Gift Wrap Inspiration: From the Most Gifted Wrappers

Happy Monday and Happy Holidays!

There are only 9 more days until Christmas and I hope you’ve got all (or at least most) of your shopping done!  Now it’s time to wrap all those gift treasures and what better inspiration do you need then wrapping tips from the finalist in the 2012 Scotch Most Gifted Wrapper Contest.

Taking part in the contest was a highlight of my year and I learned lots of new wrapping tips from my fellow contestants.  So, to share the love I asked all the contestants to share a few of their favorite and most creative gift wrapping tips with all my readers.  You’ll definitely want to take notes and PIN these images because you are getting the 411 from some of the nations best gift wrappers!  Just call it my Christmas Gift to you.

Enjoy and be utterly inspired!

image courtesy of Ellinee

 

Our first most Gifted Wrapper is Lia!  Lia is the Creative Director of Elli Design Studio and was the winner of the Most Gift Wrapper Contest. Beautiful is the only way to describe the gifts wrapped by Lia!

 Lia’s gift wrapping tips…

• Use tissue paper and paper scraps to create beautiful embellishments for your gifts like paper flowers, paper bows and snowflake toppers.
• When a plain store-bought gift bag won’t do your gift justice, make your own using fancy wrapping paper and ribbon. 

 To see more of Lia’s gift wrapping ideas and view the tutorials for making paper flowers and gift bags,  check out the Ellinee Blog.  You’ll also find beautiful cards and stationery products in the Ellinee Shop!

image courtesy of Jolie Colis

Next up is Carol!  Carol is the owner and designer of Jolie Colis, The Perfect Parcel, an online custom gift wrapping shop.  Carol can work some magic with paper and ribbon and creates some of the most stylish gifts I’ve seen.

Carol’s gift wrapping tips…

• Create re-usable keepsake boxes by wrapping two-piece boxes separately, to avoid having to tear paper. It’s a pretty and green way to wrap a gift.
• Personalize gift boxes with photos instead of name tags. Not only is this incredibly cute and sentimental, it’s great for smaller kids who aren’t reading yet. They’ll see their face on the gift and know it’s for them.

The Jolie Colis website is filled with beautiful wrapping images and be sure to follow the Jolie Colis Blog for even more ideas and inspiration.

You can also buy Carol’s custom wrapped boxes via her Etsy Shop.

images courtesy of Shasta Blasta

Now let me introduce Shasta!  Shasta loves gift wrapping so much that she created a blog on the very subject.  Shasta loves to wrap with unique papers and color combinations which give here gifts even more style.

Shasta’s gift wrapping tips…

• Look at alternatives to traditional ribbon to wrap your gifts in.  One favorite idea is to create paper ribbons by wrapping gifts in contrasting paper bands.
• When you want a bold topper for your gift, create a paper fan topper that will add lots of pizazz!

Shasta’s blog,  Shastablasta Wraps Presents Well is where you’ll find more gift wrapping tips, craft projects and lots of amusement.

Shasta also has an Etsy shop where she sells letterpress cards and craft items.

photos courtesy of Stationery Station

 Our next Most Gifted Wrapper is Sheryl.  Sheryl is the owner of a great stationery and paper store in Chicago called Stationery Station.  Sheryl has been wrapping for years and love

Sheryl’s gift wrapping tips…

• Layers, Layers, Layers are the way to create beautifully wrapped gifts.  Create belly bands by layering several scraps pieces of paper together and wrapping them around a package.
• Use unusual and unexpected items like dried flowers, ornaments and craft beads to embellish your gifts.

If you live in Chicago, make sure to stop in and visit the Stationery Station or check out the Stationery Station website for more inspiration!

images courtesy of Michelle Beshaw

 Next up is Michelle.  Michelle is a uber talented Theatre Artist and Puppeteer from Brooklyn.  Having worked at one of my favorite stores, Kate’s Paperie for years, Michelle knows the ins and outs of creating beautiful gift wrapping.  Her forte’ is elegant embellishments.

Michelle’s gift wrapping tips…

• Use glitter as a way to embellish plain paper and gift wrap accents.  The white swirls on the gift above were created with chunky white glitter!
• Another way to add interest to your gift wrap paper is by sewing papers together to create layers ( see package with red velvet ribbon).

You can follow Michelle at here blog, Michelle Beshaw Blog or find more of her inspiration on her website, Michelle Beshaw!

Two of the other contestants were not able to take part in this blog post as they are SUPER busy wrapping gifts and running businesses this time of year.

• Michelle at Playthings Toy Shoppe in Louisville, KY.  Michelle is co-owner of this incredible toy store and can wrap any size and shape of toy that comes her way!
• Brenda is keeping busy managing a Papyrus store in California.  If you’re looking for beautiful wrapping paper, Papyrus is definitely a store you want to check out.  I just purchased a few sheets of beautiful paper there last week.

And, of course I couldn’t end without giving you a few gift wrapping tips of my own.  If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know I love to take everyday items and use them as part of my gift wrapping.  The unexpected is what gives my gifts their style!

I picked up a pack of pretty holiday paper plates and immediately thought they’d look great as a gift topper.  I punched a hole top and bottom, inserted ribbon and wrapped my box.    If you’re someone who decorates with a theme, you could also use the plates as part of your holiday dining table décor or even as ornaments on the tree.

Looking for a fun gift tag or package topper idea, how about paper wine bottle tags?  I picked these up at HomeGoods for $1.99 for a pk. of 10.  Wine tags already have a To: and From: area so they are an ideal option as a creative gift tag!

Whew, that’s a lot great ideas to absorb!  Now it’s time to get wrapping so get going!

  I’ll be guest posting tomorrow over at Rhonda E. Peterson’s blog Stylish Places Designed for Living so be sure to check out the fun holiday decorating ideas I’ll be sharing!

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Christmas Candles–The Best of the Bunch!

I love to burn candles in my home all year round but during the holidays I love nothing more than filling my home with the scent of the holidays. Over the years I’ve tried just about every holiday candle on the market and so many of them were disappointing when it came to a strong and lasting scent.  There are a few however that made the grade and have become my all time favorite holiday candles. 

 

Here’s the round-up, perfect for gifting to yourself or others!

Nest Holiday Candle–available at Neiman Marcus  $32.00

A friend gave me one of these candles as a gift and I instantly fell in love.  Not only is the scent fabulous but the jar is something you’ll want to hang on to long after the candle is spent.

Archipelago Frosted Cedar–$24.50

You may not be able to pronounce the name but Archipelago candles are easy to remember because their holiday scents are incredible and one of the best candles on the market.  They offer lots of different container options but I love their classic glass jar.

Nouvelle Savannah Holly–$37.00  in decorative ceramic urn.  Also available in glass jar, votive and tin.

I am a big fan of Nouvelle Candle and especially love their holiday collection.  Their ceramic urn candles can easily be incorporated into your holiday decor and make an impressive gift.

Thymes Frasier Fur–$28.00

I know many people, myself included that swear by Thymes Frasier Fir.  It is the real deal when it comes to an authentic fresh pine scent!

Votivo Christmas Sage–$28.00

When I had my retail store, I had the pleasure of spending a day at the Votivo factory seeing how the create their wonderful candles.  Their candles burn clean (no soot) and smell great until the end. And, the silver mercury jar is stunning.  I use them on my desk after the candle is gone.

Illume Balsam & Cedar Pillar Candle–$31.50

It is often hard to find a great holiday scented pillar candle during the holidays so if you find the Illume Balsam and Cedar candle make sure to buy it.  This is another authentic pine scent that will fill your house with joy!

Because I have personally tried each and every one of these candles, you can take my word on it that these are the best holiday scents on the market!

Happy Holidays!

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Holiday Wreaths–Easy DIY Looks

I ran into Hobby Lobby over the weekend and was amazed at how much of their Christmas decor has already sold.  It’s obvious that people are trying to get a jump on the holiday so, if you are the DIY type, now is the time to start planning and making your holiday wreath.  To give you a some inspiration, I’ve rounded up 5 of My Favorite Holiday DIY Wreath Projects to share with you.  What I love about each of these wreaths is that they are unique, elegant and EASY!

 How to:  Wire different sizes of silver stars to the upper part of a fresh wreath!  I love that the entire wreath is not decorated, giving it a more whimsical feel.

Isn’t this paper wreath magnificent?  You can learn how to make one for yourself here!

How to: To craft this door adornment, wrap Styrofoam balls (in two different sizes) and  a Styrofoam wreath form with colored yarn. Then use a glue gun to affix the balls onto the form. Note: If you’re hanging your final creation  outdoors, be sure to spray it with a protective finish.

Here’s the same concept, created in different colors with a few glossy ornaments added in for contrast!

 How to:  Wrap small boxes in coordinating papers, tie with a simple ribbon and glue to a wire or wood wreath form.

And finally, the ever popular book page wreath. I love the organic feel of book page wreaths and that you can create different looks just by how you place the roll and place the pages.  I created my own version last year which you can see here!

For instructions on making a basic book page wreath, head here!

Happy Crafting!

 

all images can be found on my Merry, Merry Pinterest board!

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Scenes from the Weekend: Planning for Christmas

Happy Monday!

Did you gets lots accomplished this weekend?  I certainly did! 

Most of what I did revolved around getting ready for Christmas.

I crafted lots of new items for my shop…

I spent time creating a holiday decorating plan for a client.  Decorating with these pieces will be fun!

I picked up this magazine while running through Home Depot.  If you’re looking for some Christmas inspiration this is definitely a magazine you want to buy.

And, I decided how I was going to decorate my Christmas Tree and wrap my gift this year!

 Originally I was thinking of  a black, red and white theme but decided to go with a more colorful and artist look after stumbling upon this inspiration photo. 

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 I love these jeweled toned colors and was inspired to pull out the mosaic ornaments I made about 9 years ago. Yes, I sat in front of the TV for nights on end and swirled paint inside about 90 clear glass ornaments.

Here’s a look at my theme …

 

I’m planning on decorating my tree with nothing but my collection of mosaic ornaments and maybe a few solid silver ornaments buried deep in the tree to add some extra shine and shimmer.

I’m going to wrap all my gifts in solid colored paper and use contrasting color ribbons as the accent.

 Oh how I love ribbon and wrapping!

I’ll be using these festive paper plates,

and this thrift store sweater in fun ways.  Stay tuned!

Every year I try to do something different with my decor, investing in only a few new things and re-using what I have in new ways. Even though we’ll be traveling for Christmas and I’ll be busy as all get-out between now and then, I can’t wait for the tree to go up and the lights to sparkle!

So, did anyone else have Christmas on their mind over the weekend?

I’ll be sharing the first of my holiday gift guides later this week so make sure to come back for a visit.

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Scenes from The Weekend

Happy November! 

I can’t believe we are in the final stretch of 2012.  And, I really can’t believe that Christmas is only 8 weeks away!

I am about dive head first into a super busy time of year so this weekend was spent doing a lot of prep work for the upcoming holiday season.

On Friday the hubs and I got up early and hit the voting precinct at 7:00 am to vote.  We only had to stand in line for about an hour and then treated ourselves to a yummy breakfast afterwards.  I’m really glad we did early voting because I think the voting lines are going to be monstrous on Tuesday.

 After breakfast we hit a couple of flea markets and thrift stores.  I scored this awesome vintage tinsel garland which will be available in the Christmas section of my shop later this week.

 We also stopped by a wholesale packaging store so I could pick up some new gift bags to ship my items in.

On Saturday, I spent a good part of my day doing Design Workshops at a local retail store here in Atlanta, Smith’s.  The turn out was amazing and the group was so enthusiastic!  I love teaching and sharing my passion of design and decorating!

I’ll be teaching a new series of classes at their other location on Nov. 17th so stop by if you live in Atlanta.

I did manage a little time this weekend to catch up on some magazine reading.  I always look forward to the December issue of O Magazine and Oprah’s Favorite Things.  Have you checked out the list?  What’s you favorite item?

p.s. The cover of the magazine is gorgeous and Oprah looks stunning in that color combo!

 I also kept busy scheduling Christmas decorating appointments with my clients!  Such fun.  I really never get tired of decorating for Christmas!

And….

 I began flushing out my personal decorating plan for Christmas.  I’ll be sharing a sneak peek later in the week.

I read this great article entitled 9 Things Successful People Do Differently!  Lots of great info you can apply to both your personal and professional life.

I also did a little late night browsing on Pinterest adding to my pin count and spotted this saying which I thought was perfect for this time of year…

Make a little time to Celebrate this week!

 

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Creative Ways to Accent Your Dining Table with Napkins

When it comes to setting your table for a special occasion or holiday celebration, it’s the little touches that you do with your tablescape that really make it stand out. 

Little touches like incorporating your dinner napkins into your tablescape in an unexpected and unique way….

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I love the idea of placing the dinner napkins on the backs of the chairs.  Monogrammed or embroidered dinner napkins are perfect for this and will add an element of style to the tablescape.

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A colorful dinner napkin is all it takes to make a table come to life.  When using clear plates, a dinner napkin place under the plates will provide the perfect visual impact.

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I love the triangular tail of this dinner napkin over the plate.  The point breaks provides contrast to all the circular elements on the table.

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A bow tie fold is such a fun look for a ladies lunch, bridal shower or elegant dinner party.  You can accent the center of the napkin with just about anything depending on your party theme.

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Let your napkins do double duty by creating a pocket in the fold and tucking the menu card inside.  A simple iron on number transfer serves as the place marker.

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This is one of my favorite looks and is the perfect accent to square dinner plates.  Layering is the key to a dynamic table and the napkin enhances it all.

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And if you’re into napkin folding, how about a whimsical touch for a spring brunch or easter dinner!

 

I’m in the midst of pulling together my fall tablescape and I’m inspired to try something new with my dinner napkins.  Stay tuned for the results!

 

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Christmas In July–Plans in the Making

Christmas is just over 5 months away and believe it or not, I’ve already begun thinking about what Christmas Decor theme I’m going to do this year. 

Last year I went with a simple theme of burlap, mercury glass, sheet music and red. 

{ ConfettiStyle Christmas Decor, 2011}

This year I think I want to do a more colorful and whimsical theme. 

Here are a few of the projects I’m thinking about incorporating into my holiday decor.

Grouping a bright collection of Ornaments Under Glass.  So simple and chic!

Wrapping gifts in Eclectic Giftwrap and fun embellishments!  How cheery!

I always like making ornaments for my tree and may give these Handmade Felt Ornaments a try!

I love the idea of an Advent Calender but want something that is fun and whimsical like this metal tin Countdown Calendar!  What fun on the front of the fridge.

I just may try making a fun assortment of eclectic Paper Trees to place around the house!

These Hand stamped Christmas Stockings and a fun Christmas Saying Sign would make a great impact statement for Christmas 2012.

I’m excited about the upcoming holiday season and will continue to flush out ideas on how I can make my decor this year really special and really fun.  Stay tuned for updates!

 

 If you’d like help creating a holiday decorating plan for your home, email me about my holiday design services!

You can check out some of my client project here and see all the details of my 2011 Holiday Decor here and here!

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Tablescapes to Admire

It’s been a while since I’ve done a post about beautiful tablescapes but since we are in the midst of wedding and party season, I thought I’d share a few of my latest tablescape inspirations!

Enjoy!

 

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Mercury Glass is one of my favorite materials to incorporate into any type of decor.  When used a part of a table scape the entire table takes on a glamorous and chic feel.  Grouping different sizes and styles of vessels keeps the tablescape interesting and eclectic.

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Sometimes simplicity is the best formula.  I love the theme of square elements used on this party table.. square menus, plates, candle and centerpiece. 

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One of the easiest ways to make your party table stand out is with an unexpected table-cloth option.  Consider fabric pieces, scarves or elaborate runners in multiples to add impact.

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I so adore this look combining black and white with gold and a pop color.  The color combination are endless and the placemats are a great DIY project using gold tape!

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Fruit is an inexpensive way to dress a table.  I love how the lemons are used to create a runner down the center of this table adding bold color and visual impact.

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Paper Confetti is right up my alley!  What a fun way to add a really festive touch to a table.

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We’re so use to seeing round charger plates so this table with square charger is so refreshing.  The clear plates allow the color to show through and help to keep the table feeling modern and classic.  Glass plates are so versatile and definitely an entertaining essential!

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It has never crossed my mind to use decorative tiles to create a table runner…brilliant!

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Creating a beautiful tablescape is one of the best parts of planning a party don’t you think?

 

I hope you found as much inspiration in these beautiful images as I did! 

There’s even more over at my Party Decor Pinterest Board.

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