A simple way to enhance mailing boxes or solid color bags during the Holiday is by adding a decorative tape. Envelop wrap around labels could be used as gift tags or to send your Holiday cards.

TapeSwell proposes 27 decorative packing tapes, including 7 Holiday patterns. The red and blue Pod Envelop Wrap Around tape harmoniously fit with the Bird of Peace packing tape. Also look at the Partridge of Joy Decorative Packing Tape.

With a few tape patterns and a nice selection of ribbons, you will be able to transform kraft paper or solid gift wrapping paper you already have into fabulously wrapped Christmas gifts.

SOURCING:
+ Holiday tapes $7 USD at TapeSwell
+ Pod Envelop Wrap Around Tape $13 USD, add $3 if you want it in a reusable canister

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These personalized gift tags would be perfect for your holiday baked goodies. I particularly like the snowflake. Pretty Smitten sells them on etsy. You choose the icon, the color and the font.

+ Pretty Smitten Holiday – Rectangular Gift/Favor Tags with Personalized Winter Motifs $9 for 12 tags

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Every year, my husband and I baked our batches of holiday cookies. They become our signature hostess gifts during the Holidays. I make sure to select a beautiful reusable container. It is part of the gift. Naturally, I am always on the lookout for new ways to wrap my baked goods.

It became a tradition. I look forward for the inspiring cookies recipes presented in cute containers every November on Canadian House and Home. This year, three ideas stand above the rest. First, the white and blue Asian bowls. Similar bowls are easy to find at your local Chinatown.

Another practical idea is the wooden wine bottle box. I have a head start since I collected these boxes. You simply flip the lid over to hide the wine label.

What is noteworthy about the third idea is the recipe. Earl Grey marshmallows sound divine. I never make marshmallows but this recipe is a good reason to start. Apparently, the gentle Earl Grey tea pairs well with hot chocolate. I know that I want to try those.

If you are looking for cookie recipes, they are plenty of choices in their best cookies recipes. If you are looking for more ideas, check out what were the best cookie wrapping ideas in 2007.

MORE:
+ Canadian House and Home, November 2009: photography by Angus Fergusson, food stylish by Eshun Mott

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On my agenda today is shopping for ink stamps and rice paper at my local stores. I need that for my husband’s birthday party. I bought 100 tiny clothespins, 250 French fries bags, food boxes and natural paper sandwich bags in bulk yesterday at Distribution Alimentaire Aubut.

Find everything on the same roof saves us time. This is the purpose of a new online shop founded by Ez Pudewa (creator and editor of leading design & style blog Creature Comforts) and Marichelle Burdman (creator and editor of Heart Handmade, the home of independent design). They described Nice Package as the creative approach to living. To do not miss to look at the photos of their products as they provide ideas on how to use them for your parties.

+ Baker’s Twine + Mini Clothespins $3.75 for pack of 10
+ Woodland Mushroom Gift Bag Kits $19 for 3
+ photos: Nice Package
+ via Modish

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Available in 3 color palettes, Amy Butler’s new desktop collection will hit the stores in September. The range includes folders, organizers, binders, journals and much more!

In the meantime, you can browse her collection of paper craft and eco-line gift wrapping supplies. Her gift wrap collection comprises 100% post-consumer recycled gift wraps, bags, and giftcard boxes. The gift bags are sold in set of 4 with 100% recycled/biodegradable tissue paper.

MORE:
+ Belle & Sola Crafts and Scrapbooking materials
+ Petal Gift Wrap Rolls by Amy Butler $12.75 USD for 3 rolls
+ Petal Bags by Amy Butler for the Gift Wrap Company $18 USD for set of 4 bags

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Add creativity to your desk with the exotic file folder set. It is part of the India collection, a PS design. The line includes flat cards, note cards, journals, wrapping paper, rubber stamps and colored glass tea light / votive holder. A good starting point to design a party.

The Papaya Lotus Lotus journal harmonizes well with the India pieces.

Summer Craft Projects

Paper Source just launched a blog. So far, I read inspiring craft projects that would be fun for entertaining this summer. I recalled that we learned in school how to make similar paper lanterns. They are easy to make.

For a picnic or a bike ride, create your own pinwheels. Rubber stamps adds character to solid paper. Both ideas would add a festive touch to any birthday or a baby shower.

SOURCING:
+ Gift Wrapping Paper – sheet $2.25 USD, roll $7.95 USD
+ Jaipur Block Print File Folder Set $27.95 CAD
+ Papaya Lotus Garden Journal $16.95 USD
+ For your handbag or next to the phone, keep a Papaya Simple Pink Bird Notepad $7.95 USD

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I wrote twice about gift wrapping stations. I still have to fulfill this dream in the comfort of my own house.

After the biggest wrapping session of the year, I felt the need for a better system. I do not have a bad system. It is just that I need to put back everything on their shelves once I am finished. I wish for a spot where everything is accessible with pegboards and a couple of professional metal stands to put my big paper rolls.

If you do not have a room to spare for craft and wrapping projects, you can install a pegboard in a closet. The Container Store sells impressively useful workstations. You can opt for a mobile solution to neatly store your wrap paper rolls, totes, tissue, ribbons and gift accessories.

Mobile Storage Solutions

Ideal for a small space, the Gift Packaging Workstation with the foldable legs can be stored under a bed or on a shelf. It features some clips to hold a gift wrap roll on the top surface plus on the side, a ribbon dispenser and tool caddy.

A cheaper option is the Hanging Gift Wrap Organizer. Hang it on a closet rod, a hook or slide it under a bed.

MORE ON AHWKV:
+ Gift Wrap Station at Pottery Barn
+ How to set up a gift wrapping station in a craft room

SOURCING:
+ Photo credits: the Pull-Out Storage Central and the Repurposed Wrapping Station – photography by Veronica Toney for Better Homes and Gardens
+ White elfa Mesh Gift Wrap Cart on sale at $139.38 USD at The Container Store
+ Gift Packaging Workstation $99 USD at The Container Store
+ Hanging Gift Wrap Organizer $21.99 USD at The Container Store

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Forgot the typical Christmas ribbons and bows that you buy at the drugstore. This year make an impression with an array of ribbons. Mix widths, colors and textures to dress up your gifts.

Buying in Bulk To Save Money

I save on gift-wrapping paper by buying them in bulk. Even if I only got one pattern, my gifts do not look the same under the Christmas tree because I decorate them differently. Imagine the little black dress; no two women wear it the same. My collection of fabric ribbons and gift ornaments becomes my accessories.

How To Tie Ribbons on Gifts including the Classic Double Bow

The Canadian House and Home November 2008 edition featured several ribbon tying techniques from Alison Dawson of Mokuba, a fabulous ribbon shop in Toronto.

If you still have questions on how to make the classic double bow, watch the Holiday Gift Wrapping video on Canadian House and Home.

CREDITS:
+ Photography by Tracy Shumate for H&H November 2008 – rights reserved

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It is not the first time that I am telling you this: I wish for a gift-wrapping station at home. A place where I could hang my big wrapping paper rolls and neatly store label holders, ribbons and so on.

The Wall-Mounted Craft Organizer at Pottery Barn gives me all that with an upper shelf to keep the tapes, scissors and ribbons. Four dowels drop into slots to hold wrapping paper rolls.

The bottom picture shows a craft room that almost feels like a little shop. It is charming. Baskets are a great way to store paper pieces, bags and boxes. I like to glue decorative elements near the bows. I guess I could repurpose glass jars from the grocery store.

All these are all charming. With the Holiday season that is coming up soon, I wish I would find the time to setup my own gift station. If I do, you will be the first to know about it.

SOURCING:
+ Wall-Mounted Craft Organizer – price: $229 USD
+ Find your local Pottery Barn dealer here

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Making a good first impression always counts. Nicely wrapping a gift takes a little more time than inserting your gift in a bag topped with tissue paper. But recipients notice this gesture. So it is worth the effort.

In certain cultures, gifts are open in private. Therefore, your gift is publicly judged by the way it is wrapped. People who worked in Japan told me that they received more than once a gift where the wrapping costs more than what was inside.

I like to keep a small assortment of wrapping papers along with ribbons and gift tags. Simplify your life with patterns suitable for several occasions.

Whimsy Press

Blue Bird from the Green with Envy line by Whimsy Press can be used for weddings, showers, and birthdays.

Give Whimsy proposes several collections around a theme. Each collection contains 2 sheets of each design (a total of 8 sheets), plus stickers for each! Oh So Current collection is gender neutral. Havana is my favorite pattern from that set.

Heidi

From the latest collection by Heidi, Livia and Ariel are perfect for any occasion from a birthday to a baby shower gift. Luxy, Dehaven and Nouvella are perfect for any occasion from a bridal shower to a housewarming gift.

Heidi’s set includes 2 wrap sheets, 1 10-inch ribbon and a box of 8 cards with envelops.

SOURCING:
+ Green with Envy by Whimsy Press – price: $4.50 USD per sheet
+ Give Whimsy – starts at $36 USD
+ Everyday wrap collections by Heidi – price: $21.99 USD per set

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If you mother is the Bree Van de Kamp type who brings delicious sweets everywhere she goes, make it simple for her by giving her personalized stickers, tags or stamps for Mother’s Day. I found adorable models on etsy.

Baking Stickers

LittlebeaneBoutique has several models. Pink is a dominant color is her design. She sells the stickers by sheet of 12 stickers. I like the pink mixer and whisk.

Kitchen Stamps

OfficialInitial produces well-made custom 3″ by 1.5″ stamp. I like the Cupcake mounted rubber stamp where the name of your mother can be printed.

I like the handle on the From the Kitchen of stamp by sweetpaperie. You have a choice of a flatware setting, a whisk or a pear.

Sweet Tags

If your mother style is more French country, she will be delighted with the Vintage Look Petits Fours Glaces tags at Bluebirdlane. The tags measures about 3 1/2″ by 2 1/2″ each. Ribbon will vary.

Any one of these would make a fantastic gift for any culinary guru. It will show to your mother that you value her cooking.

Sourcing:
Buy online: Personalized Pink Mixer Stickers by LittlebeaneBoutique – price: $4.95 USD for 12
Buy online: Personalized WHISK Baking Stickers by LittlebeaneBoutique – price: $4.95 USD for 12
Buy online: Custom Cupcake mounted rubber stamp by OfficialInitial – price: $25 USD
Buy online: From the Kitchen of stamp by sweetpaperie – price: $19.95 USD
Buy online: Vintage Look Petits Fours Glaces tags by Bluebirdlane – price: $5 USD for 8

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These days, I am thinking about how I can set up a studio place to demonstrate actual tabletop settings. I also need a craft station plus a storage cabinet for my props. I am reviewing more and more products, so where do I store them?

My Dilemma

I could convert some spaces at home to serve double duty or I could simulate a dining room at the office. Each option has its pros and cons. Our commercial lease will finish at the end of the year and we do not plan to renew it at this point. So I feel it would be a temporary thing if I do it at our current office location. But it can also be a testing ground to see what works and what is not.

My Inspirations on Flickr

I was in search for some inspirations from the creative crowd. I found plenty on Flickr. I particularly like the happy color card catalog reduc uploaded by bitsandbobbins. This is from an Apartment Therapy Semi Home Tour.

Since I was on the spring cleaning mindset, unclutter was in order. Pink Loves Brown is the brain who designs and sells stationery and cards. I check out her studio. I felt in love with her order sorting boxes; it is so cute.  Nicole also writes the Making it Lovely blog.

What is next?

Ideally, I may need to set up a craft room in both places. I took the first step today. My mother, who lives out of town, came to visit me this morning. I gave her a ton of stuff that I do not used anymore. So far, I envision a few good spots for my prop storage. I will keep you posted on my developments.

If you possess your own craft room or creative studio, what is the best thing about it?

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