it's that time of the year to to start collecting little bits + bobs to pretty up your gift packages--you can create a gift wrapping “drawer” that is small in size but big in inspiration. simply “pull” it out and take with you to whichever room you need to use it in.
Scour local flea markets + thrift shops for orphan drawers or simply designate a drawer in a furniture piece you already own. Really long drawers that are not that wide—are often a perfect fit for a book shelf.
Things I like to stock in my drawer:
Paper
Various patterns, textures + weights of paper. This is the place to save your smaller scraps of those precious specialty papers leftover from bigger projects. Great for making tags for a last minute gift wrapping session. Use left over paper, junk mail flyers, wall paper or calendar pages to create gift card envelopes. Create a master template out of chipboard for future envelope folding sessions.
Tags
Cut your own tags from various materials—wood veneer, cotton rag paper, thin aluminum sheets.
Reinforcement Holes
I add these most often to glassine envelopes, as I love the contrast of the translucency with the kraft paper.
Interesting Labels
Red border labels are my favorite, but I also love interesting stickers and tiny vintage pharmacy labels that quickly lend a certain unique charm to gift wrapping. Look for unique labels that have some ‘white space’ that you can write the recipient’s name on or label the contents of a box of baked goods.
String +Things 4 Tying
Waxed linen cord, Divine Twine + basic kitchen string are my favorites. Various textures + widths of ribbon. Sari shops have gorgeous ribbons + trims.
Scissors
Pointy precision scissors for snipping out small shapes or cutting a decorative element out of a piece of patterned paper. Pinking shears + scalloped edged fabric scissors for cutting out felt shapes and making fabric flowers from scraps.
Sticky Things
Glue sticks (UHU is my preference), Japanese tape for decorative elements on cards + tags. industrial strength glue dots are great for holding an item securely to a gift tag or gift top. Adhesive labels to use in place of tape if the gift wrapping only needs to be secured in a few areas. Scotch tape.
Florist Wire
This thin wire is great for wiring bells and charms and sequins onto boxes + envelopes. It is available plain in various lengths, or covered in colors such as green or brown.
Vintage Millinery
Cotton, linen + velvet flowers + leaves can add a depth of texture to a plain square box.
Letters + Numbers
Vintage + new numbers + letters made of various materials are perfect gift toppers. You can personalise the gift by date, age, recipient's monogram or favorite number. Add as a single focal item on a handmade card--use a beautiful cotton rag card as your base for a really nice textural/design contrast. Wood, aluminum, plastic or glass--if it's a number or a letter I will collect it.
Custom Rubber Stamps
These are so affordable to have made at a local office supply company—pricing starts at around $7.00 and that is with a wood handle! Choose sentiments that can be used for any occasion—my most often used stamp simply says ‘FOR YOU’.
My Favorite Extras
Sequins. Tiny wooden clothespins. Grommets. Brads. Brass stencils. Pharmacy Labels. Handmade pin back buttons. Old buttons with metal shanks. Velvet fabric scraps. Glassine envelopes. Kraft paper.
I also think it is worth taking note of what kind of gifts you give. I tend to give smaller items such as jewelry, pottery, music, books and gift cards. This steers me towards thinner ribbon widths, brown paper + unique toppers as these items tend to be square or rectangular or go into smaller boxes.
Collected bits + pieces do not need to be holiday specific --your creativity is what puts the finishing touch on your packages.
{i'll be sharing with you some of my gift wrapped packages that utilize many of these packaging favorites}
