easy Christmas gift wrap ideas

Five days 'til Christmas! Let the frenzied wrapping beginning! Last year I shared an idea to let your inner child shine with sponge painted gift wrap. This year I'm taking the minimalist route - basic kraft paper, some pretty Christmas tissue wrapped around the present, perhaps a few gold or silver accents, fancy ribbon (or not-so-fancy twine or yarn), and a cute tag. Ok, maybe not minimalist, but simple! I've rounded up a collection of some of my favorite gift wrap ideas that will be sitting under our tree this Christmas. Enjoy!

First up, I found these silver bags for 2 for a $1 at the dollar store. I painted some mini polka dots with a gold paint pen. Then decorate a square tag from some leftover cardstock. Added a little sparkly twine to the tag and it's done. These are perfect for filling with homemade goodies from the kitchen. 

While browsing in Michaels a few weeks ago, I found a box of cute wood snowflakes for a little over a dollar. A little metallic paint helps them shine when attached to gifts with twine or ribbon. 

Or use that gold paint pen to embellish kraft paper with some festive gold lines.

Got a little girl on your list who's drawn to all things glittery and bright? Dress up plain kraft paper with a sparkly snowflake ornament and a silver tag. 

Remember those neon pot holder weaving kits from the 90s? The ones with the stretchy fabric loops? Here's a classier version of the woven look. Weave a Christmas ribbon around the package and tape it to the back of the package. Add a simple white tag and stick it under the tree.

Gifting goodies from your kitchen? I found these jars in the Target dollar spot. Two for $3! I painted polka dots with my trusty paint pen and added leftover labels from this bridal shower gift. Be sure to include a note to the recipient that the jars are hand wash only. I have plans to go buy myself some for our pantry. If there's any left by the time I get there that is...

Happy wrapping, my friends! Wishing you and yours a merry and joyous Christmas!  

 

diy painted mountain gift wrap

So...June. You know what this means? It's dad's turn for a little limelight. It's time to thank him for all his hard work over the years raising such completely perfect children ;) Finding dad just the right gift is your job (because finding my own dad's gift is hard enough sheesh!), but I can help with the gift wrap! Because even manly men deserve stylishly-wrapped thoughtful gifts.

While browsing the shops in Princeton last month, we stopped in one of the stationary stores because I'm like a bug drawn towards the light when it comes to anything paper and craft-like. One wall was filled with pricey gorgeous sheets of gift wrap draped over rods. There was a number of lovely patterns for the ladies and a few fun ones for the guys. I hereby request a wall of gift wrap just like that in my dream [on] craft room. Anyway, my Dad liked the old bicycle print. Cool, but I'm no artist and there's just no way I could ever re-create that print without a stamp or a printer. Brad liked the mustaches. Nice, but it's old news.

So that got me thinking. What do the men in my life love? Beef, mountains, bacon, fish, fire... Here's my first attempt at gift wrap made especially for the boys. The perfect way to jazz up some kraft paper for Father's Day or a birthday. P.S. There's no reason to keep this wrapping paper only for the boys. I know some lovely, stylish ladies who would love to receive a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted mountain scene on a gift.

Supplies

Kraft wrapping paper or bags

Green and brown acrylic paint

Small brushes

diy painted billy ball flowers & gift wrap

Billy balls. What a strange name for such cheerful little flowers. I could call them by their real name [I googled it for all you wanna-be-botanists], but craspedia doesn't sound any better to me than billy balls. How 'bout yellow pom pom flowers? Too long. Billy buttons? Too much like belly buttons. Billy bobs. Nope, that's just what the hubster calls them.

The original inspiration for the project came from my current love of polka dots, pom pom flowers and sunny spring colors. I considered making some of these dandelions pom poms to decorate our kitchen table. Then I saw this compilation of gorgeous flower arrangements and somehow my need to decorate morphed into a need to paint yellow billy balls. Makes perfect sense, right? Right??