Decorative Packaging

While thinking about another blog topic which would relate to Autism Awareness month, I realized I had never taken the time to really think about why the jigsaw puzzle design is used for the Autism Awareness ribbon. I couldn’t find much on the web explaining the design choice, but because I have a close family member who is Autistic, the answer was relatively obvious.

Autism comes in many shapes and levels of severity. For decades, the way to unlock the Autistic mind has been a puzzling mystery. Different therapies and lifestyle choices seem to work for different individuals. The sensory triggers which disturb or excite Autistic children are equally varying and puzzling. However, research is making great progress where Autism is concerned. Little by little, puzzle piece by puzzle piece, scientists, parents and specialized educators are discovering better ways to communicate with and unleash the amazing potential of those with Autism.

Wear an Autism Awareness ribbon in April and support this important research.

“Take off your shoes. Take off your shoes! Are you going to take off your shoes?” were the excited words I could expect to hear whenever I would go to my aunt’s house growing up. My younger cousin, Michael, was autistic, and taking off our shoes meant we were going to stay a while and visit.

Always making us smile with his superhero antics and his love for anything to do with numbers and telling time, Michael is a unique and extremely wonderful person. A mix of consistency and unpredictability, we knew we could expect Michael to have strong opinions about pretty much everything, we just didn’t know what they would be.

April is Autism Awareness Month. Some great Autism Awareness ribbons are available through online companies like, State Line Ribbon and Trim. Click the link to see their products.

While wrapping, ribbons, and stickers can be an afterthought to some people when giving a gift, I’ve found that recipients feel more special when a gift is well wrapped.  I’ve been known to spend just as much time wrapping a gift as selecting it, and I don’t feel bad about it at all.  Most of the time I start off with some unique wrapping paper to fit the occasion; I have several tubes I’ve collected over the years so finding a unique wrapping to suit the recipient is never an issue.  I like to tie a nice blue ribbon on a lot of the gifts I give, but the color varies depending on the wrapping paper.  I usually finish the gift off with a bunch of stickers and a nametag.

Doing this I’ve found that people appreciate their gifts a lot more, and also my gift tends to be opened first.  Taking the time to wrap a gift carefully shows that you care about the recipient. 

You will need: Black beaded stretch bracelet, flowers (small orchids shown above), a green chenille wire stem, green stem tape, ribbon (Lion ”Flair” ribbon shown in 5/8″ purple), decorator beaded wire, jeweled 2 1/2″ floral stems, decorator wire, green floral leaves.

 1. Secure stems of floral leaves to a chenille stem with stem tape.

2. Add ribbon, jeweled wire and colored decorator wire to the stem and leaves.

3. Add jeweled wire picks to the center of each flower and secure the flower to wire with stem tape. Attach each flower to leaf base with stem tape and gently bend into desired angle.

4. Secure your corsage to the beaded stretch wristlet with wire, and it’s ready to wear. Refrigerate fresh flower corsage 38 to 40 degrees (50 to 55 for tropical flowers).

With many high school seniors looking for a way to individualize their prom night hair style, the addition of a delicate thin satin ribbon is an easy way to stand out. Select a color that matches or coordinates with your dress and accessories. Have your hair stylist (or your friends if your a do-it-yourselfer) weave the ribbon in and out of your up do if its messy. Another option is to wrap a wider ribbon around as a loose headband when your updo is complete. Tie it in a bow, slightly to the side at the nape of the neck. Perfect!

Here are a few more ideas for using St. Patrick’s Day or Kelly green ribbon:

6. Give the kids and husband a “lucky” sack lunch. Stamp a brown lunch sack with shamrocks. Put in a green apple, green jell-o, a sandwich with mayo that has been turned green with food coloring and chocolates wrapped in gold foil.  Tie up the bag with green or St. Patrick’s Day ribbon. 

7.  Tie bags of home made green sugar cookies with the ribbon and give them to your friends and c0-workers. 

8. Wear a St. Patrick’s Day ribbon belt. 

9. Add St. Patrick’s Day ribbon bows to the toe of plain black, silver, gold or green flats. 

10. Tie small bags of chocolate kisses with the ribbon and add a tag that says “Kiss Me I’m Irish”. 

It’s time again to celebrate the luck of the Irish. St. Patrick’s Day is March 17. Here are some fun uses for St. Patrick’s Day Ribbon.

1. Use it instead of shoe laces.

2. Tie in your hair as a headband or ponytail bow.

3. Buy a bunch of mini teddy bears and tie the ribbon around their necks. Give these ‘Good Luck Bears’ to your friends and co-workers. 

4. Tie little bows around the top of some big hoop earrings-voila instant St. Pat’s earrings.

5. Hot glue St. Patrick’s Day ribbon bows to your little girls white ruffle socks.