Monday, December 17, 2012

Poinsettia: noun

Poinsettias, the iconic red-and-green Christmas plants, have the botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima, meaning "very beautiful." The native Mexican plant grows as a perennial shrub in nature, but is best known in the U.S. as a holiday houseplant. What many people consider the plant's red flowers are really modified leaves, or bracts. The actual flowers are the small yellow cyathia in the center of the red bracts.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's the last week of our Handmaking the Holidays and it's crunch time for everyone to get their gifts wrapped up, which means it's my turn to make sure that everyone is inspired to do some creative gift wrapping! Here are some Pinterest inspired ideas:
 
How about re-cycling some old sweaters for a cozy wrapping?
 
Or use up all your odds and ends of ribbons past and create an eclectic wrapping? I personally do this every couple of years, it cleans out the Christmas ribbon stash that way, and you don't need to add a bow either! ( no link provided )

For all the yarn enthusiasts, how about making some big fluffy pom poms?

 
And for the bakers out there, include a cookie to adorn the tops of your presents! And instead of pine needles, how about a sprig of rosemary or thyme? ( no link provided )
 
I hope some of these ideas will get you motivated to be a little creative this season! 

( I have discovered something I really hate, and that's Pinners who don't provide a link or who do not link a project directly but link the whole blog!! That's so frustrating and such a turn off for me, I don't even go looking for the posted project, which is what they think they will get you to do, but I leave their blog immediately..is it just me?
...am I Pinterst blog Grinch? )
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And Ranger is having their own gift wrapping contest!!

Ranger Gift Wrap Contest
 
Ranger products: 
Stickles - Holly, and Star Dust ( used Holly to outline the existing pattern on the box and used Star Dust to embellish the Poinsettia leaves and the thread of the button )
and
Really Reasonable Ribbon #62 Anything Goes & Ribbon Theme
also
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Gift-spiration
 
 
 
other:
 
Jolee's bling
Really Reasonable Ribbon
 Hot Glue Gun ( to secure the ribbon closure )
Velcro ( to make the decorated box easy to open and close )
Martha Stewart lace die cut tag ( doily ...to cover the mistake I made with the glue gun! )
Me and My Big Ideas - fabric paper ( covered the top and bottom of box )
poinsettia leaves ( recycled from old Christmas arrangement )
Fancy Pants - button
box - ( re-cycled )

 
This will be my final gift box made for the Art MoB, so far, including this one, I sold all but 3, you can see the others I created here. I am always learning new things since I began selling and I thought that my boxes would be bought mainly by men, as they are notorious for not gift wrapping, but no, they have all been bought by females...who would've thunk that...not me anyway :)


13 comments:

Redanne said...

Some fantastic ideas there Sandee, I love the pom pom ones, made my SIL a bobble hat so am off to make another pom pom for his gift topper - such a great idea. Love your poinsettia too and glad to hear things are selling well at MoB too. Hugs, Anne x

Mary Pat Siehl said...

love the velcro idea! tfs!!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I like the idea of using fresh rosemary (even lavender) as the sprig for your gift wrap. Nice idea.

Since I don't visit Pinterest, I have no idea even what a PIN is! Color me confused and behind the times as usual. Age of the geek, baby!

Your poinsettia box is marvelous. I have found most men wait till the last minute to buy anything, including gift wrap and boxes. You'll be surprised how many you will sell right before Christmas (like on the 24th).

BTW, my poinsettia lost four leaves this morning. Three were pure green, but one was both colors. I have lost several flowers/cyathia, though.

Katie said...

I love the wrapping ideas!

No link, or a wrong link, on pinterest drives me crazy!

Terrie said...

Great wrapping ideas - I love adding little different doodads to my gifts. This year I tried something new and stitched some punched paper circles together to make my own "ribbon" - rally fun.

I agree about Pinterest - it's SO frustrating to not have the actual link. I do repin occasionally but try to remember to click thru and make sure it's a valid link. If it doesn't go to the project/idea, like you I leave and don't repin.

I haven't left a comment in a while but never fear, I'm still reading...just HAD to cut my commenting a bit...it was taking over my life! Hope you have a spectacular holiday!

Melissa @ LoveBugLiving said...

I have a bunch of wrapping to do and definitely needed this inspiration. I usually feel so overwhelmed with all the wrapping I have to do that the packages don't get the attention they need. Maybe this year will be different!
Melissa
www.lovebugliving.com

scrappymo! said...

hahaha I agree with Bluebeard and
elizabeth that men buy at the last minute. You may sell to men on Christmas eve around 8pm! hahahaha

Thanks for the great ideas and your velcro idea is a corker!

May said...

Yummy, Yummy pom poms...Great idea... I may have to try that one.. They all fabulous.. Love your creation Sandee.. what a treat!! Hugs May x x x

Barb King said...

Cute ideas, and what a nice, bright flower!

Neesie said...

Oh thanks a bunch Sandee...You've just added more onto my list now I've got to bake and wrap too ;D
Brilliant ideas which I never thought of before.
I think you'd have to be careful though because that your gift box would outshine quite a few presents! The poinsettia is perfect :D

Blokes definitely buy on Christmas Eve so you may well sell out completely!

Bonnie Garby said...

Beautiful gift box and some great ideas! I agree about the links on Pinterest!! Thanks so much for participating in our Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge.

Suzanne C said...

Fantastic Inspiration! Love all the different wrappings and the poinsettia is fabulous. Glad you joined us at SImon Says Stamp and SHow! Happy Holidays!

Heather said...

Beautiful wrappings!
Thank you for joining us at RRR!
Hugs
Heather