| Pretty Packages | | | | dazzle with sequins. Use by-the-yard sequins as |
| Gifts trimmed with flair by: Maddylane Designs | | | | you would ribbons. Double rows of brightly |
| Skill: Easy. | | | | coloured sequins look spectacular onto plain |
| Materials & tools: | | | | silver-wrapped gifts. Further embellish by randomly |
| Assorted paper remnants, rice paper, plain | | | | gluing individual sequins on wrapped presents. |
| coloured papers | | | | Quilling for snowman: Quilling, also known as paper |
| Scissors | | | | filigree, is the art of rolling thin strips of paper into |
| Glue gun and sticks | | | | different shapes and using the shapes to form |
| Double-face tape and regular adhesive tape | | | | designs. Quilling papers comes in packages of |
| Ribbons in assorted colours, widths and styles | | | | assorted colours. Creative accents, such as plain |
| Assorted findings: custom jewellery, belt buckles, | | | | snowman shapes or monograms, can be crafted |
| quilling paper strips, feathers, sequins, tinsel | | | | to garnish plainly wrapped boxes. Affix designs to |
| garland, wire, beads etc. | | | | gifts using double-face tape. You can even apply |
| Fabric remnants, fun fur, taffeta, fuzzy wool, | | | | the papers in flat strips or fashion a checked |
| scrapbooking tools, snowflake punch, decorative | | | | pattern. Simple swirls make wonderful gift |
| edge scissors, hang tags, rub-on lettering | | | | garnishes. |
| Also see each gift wrapping description. | | | | Cut-it-out with paper snowflakes: So easy to |
| (Materials for this project are available at arts and | | | | make and yet so enchanting. They make magical |
| craft stores.) | | | | trimmings onto gifts, in assorted sizes. Just cut |
| My favourite part of the holidays is wrapping the | | | | snowflake shapes using scissors with folded plain |
| gifts. It is the perfect occasion to use up many | | | | or assorted types of recycled papers. You can |
| remnants from various projects and to let my | | | | even have the kids help you out with this one. |
| creativity run loose, just for fun. Since my | | | | Paper garlands can be quite stunning too. |
| wrapping room is shared with the laundry room, it | | | | Punched snowflakes: Paper punches with holiday |
| is a sure place to find some peace of mind during | | | | designs are wonderful to use and incorporate into |
| all the craziness of the holidays. | | | | gift trimming. Using a snowflake design punch and |
| Minimalist with a touch of Ritz, great gift wrapping | | | | assorted papers, from velum to silver, punch out |
| ideas start with cool findings. The secret to | | | | snowflake shapes and glue them onto gifts, |
| achieve the look of these French bonbon gift | | | | ribbons and cards, in a row or randomly. I even |
| wrappings is all in the trimmings. Personalized to | | | | used the punched out negative to make |
| make an impact, even simple gifts can look | | | | decorative bands around gift boxes, and trimmed |
| elegant with a little accent. Don't be afraid to | | | | the edges with decorative scissors. |
| extend the colour palette beyond the traditional; | | | | Monograms letters: Letters, initials make delightful |
| it's all good because, really, anything goes. Even | | | | gift topping accents and can be shaped with wire |
| though I used assorted colour combinations of | | | | of various colours or beaded wires. |
| bright turquoise, greens and blues with soft | | | | Fabric remnants: Excellent for wrapping larger |
| pastels amidst accents of silver, angelic whites | | | | gifts, and to use up fabrics that you know you |
| and chocolate brown, the theme is what brings | | | | won't use within the next year or so. I utilized |
| everything together. | | | | fun-fur remnants to make a snowman decoration |
| Fuzzy wool for a cozy warm feeling: Super easy | | | | onto a larger gift box. |
| yet stylish. Once a gift is wrapped, affix one or | | | | Hang-tags embellished with rub-on decal lettering, |
| two ribbons around the box and then wrap a few | | | | clip art, micro beads and photos of the gift |
| lengths of fuzzy wool as decorative trim around | | | | recipient also make fantastic gift trimmings. |
| the package. Assorted fancy yarns provide an | | | | Get wrapping and happy trimmings! |
| inexpensive and chic way to dress up bonbon or | | | | Tips: For all gifts wrapped using fabrics, make |
| cracker-shaped gifts. | | | | sure to iron out any creases out first and wrap |
| Rows of ribbons: Create basic plaid patterns using | | | | the gifts as you would with paper wrapping. Use |
| satin, grosgrain and velvet types of ribbons in | | | | hot glue to secure the folds instead of tape. |
| assorted colours and widths over a tissue-paper | | | | Variations: Other creative gift wrappings include |
| wrapped gift. Garnish with dash of white tinsel | | | | holiday dishtowels, table cloths, fabrics, and |
| garland. A length of wide satin ribbon looks | | | | wallpaper. Or, you can opt to make the wrapping |
| stunning when applied over the centre of larger | | | | part of the gifts using a variety of household and |
| gifts and plain paper bags. Secure the ribbons at | | | | clothing items. |
| the back of a package using hot glue. Wide | | | | Older Christmas tree ornaments that you are no |
| ribbons can also be adorned with lengths of fuzzy | | | | longer using also make fun gift toppings. |
| wool. | | | | Don't be bashful to use colours such as lime |
| Bejewel using recycled jewellery and belt buckles: | | | | green, hot pink, bright orange, mauves, vibrant |
| Recycle odds and ends jewellery pieces, earrings, | | | | turquoise and blue; They are very "in" and trendy |
| and charms. Glue these onto a ribbon to create | | | | colours this season. |
| an elegant centre ornament. Paint plain or wooden | | | | Pretty packages can be integrated into your table |
| buckles silver or gold (or any colour) and fasten a | | | | decorations, to grace a mantel, or even used |
| length of ribbon around a fabric-wrapped gift. Top | | | | outdoors. Double them up and use as name card |
| it all off with a single feather. | | | | holders. |
| Dazzling with sequins: Make your gifts sparkle and | | | | |