I need to pick your brains....

[jorgies5]

since you are the most creative group I know.

I was asked to give a 5 minute presentation on gift wrapping in a couple of weeks. The problem is...the extent of my creativity is going to Target and buying a $2 gift bag and stuffing it with tissue (I am still baffled at why they asked me to do this).

Sooo, if any of you know of any websites, blogs, etc that I could turn to for ideas, please link me up and I will love you forever. Or if you have seen anything at parties or gathering where you have thought, "Wow that is such a great gift wrapping idea!" list it here for me. I am looking for birthday, baby, and wedding ideas. I also need to compile a packet for everyone to take home with them for future reference.

I have done a few google searches and haven't been too impressed with what I have found, so I need some help!

[carriesmom]

Why not teach some basic techniques like how to make different kinds of bows, how to do the tissue paper in bags (place the item in the bag then unfold your tissue paper and pinch the middle and flip it over to make perfect paper to stuff in the bag.) How to layer ribbons to make multidimensional bows. Tags and embellishments to make a package unique, how to decorate a bag to make it personalize. Just a few ideas. I love gift wrapping and actually checked a book out from the library years ago on how to do all sorts of different things.

[jacinda]

I had to do a lesson at church for the ladies similar to this. I decided to do the envelope bags. This YouTube video will show you how. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbDq6RWy8yE&feature=related

I made up several samples, decorated in different ways (and no I didn't stamp any like in the vid), attached handles, or tied them up in various ways. The ladies LOVED it.

[Julie Billingsley]

oooh! Teach them how to do it hybrid with digi supplies!! :)

[jorgies5]

Why not teach some basic techniques like how to make different kinds of bows, how to do the tissue paper in bags (place the item in the bag then unfold your tissue paper and pinch the middle and flip it over to make perfect paper to stuff in the bag.) How to layer ribbons to make multidimensional bows. Tags and embellishments to make a package unique, how to decorate a bag to make it personalize. Just a few ideas. I love gift wrapping and actually checked a book out from the library years ago on how to do all sorts of different things.

Maybe you can just come and do it for me :p These are great ideas. I didn't really think about covering the basics, although I have no clue on how to make multidimensional bows. I didn't think of going to the library...thanks for that tip too!

[jorgies5]

I had to do a lesson at church for the ladies similar to this. I decided to do the envelope bags. This YouTube video will show you how. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbDq6RWy8yE&feature=related

I made up several samples, decorated in different ways (and no I didn't stamp any like in the vid), attached handles, or tied them up in various ways. The ladies LOVED it.

Those are really cool! I am definitely going to make up a few samples of those to show. Thank you for the idea!

[jorgies5]

oooh! Teach them how to do it hybrid with digi supplies!! :)

I totally want to try and use my digi-supplies to make things (and then I can make sure to put the Sweet Shoppe on my handout as a reference.)

[chloe]

Martha Steward has some good suggestion too:
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/memorable-gift-wrap
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/wrap-it-up
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/foolproof-gift-wrapping
http://www.wholeliving.com/photogallery/green-decorating-and-wrapping-ideas#slide_3
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/eco-gift-wrap (I especially like that one!)
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/wrapping-gifts

My favorite (and cheap!) way to wrap stuff is to buy one big (and cheap!) roll of solid paper and lots of "accessories": ribbons, tags, maybe some themed patterned pp. It's like having a (cheap!) little black dress and change the way it look just by changing the shoes! If you pick the right type of paper, you can even stamp on it with stamps you already have... cheap! Last Christmas I had a thin kraft pp (brown bag style), red and white ribbons of various sizes... Got tons of different wrapping done for cheap, and it was fun!!! Oh, did I mention that it doesn't have to cost much?? LOL

[ColleenSwerb]

Chloe, I'm totally obsessed with wrapping everything in craft paper right now, lol. I LOVE that the accent colors can be ANYTHING and I can work wtih what I have. I've practically given up on regular wrapping paper now, lol.

Here's an awesome ribbon wrap technique (http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2009/11/tuesday-how-to-gift-wrap-bows.html) that I got to try a few weeks ago. It's the same basic principle (cross the ribbons to wrap in the other direction) but with this method there's no bulky bunch on the bottom/back so it lays down flat.

[Sharon Kay]

Years ago Carol Duvall had an episode that showed how to make instant gift bags out of gift wrap ... I used that idea for a couple of years when suddenly I needed a gift bag. Just keep a couple of different sized boxes around to use (pop tart boxes, thick cereal boxes, shoe box, etc.) ... I will still do that if I get stuck for a gift wrap idea...that is about as fancy as I get. lol

[sczos911]

I'd use plain bags and digi supplies to decorate the bags. :) or make tags out of digi supplies. I'm simple like that.

[kaylaugh]

I like the plain gift bags with the stiff twisted paper handles. I also like to keep prying little fingers out of the bag...lol. So my favorite trick is to use cardstock to make a very shallow box lid for the bag. You cut two slits for the handles to poke through and double-sided tape under the edges keep it shut. this is a great way to hide the contents when the gift is the same height as the bag (or tall enough to not allow taping the bag shut, anyway.)

I'll see if I can find pics of what I mean...

Kristi

[tettletop20]

Jacinda - love that idea!

I recently made a bow out of digital paper I printed off. This is what it looked like (the box is from a template at SM) and here is the tutorial I made the bow from: Paper Bow (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/dsp_bow/)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/opticalgirl1979/P3040023_small.jpg

[lovely1m]

I am a terrible wrapper. I get frustrated and just pile all the extra paper on to the side of the box and just tape it down with a ton of tape. Its pathetic.