HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Jingle Bells Take-Out Box. Photo by Ed Rudolph.
The gift of creativity is truly one from the heart. Make your holiday gifts stand out under a Christmas tree or on a party gift table this season by wrapping them up with one of these unique ideas.
Whether your style is to cover a hatbox with luxe-look paper and black patent leather letter stickers or recycle antique finds from your attic to add a sense of nostalgia to your wrapping, you'll find a range of ideas for little ones, chic pals, and those who simply appreciate a fabulous gift presentation.
Revamp an ordinary take-out box into an adorable holiday gift box with a musical touch.
Preparation
Materials:
- Green, red or white take-out box (available at many craft stores)
- Mini jingle bells with a metal loop or hook on top (available at many craft stores)
- Red and green beads
- Holiday design paper
- Scissors
- Decorative edge scissors
- Double-stick tape
- Red ribbon
Steps
- Open the take-out box and unbend the metal wire inside that keeps the box together at the end of the handle. (Tip: Use needle nose pliers).
- Thread mini jingle bells and red and green beads in a alternating pattern on to the wire handle.
- Reassemble the box and put the metal wire back into the holes on the side of the box, bending it to secure it back in place.
- Cut holiday design paper to fit over the top of the closed box; use decorative edges scissors to give the paper a festive edge.
- Use double-stick tape to adhere the holiday paper to the box and accent it with a little red bow and a jingle bell on the front.
As if the contents inside a little velvet box weren't enough to wow your gift recipient, take the box over-the-top by adding a little holiday bling on the outside.
Preparation
Materials:
- Black velvet jewelry box
- Flocked snowflake stickers
Steps
- Adhere stickers to the outside of the jewelry box.
Here is a simply stunning way to turn a batch of baked goods into a boutique holiday gift.
Preparation
Materials:
- Wide cloth ribbon
- Rub-on quote with a decorative border (quotes are available as a collection in a pad at many craft stores)
- Craft stick
- Glass candy jar or container with cookies
Steps
- Lay the ribbon on a flat work surface. Iron the ribbon if necessary for a smooth surface.
- Place the rub-on quote face down on the ribbon. Leave enough ribbon on either side of the quote to form a bow or allow for mistakes.
- Use the craft stick to rub the quote on to the ribbon. Gently lift a corner of the quote paper to make sure your design is transferring. If not, replace the paper and continue rubbing until the quote transfers. (Tip: Practice with a different quote on a scrap piece of ribbon).
- Tie the ribbon around the mouth of your gift container and secure ribbon ends with a knot or bow.
Go for a sweet retro look by dotting a gift with candy circles in holiday colors.
Preparation
Materials:
- Red wrapping paper
- Scissors
- Tape
- Red and green circular candies, such as gummy wreaths or Lifesavers
- White glue
- Red and white ribbon
Steps
- Wrap the gift with red wrapping paper; use tape to secure paper.
- Arrange red and green candies on top of gift and glue to secure (let kids know that the candy is only for decoration and not for eating).
- Fasten white and red ribbon around the gift as a final touch.
Give the wine enthusiast in your group a bottle of their favorite vintage wrapped up in cork.
Preparation
Materials:
- Sheet cork (available at most hardware stores)
- Scissors
- Hot glue or super-strength bottled glue
- Tack and a gift tag
Steps
- Use scissors to cut a piece of sheet cork that will fit around your wine bottle.
- Glue the back seam of the cork securing it around the bottle. (Tip: If necessary, tie string or ribbon around the cork to keep it in place as the glue dries).
- Cut a small cork rectangle as mounting place for a gift tag and glue it to the cork on the bottle.
- Secure the gift tag to the cork with a tack.
Both elegant and edgy, this luxe-look hatbox with patent leather and rhinestone letter stickers is a fab way to wrap up a gift for a teenage girl.
Preparation
Materials:
- Hatbox, 6-inch diameter (available at many craft stores)
- Scissors
- Black paper with nice texture
- Double-stick tape
- Pink and white vintage-style paper
- Black patent leather and rhinestone letter stickers (available at many Michael's craft stores)
Steps
- To cover the hatbox bottom: Measure the height of the hatbox; usually about 4 inches.
- Cut strips of black paper so their width is the same measurement as the hatbox height.
- Use double-stick tape to adhere the strips around to hatbox bottom; fold any excess paper on top over the rim of the box and secure with tape or gluestick.
- To cover the hatbox lid: Place the lid on the pink and white vintage-style paper. Trace around the lid about ½-inch out from the lid, so your paper circle will be ½-inch wider around the diameter.
- Center the paper circle on top of the lid and adhere it to the lid using double-stick tape; fold the ½-inch excess down on to the side of the lid.
- Measure the lip of the lid and cut strips of the vintage style paper the same width as the lip measurement.
- Use double-stick tape to adhere to strips around the lid to cover the folded excess form the top and finish it all off.
- Place the lid on the box and spell out "Gift" in black patent leather and rhinestone letter stickers.
Here's a cute, quick way to give someone a gift card.
Preparation
Materials:
- Child's mitten
- Small pine sprays
- Gift card
- Candy cane
Steps
- Pack the mitten with small pine sprays or greenery.
- Slide the gift card into the mitten and add a candy cane.
Do you find yourself with small sheets of plastic that manufacturers use in their packaging? Rather than tossing it out, recycle packaging into a window on a gift.
Preparation
Materials:
- White wrapping paper
- Scissors
- Tape and double-stick tape
- Clear Cellophane (new or recycled from gift baskets or a flower bouquet)
- Clear plastic sheets (from scrapbook sticker packaging or something similar)
- Holiday themed cardstock
- Recycled cards
- Salt
- Holiday design self-adhesive ribbon (look for Martha Stewart's ribbon packs at craft stores)
- Decorative ribbon
Steps
- Wrap the gift with white wrapping paper; use tape to secure paper.
- Wrap the gift again with clear Cellophane; use tape to secure Cellophane.
- Cut a plastic sheet into a rectangle that will fit on the front of your gift.
- Cut holiday themed cardstock the same size as the plastic sheet.
- Cut out a festive accent, such as the pink oval with the bird in our gift design, from an old holiday card and use double-stick tape to adhere it to the cardstock.
- Place the plastic rectangle on top of the cardstock to create the window.
- Tape the two sides and the bottom on the rectangles together so edges are completely sealed; leave the top open.
- Add salt into the top opening and then tape the top closed.
- Use double-stick tape to attach the window rectangles to the front of the gift box.
- Add holiday design self-adhesive ribbon around the window's border to mask the tape used to keep the rectangles together.
- Tie a ribbon around the gift as a final touch.
As sentiments run high during the holiday season, create a gift with a note of nostalgia by using art from your attic and desk drawer trinkets.
Preparation
Materials:
- Brown grocery store bags
- Scissors
- Tape and double-stick tape
- Antique-look paper and stickers
- Old family photos, small keys, cameos, jewelry or similar items
- Glue
- Ivory cardstock
- Brown inkpad
- Old typewriter key scrapbook letter stickers
Steps
- Cut a brown grocery bag along the seams and flatten the paper.
- Wrap the gift with brown paper; use tape to secure paper.
- Create a collage of antique-look paper and old photos on top of the gift box; use double-stick tape to adhere it to the box. (Tip: Tear some pieces of paper instead of cutting it for a rustic look).
- Use glue to add trinkets to the collage like keys or cameos and accent the design with antique-look stickers.
- Cut ivory cardstock into a gift tag.
- Hold the brown inkpad by its plastic base and lightly wipe the pad on the edges of the tag and torn paper to give it an aged look.
- Spell out the name of your gift recipient on the tag using typewriter letter stickers or simply write the name with a pen.
Get the little ones giddy by giving them a gift in a shoebox that looks like the front of Santa's suit. Or make this St. Nick shoebox as a craft with the kids and use it as a secret stash for Christmas cookies!
Preparation
Materials:
- Red and black heavyweight or construction paper
- Scissors
- Shoebox with lid
- Tape and double-stick tape
- White self-adhesive trim (Martha Stewart brand)
- Holiday-striped scrapbook paper
- Scallop or decorative edge scissors
- Small aluminum metal sheets, lightweight (available at many craft stores) or heavyweight foil if the kids are making this craft
- White glue
- Silver metal brads
Steps
- Cut red paper to fit the top lid and sides of the shoebox and use double-stick tape to secure it. Fold the corners as you like for a neat presentation.
- Add white self-adhesive trim to the bottom edge of the lip.
- Use scallop edge scissors to trim holiday-striped paper and make a top piece or collar for Santa's suit. Adhere the striped paper to the lid using double-stick tape.
- Cut a strip of black paper for Santa's belt.
- Cut out a belt buckle from metal sheets or use household aluminum foil. Attach the buckle to the black belt using a little glue or double-stick tape.
- Give Santa some buttons using metal brads or any buttons (Tip: Use a tack to make a hole first and then insert a brad).
- Cover the bottom of the shoebox with striped paper and using double-stick tape.
Tips for Choosing
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