Good luck, gifted wrappers!

See tip 2. Why is this picture so blurry?

I can't believe it's already been a year since the 2012 Scotch Most Gifted Wrapper contest! There's no better way to enjoy a weekend than meeting other skilled prezzie artists and enjoying holidaytime in NYC.

Not sure who's competing this year, but I'll be following the 2013 contest, which takes place Friday, Dec. 6. Best of luck to this year's contestants. Here are my top 5 tips for the big day:

1. Get good sleep the night before. It might be tough if you get jitters, but contest day starts early, the rest is worth it.
2. Smile, and don't take yourself too seriously. That's good advice for anytime, right?
3. Relax. The atmosphere can be overwhelming and mess with your focus. It will be loud and frenetic. Be prepared to deal with it.
4. Enjoy the company. This is a chance to meet other people who share your intense interest in giftwrapping; they're really interesting and fun folks!
5. Have fun. Seriously. By all means, do your best and try to win. But remember that if you don't, it's still an awesome experience.

Game on, wrappers!

Most Gifted Wrapper contest re-cap

Photo courtesy of Hunter Public Relations

Last week I had the chance to represent Jolie Colis in the 2012 Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper contest in New York City. I didn't bring home the big prize, but I had a great time and met lots of great people who are also into giftwrapping. (Which was awesome.) Here's a picture of me wrapping a giant rubber duck and a board game in the first round. That's my timer Britney in the background. I had 10 minutes to wrap two gifts. You'd be surprised how quickly 10 minutes goes by!

In this round, eight finalists were whittled down to four, who continued to round two. I didn't make it to the next round, but had a great time cheering on the ladies who did. Those who advanced to round two had 13 minutes to wrap a tuba on a stand. In the final round, the last two contestants had 18 minutes to wrap a giant model airplane. It was an absolute hoot. Who doesn't love some high-spirited holiday wrapping chaos?!

In the end, the talented Lia Griffin of Elinee in Portland, Oregon earned the top prize or $10,000. Shelly Dozier-McKee of ConfettiStyle in Atlanta, Georgia came in at first runner-up.

The 2012 contestants: Sheryl Oberman, Michelle Beshaw, me, Lia Griffith (winner!), Michelle Noe, Brenda Guerrero, Shelly Dozier-McKee (1st runner-up) and Shasta Garcia. Photo courtesy of Hunter Public Relations.

I'm so glad I had a chance to participate in the contest this year, and if you're even a little interested in giftwrapping, I encourage you to enter next year's. It's a fun holiday-time weekend in New York with crafty wrappers just like you. :)

Countdown to go-time: 9 days until the Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest!

Practicing my giftwrapping kung-fu with packages of all sizes.

It's finally sinking in and starting to feel real. Next Friday I'll go toe-to-toe with seven other prezzie masters in the Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper contest! The nice people with the contest sent me a fabulous box of goodies to practice with, so once I've stuffed myself with turkey, I'm off to my shop to practice my speed game.

I'll be tweeting and instagramming from NYC, so be sure to follow me for the latest!

Happy thanksgiving! And wish me luck!

New obsession: bows-to-go!

This weekend I was a busy bee preparing for the Home for the Holidays event at DestinyUSA on Nov. 16. In addition to giftwrapping tutorials, I'll be selling these little pre-made giftboxes, which I dubbed "bows-to-go." Like many of my projects, the ideas and execution got better the more I practiced, and I'm really happy with the result.

They remind me of little petit fours. I spent most of the weekend making as many unique combinations as possible. The best part is they're made with a top and a bottom, so they're reusable, and you don't have to tear or untie anything. The only thing better than a pretty prezzie is a eco-pretty one!

Also very happy with how my new moocards came out! They're so cute and affordable! Thanks, Moo. I'll be ordering more soon! Let me know if you're interested, because I can refer you and we both get a discount!

I'll display them on this nifty dessert tray I bought for my custom mongram boxes, because I'll be taking orders for those at the event, too. I hope I'll see you there! Friday, Nov. 16, 2-7 p.m. Until then, cheers and give pretty!

Happy holidays!

I know, it's early. But a recent trip to London has inspired me to get in the Christmas time mood. In particular, a visit to Fortnum & Mason got me really excited. F&M is easily the most gorgeous and elegant retail experience I've ever had. And a bit surreal, to be honest. You come up the centuries-old staircase to an inviting, but not overwhelming combination of cinnamon and pine fragrance. There's just enough room to walk around, and every square inch of merchandise space is used to the max. It was just captivating: sparkling ornaments arranged perfectly in glass pedestal bowls, artfully decorated trees, rolls of glittering gift wrapping paper. I wanted to buy one of everything; this is visual merchandising done right.

I was especially tempted to buy one of these (fuschia) beauties, but sadly, it was more than I could pay for something that might not make the trip home in my suitcase. The whole display was a feast for the eyes, and well, F&M does sell online, so there's still time if I change my mind.

And of course, I had to visit the gift wrapping department. I love the glamorous chandelier over the counter. Maybe I need one for my shop...

I could have stayed there all day. The papers in the shop weren't too different than what I find here in the states, but it was (naturally) the presentation that struck me! You could tell that the wooden display tables had been lovingly maintained, the employees were incredibly knowledgeable, and even the brass plates on the door hinges were polished regularly. All of this points to an immense pride in the work, which really appealed to me. Though I'm very happy with my dayjob, I had a little fantasy of donning the tidy F&M waistcoat and bowtie, and standing behind the gift wrap counter, wrapping exquisite treasures in gorgeous, fine paper and silk ribbon. Who wouldn't?!

That said, I'm brainstorming a Fortnum & Mason-inspired prezzie series. Stay tuned.

PS: In case you were wondering, the signature robin's egg blue of Fortnum & Mason came 130 years before Tiffany & Co.

Springtime, Smock-style

For about two weeks now, I've been itching to use this gorgeous paper by Smock. They make the most beautiful, earth-friendly letterpress and gift wrap, and their press is based right here in Syracuse. It was hard to choose just three:

The paper was pretty reasonably priced, lovingly packaged, and arrived in just 3 days! The best part - the paper is double-sided, so it's like getting two papers for the price of one. For $8, you get two 24" x 36" sheets. I chose (top to bottom) Veranda, Quadrille, and Calliope.

Anyway, here's my first project, in celebration of spring:

I'm thinking of sending some Easter goodies to my nieces and nephew with this theme. This would make a sweet baby shower wrap, too. It's also a cool, modern alternative to traditional white-and-silver wedding gifts.

I just love the combination of the greyish-lavender and the mustardish-celery. I'm fairly certain "mustardish" isn't a word. But heck, when the weather is this nice, and I've had a chance to hit golfballs outdoors and wrap prezzies in the same weekend, my (usually strict) rules for spelling go out the window.

Next stop: the garden for some long-overdue weeding. Hope you had a lovely weekend, too! Stay tuned for more spring-inspired Smock prezzies.

Holiday giftwrapping tip 7: play dress up

One of my favorite things to do with gift wrap (regardless of the occasion) is to dress it up like the person getting the gift. I think it's an extra thoughtful way to show you were thinking about the recipient. In this case, the recipient is a colleague who is fashionable and really into pink. This chandelier paper has been in my shop for a while, waiting for the right occasion, and here it is.

Don't you just love the girly-girl bow and little spray of pearls? Something like this can easily be modified for a beautiful presentation of an engagement ring or bridesmaids gifts.

I admit, I do a lot of girly giftwraps, because I'm quite girly myself. But I promise to show a masculine gift soon.

Until then, give (extra) pretty!

Holiday giftwrapping tip 6: work with what you've got

For those trying to keep the holidays sustainable, here's a way to dress up the classic brown paper package tied up with string.

Supplies:
- brown paper bag
- string or twine
- a little sprig of pine. This one is artificial, but in a bind, you can cut a bit of the tree when nobody's looking.
- a bit of ribbon
- a little ornament (in this case, a jingle bell)
- double-sided tape
- super-sharp scissors

How-to:
- Wrap your gift (use a box!) using the brown paper. Don't worry about the wrinkles or folds.
- Wind the string around the box several times, criss-crossing, if you like.
- Tie your pine sprig and ornament to the string in the middle.
- Finish with ribbon

That's it! Happy (sustainable) holidays!

Holiday giftwrapping tip 5: pop the question with style!

Besides the general happiness of the season, I always look forward to hearing news of holiday engagements. Here's an idea for anyone planning to give a HUGE gift this year. You know, the kind measured in carats.

This wrap, called "Say Yes", is one of my favorites. It's totally romantic, and the little "clues" (sheer veil and tiny bouquet of real flowers) are sure to make your sweetie go weak in the knees. This is one of the biggest gifts you'll ever give, so do it right!

My 5 favorite papers: stylish bargains and splurges

I know I should be focused on buying holiday gifts, but I can't stay away from the many beautiful papers you can buy online this time of year. Some of you might be surprise to hear that a $6.50/sheet paper is a bargain. Compared to something that's $18/sheet, it is!

Anyway, here they are, in no particular order:

Bargain #1: White squares on silver, Papersource $4.95/sheet

I actually used this cool paper on a corporate job I had last year, and it held up great. The silver is really bright, and it has this nice weight and linen texture. I just wish I knew I could get it through Papersource. I bought it locally and paid almost twice that. Ugh.

Bargain #2: Paisley batik, Elum $3.75/sheet

Elum makes gorgeous letterpress stationery and chic giftwrap. A subtle pattern like this is beautiful with a wide ribbon in a deep chocolate brown or gold.





Bargain #3: #1741 Winterberry, Snow & Graham, $6.50/sheet

Like Elum, Snow & Graham makes incredibly cute letterpress and paper products. I love this one because it's wintry and evocative of the holidays, but it's not so literal (see Holiday Giftwrapping tip #4). It's pretty on its own, but would look sweet with a wide red ribbon.


Bargain #4: Joyeux noel, Cavallini, Luxe Paperie, $3.50/sheet

I'm a huge fan of Cavallini's charming, vintage-inspired paper products. In fact, I have several sheets of Cavallini paper waiting for frames to grace my home. It's hard to believe how this paper can be so affordable. You get gorgeous prints on really nice, heavy, textured paper. Almost too beautiful to cut!

Bargain #5: Thai marble paper, gold/black, Kate's Paperie, $5.50/sheet

Of course, I have to give Kate's Paperie a shoutout, since that's where I first discovered my love for paper and wrapping gifts. This is another incredible buy. I love the contrast and drama of this paper. This stuff is interesting because it's very thin, very sturdy, and feels like fabric.




Splurge #1: Handmade open geo, black, Kate's Paperie, $24.50/sheet 

So, so cool. I'd layer this on a contrasting color, or over a subtle pattern. It's so artful, I'd consider framing this, too. It reminds me of Jackson Pollock.








Splurge #2: Orange stitch on pink paper, Papersource, $9/sheet

Hooray for an affordable splurge! This paper comes from India, and is sewn with contrasting thread. The thread and little holes in the paper add graphic and textural interest, too.



Splurge #3: Personalized gift wrap, Neiman Marcus, $90 
This is a super-cute, super-splurge, and I'm not even sure how much you get for the $90. Maybe if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Various colors and patterns are available, and you can personalize it with your initials or a limited amount of text.





Splurge #4: Pine cones, Heidi, $21.99/set
Heidi sells stylish gift wrap sets in pre-coordinating colors and patterns. Very convenient. You get enough to wrap about 2 shirtboxes, complete with paper, ribbon, gift cards, and note cards. It's like the Garanimals of giftwrapping!





Splurge #5: Richard de Bas floral paper, Paper Arts, $18/sheet
I love this paper because it reminds me of pressing a flower in the pages of a book. And because I'm a total romantic. 




Well, that's all for now, friends. Tune in tomorrow; I'm finally going to post my video on how to make the monogrammed prezzie from last week.

Holiday giftwrapping tip 4: be festive, be subtle

Happy Hanukkah, friends! Today's tip is something you can use year-round, but is especially appropriate for the holidays.

This time of year, stores are chock-full of seasonally-themed holiday gift wrap. While I understand the convenience of picking up a three-pack of holiday themed paper and some curly ribbon, it's a bit pedestrian, isn't it? (*Besides, you wouldn't be reading this if themed paper and curly ribbon were good enough for your prezzies anyway!)

Last words on the three-pack stuff: skip it. It looks cheap and your gifts deserve better. Santa-and snowmen-themed papers are the giftwrapping equivalent of holiday sweaters with little jingle bell applique. You know the ones I'm talking about.

Take this little number, for example. This wrap has enough of the traditional colors to associate it with Hannukah, but it doesn't hit you over the head with Menorahs, dreidels, and stars. The result is sophisticated and elegant.

The key to getting this very pulled-together look takes a page from one of my favorite shows, What Not to Wear. Whether you're dressing yourself or your gift, any fabulous ensemble incorporates color, texture, pattern, and shine. (More on those important elements in a future post.)

Since this is a somewhat technical project, I'll post a how-to video soon. Until then, give pretty!