Spring flowers

Here's a fun little project that reminds me that spring is coming. Use a square napkin to fold these cute flowers. I posted the video here, but am having trouble embedding it this time. Sorry, folks!

The smaller flowers were made with 6" cocktail napkins from a party supply store. They're incredibly affordable (50 for .99!), so buy a bunch of colors and cheer up your table for a lovely spring brunch. Or add some dimension and whimsy to a prezzie.

Happy almost-spring, all!

Holiday giftwrapping tip 8: rob your Christmas tree

It's almost go-time, and if you're like me, you're probably frantically getting those last few gifts on your list. That means you've got less time to lovingly wrap them. Here's a clever way to dress up a gift that's quick and green, in a way. Your recipient will take home your gift and hang the little ornaments on their own tree.


Cute, right? This prezzie has mini-ornaments and a jingle bell, secured with a simple, slim ribbon. The pleated paper band is optional, of course. And if you don't know how to do the pleat, a regular band of paper, or a wide grosgrain ribbon will do.

For larger gifts, use larger ornaments. Just make sure you take them from the back. :)

Happy holidays!

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!

Fine Giving on Fine Living

Years ago, I worked for Kate's Paperie in New York City. Fine Living asked me to share tips on gift wrapping. Check out this how-to video on making your gifts personalized and special.