Creative Christmas #1: Gift Wrapping Ideas and How-To.

Here's the first of several posts to inspire you to be creative this Christmas!

Let's start with some inexpensive gift wrapping ideas...

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Idea #1 

Glassine and Sparkling Star

Materials needed:

- newspaper

- cardboard

- glitter

- glue (vynil or paper or spray)

- wax paper (glassine), find it in your kitchen

- twine

- adhesive tape

- empty box

Cut out a star from cardboard, glue and sparkle with glitter. Let dry.

Wrap your box in newspaper, and then again in glassine, securing with adhesive tape (glassine is very slick). Add string and the star. Finish off with a tag.

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Idea # 2

Burlap and Pinecones

Materials needed:

- newspaper

- burlap

- 3 pinecones

- hot glue + glue gun

- twine

- white spray paint

- spray glue

- glitter

- adhesive tape

- empty box

Spray paint a pinecone white. Spray with glue. Sparkle with glitter.

Wrap your gift in newspaper, add a stripe of burlap.

Wrap in string, and glue down pinecones on the bow with hot glue. Add a coordinated and handwritten or stamped tag.

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Idea #3

Tube with Heart

Materials needed:

- newspaper

- cardboard

- corrugated cardboard

- glitter

- glue (vynil or paper)

- twine

- adhesive tape

- empty chips box

- hot glue + glue gun

This is perfect if you are giving homemade cookies too, as the tube was originally meant to contain food.

Wash the tube and dry well. Cut out a piece of corrugated cardboard to fit the outside and glue down (I used hot glue).
Cut a heart, spray glue and sparkle with glitter. Let dry.
Prepare a stripe and a pleated circle of newspaper, glue the heart on the front with hot glue. Attach to the tube. Close the tube with string.

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Idea # 4 

Box with Corrugated Cardboard and Wooden Hearts

Materials needed:
- newspaper

- wax paper (glassine)

- cardboard

- corrugated cardboard

- glue (vynil or paper)

- twine

- stapler

- hot glue + glue gun

- wooden hearts (find them in craft stores)

Wrap the box in newspaper then in glassine. Add a stripe of corrugated cardboard that you'll secure with staples on the rear. Attach text to one of the hearts. Wrap in twine and seal with the smaller wooden heart (attach with hot glue).

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Idea #5 

Newspaper and Scraps Bow

Materials needed:
- newspaper
- burlap scraps, anything works here

- glassine

- a button

- thread and needle

- twine

- scissors

Just cut out stripes of mixed materials, and knot a small bundle of them in the very middle using twine. Top off with a button handsewn in place.

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Idea #6 

Coordinated Tags

Materials needed:
- newspaper

- cardboard

- white paper

- glue (vynil or for paper)

- template

Glue newspaper onto cardboard, let dry. Cut out the desired shapes accordingly to the templates. Cut out the same templates (but smaller) from white paper. Glue down. Punch a hole. Done!

Have fun!
Monica x