Decorative Packaging

This cake could easily be a wedding cake or even a pretty princess birthday cake.  If you want to make the cake yourself, but are not very skilled with icing tips and flowers, this is a great alternative.  If you use a red and green plaid ribbon this can be a festive Christmas cake. The ribbon pattern or color will be determined by the occasion.

You can even purchase pre-made bows if you struggle with perfect bow tying.  Whether you make your own or buy them pre-made, attach the bows to floral wire and poke them into the cake.  You will want to remove them before slicing.

The top bow is a larger version of the mini ones.  You can also attach it to floral wire and a wooden stick like a Popsicle stick. This way you can poke it down into the top of the cake and remember to leave long flowing tails on the ribbon.

I wonder what is inside this beautifully wrapped gift.  The luxurious organza holiday ribbon bow is accessorized with a sweet angel head and wings and a fabulous gold star ornament.

It’s my experience that if someone has gone to the effort to wrap a gift so special, then the inside must be extremely important. There was one exception when I was kid; my brother wrapped a set of markers in about 15 boxes ending with a box that originally held a dish washer which was my mom’s early Christmas gift.  He must have used 5 rolls of paper and an outlandish amount of scotch tape. I guess I am telling my age because Crayola had just started packaging a brilliant assortment of markers that were scented and I just had to have them.  I could have clobbered him for making me work so hard for the markers, but it was fun and I was so happy to get those markers.

Holiday ribbon comes in all styles and colors. This could be an all occasion gift, or a special New Year gift to that special someone to start the year off in the right direction.

It’s fun to share the love all year long.  This is a cute idea at Valentine season to put love notes in or a sweet treat.  I am a firm believer that we don’t need a special day to say I Love You to those in our lives that need to hear it.

Who wouldn’t love opening their lunch box or purse, or reach into a jacket pocket for something and pulling out a little token of love?

Choose decorative paper.  Fine grade paper or origami paper folds neat and easy but you can use any you have.  Just make sure it is not too heavy.  Double sided paper is also a great choice.

Tools and Materials

Decorative paper
Pencil
Ruler
Satin Ribbon
1. Find or make a heart pattern out of poster board or card board.  Whatever you choose for a pattern, make sure it is sturdy enough to trace repeatedly.

2. Lay a square template that is centered over the heart. Make creases along the four lines by lightly folding the paper. Smooth creases with a bone your finger; a ruler will help achieve a perfect line.

3. Fold in each side of the heart, and then fold down the top, smoothing each crease with your finger. Slip the point of the heart into the open top, making sure that it fits snugly before completing the fold.

4.  Seal the packet with a bow, make slits wide enough to accommodate a piece of narrow satin ribbon in the top and bottom creases of the square. Multiple hearts can be nested, as long as each fits within the center square of another when folded.

Holiday poppers are a creative idea for place setting name tags.  If you run short of time, you can buy party poppers at any discount or hobby store.

But it is more fun to make your own.  The kids will love helping you. If you make your own, then you can have any color you want and fill them with your favorite candy.  These have been made with toilet-paper but you can use a paper towel roll and cut it in half also.  Fill them up with candy and wrap with tissue paper.

Make name tags with card stock or scrapbook material and use double stick tape squares to attach it.  Metallic curling ribbon is perfect for the ends

Silver Hershey’s kisses and peppermints all wrapped up with metallic ribbon will look great for New Year’s celebrating; the candy can double as an after-dinner treat.

Here is a cute craft idea for a baby shower decoration. It’s a spin off from the baby shower diaper cake. This diaper wreath is very simple to make.

You can start with a simple wire hanger or purchase a wire wreath form. If you are making this as a gift as well as a decoration, You can wrap the hanger with baby blankets or cloth diapers, onesies, or any other type of clothing.

Be careful to make it the same width all the way around. Wrap each diaper around the hanger then secure with curling ribbon. Continue around until the whole ring is full.

Attach random baby items around the wreath to decorate it. Baby shower ribbon would be great to accent it if you know what the baby will be. Use a teddy bear instead of a bow to complete the look.

It is fun to get an elegantly wrapped gift with a fabulous bow.

If you aren’t crafty in bow making, you could buy pre made bows and just stick them on.  But this idea is much more fun and has more eye appeal! Kids might enjoy a cute package like this while the adults would appreciate the elegant bows you tie.

Kids love candy, and everyone loves candy canes, If they don’t love peppermint, you can use different flavors and colors of candy canes to embellish your gifts.

This style is as simple as using ribbon to wrap the package, and then use a simple bow tie or square knot to secure.  Add a gift tag, and slip a lollypop or candy cane under the ribbon.  Candy striped ribbon is so much fun and my favorite is the red and white striped ribbon that looks like candy canes.

Make your gifts fun to receive.

Wrapping a beautiful package for Christmas can be as unique as you are. I must admit that I adore the traditional red velvet ribbon and a huge bow on a green or white box. But these fabulous gifts are bursting with trendy colors and topped with mini ornaments.

Chartreuse and coral look excellent together! Notice that they have used two different textures of ribbon with the mini ornaments to add texture to their creative wrapping style. The Coral bow tie on the chartreuse paper is a combination of grosgrain ribbon and satin ribbon in complimentary shades of coral and pink.

Wider satin topped with narrower sheer ribbon would also add depth and texture to your simple bow. The chartreuse bows have been created using wide satin and narrower velvet ribbon then topped with mini glass ornaments. They have even added shiny with matte finish balls. Beautiful wrapping style that will work for any special occasion you have.

Aren’t these decorative packages cute?  Candy striped ribbon with a huge lolly-pop for added pizazz!

Kids love candy!  Presents should be fun to look at and fun to open.  You have probably spent a lot of money on the gift in side.  So why not make the outside just as important?

This would look great as a Christmas gift or all occasion gifts as well.  The candy cane is always a festive touch as a gift topper.  Pair it with red and white polka dot ribbon and it is sure to be a hit!

Add lots of color when wrapping.  Using colorful candy is a great way to accent your basic ribbon bow on any gift.  Foil wrapped kisses could easily be attached to ribbon with double stick tape squares.

Have fun wrapping and while you are at it.. don’t forget the REAL reason for the season!

Adding decorative ribbon spices up any table setting.  As you are finishing up your Christmas wrapping, be sure to replenish your ribbon stock.  Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

This beautiful table is sweetly enhanced by adding little ribbon touches everywhere.  Delicate ribbon bows tied around the cookie treats match the satin ribbon bow on the napkins.  A simple white table cloth can be decorated by streams of ribbon in random places.  It can be held in place by the plates.

Be sure to keep all ribbon away from the candle flame. Add some Valentine’s Day candy all around the table.  This table is almost too pretty to add the food!

Have you finished your wrapping yet?  I am ashamed to admit I have not started shopping yet.  But that is ok because the real celebration of Christmas is not about shopping and all the madness that comes with the rush and hustle and bustle.  We may have gotten very busy but we are still focused on the true meaning of Christmas.

Using wide ribbon for traditionally wrapping a gift is always a favorite, and then add an abundant bow either by tying a large simple bow or by adding a multi loop bow would be a traditionally wrapped present.  This gift has the EXTRA WOW factor because of the added curling ribbon streamers.  I love curling ribbon!

It takes simple and adds pizzazz! Try adding green curling ribbon with the red ribbon wrapping.  You will have a very festive gift!