Put a Creative Twist on Your Gift Wrap!
DESIGNER: Susan Weinroth
A simple way to start off is to easily embellish regular plain kraft gift bags. I keep a bunch of these bags on hand, since they are the perfect neutral color to add almost any paper or embellishments to. For this “Happy Birthday” bag, I selected a color scheme of blue and yellow, choose papers and coordinating brads, and then pulled a few favorite Fiskars tools like my paper crimper, XL Round N Round circle squeeze punch, Ultra Shape Xpress and circle template, and star shaped squeeze punches.
Start by crimping strips of cardstock. Then “wrap” cardstock around something like a pencil or the Fiskars stylus as I did here. The resulting strip will be “curled crimps” – perfect to use as a topping in your gift bag after the gift is wrapped up inside.
Next embellish the front of the gift bag. Trim circles and layers and adhere.
Crimp more cardstock and punch stars from crimped cardstock. Adhere to the bag with Fiskars foam adhesive squares. Finish the bag with a greeting strip. I used the Heidi Grace Designs Winnefred Street stamps to stamp and emboss “happy birthday to you”.
Next try tackling another kraft-y wrap. Use kraft wrap on the roll and embellish it with any punched shape. I used hearts punched from the Fiskars That’s Amore squeeze punch!
The stitched style of this punched-up wrap was inspired by another Fiskars Creative Design Team Member – Becky Novacek. I loved Becky’s butterfly framed artwork in her “Vintage Fiskars” article, and new that a similar technique would work great with this wrap idea.
Start by cutting kraft wrap to fit your package or box. Then punch ‘That’s Amore’ shaped hearts from various patterned papers and line then up on your wrap.
Stitch straight lines through the hearts (or even leave unstitched!), wrap your gift, and secure with a ribbon and quick to/from folded tag for a gorgeous look.
I have a fondness for collecting fabric, and find that it can make such cute gift wrap, too! Try this fabric gift bag for any hard to wrap items.
Start by trimming a large rectangle of fabric using the Fiskars rotary trimmer and cutting mat - eyeball it to fit your gift, after reading through the steps to the gift bag process. Then fold ends inward and stitch all open sides. Fold fabric in half again so that continuous “right side” of fabric is not showing, machine stitch sides.
At this point you can just turn “bag” rightside out and be done with the bag base, or you can create the “gussets” at the bottom of the bag that will help it stand on its own better. If you choose to create the gussets, while bag is still inside-out flatten each corner as shown. Use grid at the corner of the cutting mat, measure 3 inches up on each side and use the Fiskars 6-inch clear square ruler to draw a line in pencil between the 2 points. Machine stitch along that line. Turn bag right side out.
The top of the bag can be folded and ironed to crease to create a top flap. Embellish the flap with felt trimmed with Fiskars Pinking Shears, stitched on sequins, and a felt “flower” made from the USX circle template.
Secure the gift wrap bag’s flap easily with Velcro and you’re done. You now have a gorgeous gift bag that is almost as much a gift itself, as what’s inside!
My final gift wrap idea is a combination card plus gift card holder. I give a lot of gift cards – and while it’s usually very much appreciated by most people, it’s not always the most creative gift. My solution is to enclose the card in one of these cute fabric cases, and also to slip in a small coordinating card.
Start by selecting and trimming a 11x15 piece of fabric with the Fiskars rotary trimmer and cutting mat. Fold fabric in half lengthwise, wrong side out, and stitch along open edge. Next turn fabric right side out, and then iron flat. Fold upwards to create front pocked and pull down flap – iron to crease.
Machine stitch side of front pocket closed, and pull down flap so that both are secure.
Next stitch ribbon to front of flap, and trim butterfly shapes from fabric, using the Fiskars “All a Flutter” squeeze punch shape as a template.
Add buttons to butterflies and glue to front flap. Use the “enjoy” clear acrylic stamp from the Fiskars Cameo Ovations stamp set to stamp onto light pink fabric and attach to inside of front flap.
Trim and create a coordinating card to fit the gift card holder.
Use matching patterned papers, the “All a Flutter” butterfly squeeze punch, and various Fiskars tools and stamps to personalize your card to fit both the recipient and the occasion.
I hope this article gives you a few ideas to get crafty and creative with your gift wrap the next time you are sending a present off to a friend or family member. And I’m sure that your creative looking package will be both admired and adored by the lucky person you send it to! By Susan Weinroth « Back to gifts |
