Dr. Who TARDIS giftwrap, pt. II

I enjoyed my last Dr. Who themed giftwrap so much that I made another one. A big one! A lovely couple asked me to create a TARDIS for their daughter, a huge Dr. Who fan. This giftbox measures about 14" square by 30" tall, plenty of space for the many fun gifts they bought her. It was so much fun to make:

The lantern was a lucky find: a little plastic jar from my shop.

If you decide to make your own, get extra glue sticks and dots. And measure EVERYTHING. Twice.

I especially loved the cool old-timey (or timey-wimey) ornamental feet and corner caps. Thanks Tim Holtz!

One last pic to show scale! This was a complicated project with a ton of steps, but I loved every part of it. It's really fun; try making one yourself! Allons-y!

Nerd alert: Dr. Who steampunk gift wrap

Along with gift wrapping, exercise, and macarons, I'm addicted to the BBC's Dr. Who. So it was just a matter of time before a Whovian-inspired prezzie appeared in my shop. Besides the great writing, lovable characters, and general awesomeness of the show, I love the steampunk set design, especially the styling of our favorite blue box. So I made my own!

At first the broken foil in the pleats bothered me, but then I thought, "Heck, you don't travel through time and space without getting a few dents and scratches."

Materials: blue foil, sheer gold ribbon, patterned self-adhesive ribbon, gold thread, Tim Holtz sprockets, decorative photo corners, bling.

Who's my favorite Doctor? This ribbon is a clue.

Little Carol loves cruising around in her TARDIS.

Don't worry, it's bigger on the inside.

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!

Want. Exquisite paper post

This is a time for restraint and discipline. I cannot buy more paper until I get another Jolie Colis order, so instead of going on a spree, I'll just talk about all this gorgeous, gorgeous paper I covet. Maybe writing about it will scratch the itch until I can claim these pretties.

Amethyst and gold brocade paper from Luxe Paperie. So extravagant and vibrant. I'd wrap something shirt box-sized or larger to show off as much of the print as possible. A sheer ribbon would be nice, something really fine and diaphanous with lots of volume. $6.50 for a 39" x 27.5" sheet. Not bad! Made in Italy.

Emilio Pucci "blu" paper from Luxe Paperie. Ooh, fashionista! Love, love, love this paper! I love wrapping gifts with fashion in mind, because wrapping gifts is a bit like dressing yourself. You need color, shape, good proportions and accessories. $4.50 for a 20" x 28" sheet. Slightly smaller and more expensive per inch, but seriously. Pucci. Made in Italy. Of course.

Gold calligraphy from Luxe Paperie. Drool. This paper combines three of my favorite things: giftwrapping, fountain pens, and penmanship. (Which still matters, by the way. Stay tuned for a post on why you should care about handwriting.) $6.50 for a 39" x 27.5" sheet. Made in Italy.

Midori Pink Chandelier from Midori. Okay, I have this paper already, but I LOVE it! The silver is so bright, and it has such a wonderful weight and texture. Better for bigger gifts because the print is pretty big, and the weight needs a larger surface area to avoid bulking up. $25 for 5 21" x 29" sheets. I used it to wrap a book -- it came out fabulous!

Midori Lavender Cherry Blossom from Midori. Yeah, I have this one, too. But as soon as I'm out, I'm buying more. These papers are so lovely, I feel a bit of agony cutting into it. But I did, and it was worth it. Check it out! $25 for 5 21" x 29" sheets.

So, yup. I still want to buy paper. And I'm cursed with a taste for really fancy, expensive goods. Eh, you have to be who you are. :)

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.

Non-giftwrapping post: Beauty and fragility

courtesy DominicsPics

I can't believe it's already been a month since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. This past Sunday, I read this article about a month-new mayor in the coastal town of Rikuzentakata, and the terrible choices he had to make on the day of the disaster. It left me in tears. I was struck by the incredible strength and dignity of the survivors in the face of all of this suffering and uncertainty.

As I sat there in my quiet, sunny kitchen, with a warm cup of coffee and my snoozing cat, it reminded me of how grateful I was to be safe and comfortable, and how easily normal life can be turned upside down in a few moments. The next day at work, I read about Project Paper Crane, which is creating a public art installation of origami cranes to raise awareness and money to help the relief effort in Japan. I've made my modest donation, and will attend one of the crane-folding sessions next week. I hope you'll support this cause, too.

Reading about Project Paper Crane brought to mind a bittersweet memory from a few years ago, when I was dealing with health issues and some other overwhelming life stresses. One frigid December morning, I cut through one of the academic buildings on campus on my way to the office. I climbed the stairwell to the second floor exit, and on the way, I saw something unexpected and beautiful:

Eight tiny cranes, on the window frame in the stairwell. They were lined up perfectly, and each could fit on a quarter. I don't know quite why, but for some reason I felt like someone left them there to cheer me up. So I took pictures. And smiled for the rest of the day when I thought of them.

That night, I went home and made eight tiny silver butterflies, and the next morning, carefully placed them in the neighboring window pane. It was especially tricky, since much of the joy was the secret-ness of them. I paced back and forth on the landing, waiting for students to leave, and then leaned over the railing to place the butterflies on the shelf. In retrospect, I probably looked totally crazy. (My only regret: I lost the photos I took of my butterflies!)

Mission accomplished, I practically skipped to the office, feeling happy about my new origami mystery friend. On my way home, I stopped by again, to admire our little display of cranes and butterflies.

I was not prepared for what I found the next morning:

88 cranes. Perfectly uniform, perfectly spaced, lining 10 window panes.

Exhilarated, I snapped photos, and bought more origami paper on the way home. I made 88 butterflies over the weekend, and started planting them about 10 at a time, because that's all I had time for. I figured my origami friend must have been a student working late hours of the night, when nobody was around.

On the third day of "butterfly delivery," I climbed the stairs and stopped in my tracks. Someone had destroyed the display, knocking the cranes everywhere, and crushing some on the ground. I remember just staring at the mess, trying to deal with how angry and sad I felt. Why and how could someone destroy something so exquisitely beautiful that clearly took so long to build? I was surprised by the sense of loss I felt over these scattered little bits of paper.

So I did the only thing I could do. I bent down and picked up as many as I could, fixed the broken ones, and carefully put them back. Only about a quarter of them made it, but I still felt good about it. I added a handful of the new ones in my purse.

The same thing happened the next day. This time I just walked past it and went straight to my office. I closed the door and cried. It sounds totally silly, but in a way it makes sense. I was going through a dark time in my life, and this little exchange was a spontaneous bright spot. I guess I should have known that it wouldn't last forever. Eventually, I came to feel happy about it, despite the disappointing end. I chose to accept the happiness it brought me, however fleeting.

I still checked the stairwell periodically, hoping my friend would re-appear. But I didn't see a sign of them for months. Then one day in April, a bunny and some chicks showed up on the shelf. And I just burst into laughter. Even now when I think about it, it makes me smile because it reminds me that no matter how terrible things get, there's always hope, and there's always tomorrow.

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 engagement giftwrapping, part 2

My last post on wrapping engagement rings had quite a response, so I'm posting another idea.  This one is really simple, and it's incredibly romantic.

I printed two versions of a love poem, in a large and small font size. Skew the angle of the lines so it's visually interesting. And don't worry about it not being readable; this is as much for the graphic effect as it is about the sentiment.

Cover the top and bottom of a box with the printed text, and add a simple ribbon. It's a lovely way to make the moment extra special, especially if you're not great with words. Use a poem, or song lyrics. Heck, you can use lines from the first movie you saw together, if that's meaningful to you.

This project would work nicely for any other occasion, like Mother's Day, Father's Day, or even a version with words of wisdom for a graduation gift.

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.