Gift Taggs

Gift Closet from Pier 1

I am always impressed with people who are organised with gifts – those that do their Christmas shopping in September, buy the Christmas cards in the January sale and remember where they have stored them or always seem to have the perfect present at hand. My mother in law is one of these people, she manages to buy gifts in bulk or when she sees them, stores them away and the pulls them out just before the person’s birthday or Christmas all ready to be given.

I have been toying for a while with setting up a gift closet, I don’t really have a closet spare but I have an empty shelf in a dresser that I think would be perfect. So I have been researching what makes a perfect gift closet.

All the guides suggest starting with a gift journal to record all the birthdays and special occasions through the year – you can download pages to create on of these at Organised Home. I would also suggest adding some additional information like ages to the name to make sure you don’t miss any landmark occasions. I have taped mine to the door of the dresser.

Ideally I would love a proper wrapping station but failing that I have set up a box with gift bags (especially the ones for bottles of wine – this are so useful), rolls of paper and different colours of tissue paper for more delicate gifts. Then some rolls of ribbon (I use the realms of John Lewis), and a selection of gift tags. Another useful things to include are embellishments – badges and brooches, paper flowers and mini toys can all be used for that finished touch to your gift. Obvioulsy you want to include some scissors, sellotape and different coloured pens to this box.

Next greeting cards, think about all the occasions the happen in a year, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, new babies or home, I like to send a card for all of these. As a crafter, I always make the cards but am so unorganised that I end up having to rush out to Hobbycraft for supplies or ordering online – and I can never find what I am looking for, so the idea of having a box with cards I have already made would be ideal.

The other key thing to include I discovered from my research is some post it notes, to leave notes on gifts or as reminders to yourself – this is a good idea if you plan on re-gifting a present – you can make a note of who sent it to avoid any embarrassment.

Finally, I am including some jiffy envelope and stamps already for posting – so the only time I will have to leave the house to go to the post office to mail the gift.

Next Week, the actual gift inventory.

Tags: gift closet, gift wrapping, organisation

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Gift Toppers

I actually found this tutorial before Christmas when looking for interesting gift wrapping ideas, but hadn’t had a chance to use it until now. Bugs and Fishes by Lupin uses a variety of brooches and badges on her gifts, from antique brooches to felt flowers (which can be brought in her store).

This got me thinking about all the varieties I could try – using only brooches and badges I found in my own home I was able to achieve all these different looks. I am going to start hunting around charity shops in preparation from Christmas.

Tags: gift wrapping

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Last week I mentioned the lace bookmark I had made as a gift, in case you were interested in making bookmarks to accompany a book you are gifting, here are some of my favourite patterns or tutorials, the great this is no matter what your favourite craft is, there is a tutorial for you!  

Crochet Bookmarks by cantstopknitting

The Beaded Book Thong by Crochet Me, is really simple to make and even easier to personalise due to the variety of beads or charms on the market, you could spell out the recipient name or initials with letter beads or add their favourite animal  

Harry Potter Book Scarf by CaiaG

Don’t crochet, try this knitted Harry Potter Book Scarf, perfect for a budding wizard or for your muggle friends knit a plain coloured scarf. Alternatively you could knit one in school colours or the team colours.   

Scrap Material Bookmark by 7 Layers

I love 7 Layers, idea behind making these Scrap Material Bookmarks, like most crafters I can’t seem to throw out, to me this just prove that even the smallest scrap of material can be turned into something fabulous! 

Corner Bookmarks by Stamping Moments

Instead of making a traditional rectangle bookmarks, why not try on of these,  Corner Bookmarks, the tutorial uses stamps, but you can use any scraps of paper or wrapping paper.

Tags: bookmarks, gift wrapping, paper crafting, tutorials

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Whenever I send a gift I like to add an original touch, either by using creative wrapping or adding a little personal touch. I think books are one of the best ways to show your originality, the box nature of their shape means you can get really creative with the wrapping. Or for a really personal touch why not make a bookmark.

Lace Bookmark

I have to admit, I am one of those people who uses receipts or airline ticket stubs to mark my page in a book. Last year before going on holiday, I made myself this lace bookmark (pattern by crochetroo), my crochet skills are very minimal, and it did take me an evening to complete. But I just adore the finished project, and soon started making more for my family members.

Finally, it is a little pet hate of mine that the price is there on books for all to see. With any other gift you carefully remove the price tag, but you can’t really do this with a book. So when giving a book as a gift, I like to put a little sticker over the price tag. You can buy mini stickers in several high street stores like Accessorize or Paperchase (I prefer the non-padded ones).

Tags: bookmarks, gift wrapping

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Last month I wrote about the Gift Card Holders, I send out as Christmas presents. In the next few weeks I have a couple of awkward gifts to buy, one for a child but the present needs to be posted and the second is a house warming present where I have no idea what the couple need. So I looked online to find some more interesting ideas. These are some of my favourite tutorials I found. 

Present Gift Card by Custom Crops

This present ideas from Custom Crops is extremely versatile although it is from Christmas, it can be easily altered using scraps of paper and other embellishments. I am thinking of using pink card, some of the Disney Princess scrap-booking paper and stickers from Over the Rainbow, and of course a gift card for the Disney Store.

Box Gift Card by Angel Stamper 2

To add an extra dimension why not try this box holder by Angel Stamper 2. Although this one is very girly, I think it would be amazing for a wedding present, using white or cream paper, with hearts or flowers, and maybe use a romantic lyric for the quote inside.

Gift Voucher Card by Erica's Artistic Attic

The simplicity of this card by Erica’s Artistic Attic makes it perfect for adapting, how about using a football on the belly band and making the whole card in the recipients favourite team colours. Or a steering wheel, with racing stripes or checkerboard paper.

Gift Card House by Paper Monkey

Again, this house card by Paper Monkey is from Christmas, I think it is perfect for a house warming present. Using a flower punch for the “hinge”, changing the trees to flowers, and the greeting on the window to good luck.

Tags: gift cards, gift wrapping, paper crafting, tutorials

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I think a lot of people feel bad giving gift certificates or money as a gift because they think it was an unimaginative present, however there are times we have to give vouchers. Last Christmas, I had to buy several presents at short notice with no real time to hunt around the shops, so I opted to get them gift vouchers from HMV.

Disappointed that I didn’t have a chance to be very creative and I experimented with clever wrapping. I brought some Popcorn Boxes, filled them with packets of microwavable popcorn and Maltesers and the gift vouchers. I then attached a little card saying.

“As the days are getting colder, use this vouchers to buy some DVDs or a computer game and have a night in on us!”

The gifts went down extremely well, so this year I had to do something equally amazing, I opted to get cinema vouchers (checking where the recipient local multiplex was first). I found these Jolee’s Boutique Movie embellishments, and made some booklets, listing some of the big blockbusters that released around Christmas. On the front page I wrote…

Last year, we told you to have a night in on us…
This year we want you to have a night out on us!

Cimena Gift Card Ideas

Tags: gift cards, gift wrapping, paper crafting

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