shown

Fold one side like this

Then the other side. Press firmly to mark the paper.

Open the folded sides, turn your square and fold the other two sides

 Cut the paper just where shown with precision scissors.

Repeat the procedure, and do it on the opposite side too.

When open, it will look like this on both sides.

Glue the corners of the sides that were not cut on the inside bottom of your box

Fold the cut sides as shown.

Glue the open sides over the ones folded like this.

This is how the bottom of your box should look like.

Cut another square piece of paper of the same pattern 0.2-inch bigger than the first one and repeat the entire process.

Now you have a lid for your box.

I didn't close the lid all the way to show how they fit perfectly.

Now it is closed all the way and decorated. The tag is handmade too of course.

Now I can put a few kisses and a little note in this one, and give it to my husband after Valentine's Day, or my birthday.
How about you? What are you going to use your box for? Let me know.

Vanias Reed