Decorative Packaging

I love to crochet and I am not very good at knitting so I get bored with the same ole patterns. Here is a fun alternative for scarfs. This can be made of fat yarn or several strands of regular yarn.  I have even seen multiple colors of wide taffeta ribbon used to make this scarf.  All of the various materials will give you a different look, each one fabulous and unique to please all of those on your list of gifts to give.

Here are the basic instructions. You can adjust the pattern depending on what you use to make it with.  Play around with various materials, like thin satin ribbon in many colors, or even long strips of fleece.

Cut 12 pieces of bulky weight yarn about 2x longer than the desired length of the finished scarf.  (You will need to work with 4 groups to knot, make your groups equal in width) (140 inch length can make an 86 inch length scarf) Macramé knots look best for this craft.  You can Google to find out how to make the square knot.

Divide yarn into 4 bunches of 3 strands each, Tie 2 bunches together with a square knot, and leave 6 inches of fringe at the end, repeat with remaining bunches. Pin knots to a piece of foam or card board to help you keep things straight.  Knot inner 2 bunches of yarn together, spacing knot 1 inch from existing knots, then knot left and right bunches together.  Alternate knotting the inner bunches and the left and right ones, spacing knots evenly apart, until about 6 inches of yarn remain on the end. Finish so that all the final knots are a mirror image of the opposite end.  Trim the ends evenly and make sure they don’t ravel.

Have you noticed that the new trends with scarfs just keep getting longer and longer? I have seen some kids trying to wear them that almost look like a hazard. This is a great idea and very Purchase them ahead of time so you can have all your craft items done before the holidays.

You can start with a long fleece scarf. You can also make them out of fleece. The fabric will quick to do. These would make great gifts, or craft bazaar items to sell. The best time to buy scarfs is after Christmas, when all the seasonal things are marked way down. You can purchase many of them at a fraction of the cost for one at original price. Fleece fabric will also go on sale to make room for the spring fabrics.

Kids can make this simple project for family members. All you need for this craft is either a long wide scarf, or ample amount of fleece fabric, pins, yarn, or knitting ribbon and a wide eye needle. Decide if you want to make it with two pockets or three and if you want to make some with equal width pockets or some narrow and some wide. Also you will need to determine how deep you want to make the pockets.

If the scarf has fringe, you can either cut if off and hem the ends, or fold the fringe down to decorate the outside of the pockets. Fold up the ends of the scarf to the desired depth and pin the sides and the middle. Use a ruler to be sure that you keep the lines perfectly straight. Using a darning needle, thread the knitting ribbon or yarn through the needle and then sew both layers. Use pins as the guide. Cross stitch the top seam and tie off the ends and hide the ends inside the seam.

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.

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!

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!

Christmas is a magical time for kids, they are full of excitement and wonder and hopes of what will be under the Christmas tree.  As a parent, I try to make sure that a lot of thought and love goes into my presents for the kids.

Then I make sure I wrap them with special paper and wonderful holiday ribbon bows.  I always knew that the gift that mom took the most time wrapping was the most special surprise under the tree.  I always looked every year under the tree and hoped that the special gift was mine.  Kids are so funny.  Now as a parent, its better to give than receive because my gift is the look on their face when they see the one thing that they hoped to get in the pretty wrapping paper.

I’m glad my parents never did this to me.  And I am also very glad that my kids never reacted like this to any gift they ever got from me!  Ha ha   Enjoy a big laugh at this video link at the bottom.  And have a blessed Christmas!

This is a super funny video on how to give bad gifts to your kids for Christmas, My boss wanted me to share it with you all.  ha ha

Video: Parents Prank Kids With Bad Gifts

Who doesn’t love polka dots?  They are so fun!  This chocolate brown paper with baby pink polka dots is adorable!  Polka dots are for all occasions!  This decorative package would look great for a baby shower or Christmas present!  That is a huge difference in occasion for wrapping paper.  This is one of the wonderful things about polka dots.  If you use plain paper and polka dot ribbon, or polka dot paper with plain grosgrain ribbon.

Brown and pink are very hot colors to mix right now.  If you stocked up on paper like this or a combination of paper with complimentary polka dot ribbon in a variety of colors, you will never need to buy any other paper or type of ribbon.

Polka dots are great for baby showers, fun as wedding paper, trendy as Christmas paper,  always acceptable for birthday paper, and If you didn’t use pink, even the guys would not mind getting a gift with polka dots on it.