Summer Gift Wrapping Ideas – Seaside style!

There’s sunshine creeping in through the curtains, the sound of buzzing of the bees and colour is in abundance, yes it must be summer and bringing with it, lots of birthdays and occasions to wrap for.

Summer has simply the most variety when it comes to wrapping themes and colours to use, so if you’ve only ever really thought about getting creative in the winter months, think again… July really is the new December!

From sea blues to tropical sunshine yellows the choice is endless. It’s the season to get vibrant, fun and dare we say it….A bit quirky!  And on that note….

Here’s a few of our own designs to help get your creative juices flowing!  Our theme?  The Great British Seaside! And, as ever….They’re simple to make, using mostly plain gift wrap then decorating with some bits lying around the house (yes even the Grandchildrens toy box wasn’t safe!…Bad Grandma!) …Oh and of course a dash of More Pretty Things style!

Please feel to replicate or do your own thing and don’t forget to link to us so we can see what you’ve been up to, we’d love to know.  For instagram & facebook add @moreprettythingsgiftwrapping or on twitter just add @expertwrapping

And as always if you know someone who’d like our blog ….Share, share, share the summer wrapping love by clicking the button below (after the annoying adverts)!

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And they lived happily ever after!

Do you always take a nicely wrapped gift to a wedding even if you’re giving them money or vouchers too? Being a bit of a traditionalist I must admit ‘I do’.

No matter how small, its all about the thought and celebrating the ‘gift’ of marriage. The day after our wedding my hubby and I sat relaxing with a glass of champagne in our hotel room, reflecting on our amazing wedding day and opening all the cards and gifts from our loved ones. We felt so emotional opening them and feeling all the love 💕 and thought behind them.

We were, after all, opening them together as Mr & Mrs…such a special feeling! As I recall it took us hours (a welcome breather after lots of busy days pre wedding!) and whilst I suspect it might take Meghan and Harry a bit longer to open theirs, they and all the other happy couples out there will undoubtedly appreciate the thought too if you do wrap them up even the littlest of something!

And so we come on to the actual wrapping…Oooh!!  I just so love wrapping for weddings! A luxury feel all the way is my tip (unless you know otherwise) and this doesn’t have to be costly or over the top either.  Satin ribbon, wedding sentiments or the addition of some imitation pearls or diamonds will all give a feel of luxe for that extra special day.

Ah….So there you have it…Just a few ideas to guide you through this years wedding season and one final tip for you…If it’s wrapped with love it’s always going to be the best gift you can give them!

For more information on our wrapping services and workshops please visit us at http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk

 

 

Last minute Valentines Wrapping Tip!

Got some last minute wrapping to do this Valentines but have run out of wrapping paper or simply forgotten to get some?  No worries…We have the answer!

Our top tip? Napkins!  They’re a great material to use in wrapping (particularly awkward shapes as they are more pliable than usual wrapping paper) and so whether you’ve already bought some napkins for tonights romantic meal or you’ve some oddments stashed in a kitchen drawer from times gone by, this handy alternative to paper will see you through your last minute wrapping needs… Phew!

Take your chosen napkin and lay it out in front of you. Pop the object you wish to wrap in the centre (ours being some gorgeous Hotel Chocolat melting hearts) and bring your napkin together a pleat at a time until the object is covered!  Tie with some co-ordinating ribbon (or string !), add a tag and there we go, a beautifully wrapping gift, quicker than you can say ‘Be my Valentine’….well nearly!   Happy Valentines everyone.

Like our top tips?  Please feel free to share with others!  And…For more great tips, wrapping ideas and information about our workshops please visit our website at http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk

Get Crafty with Kraft this Christmas

Bored of doing the same old thing with your gift wrapping and looking for some creative inspiration this Christmas? Then look no further than Kraft paper!

Being plain, Kraft paper is one of the most versatile papers to use. A blank canvas, it can change its look quite dramatically (depending on what you do with it!)

In this months blog we’re going to show you some crafty and creative ways to transform your Kraft paper using just a chalk marker, a few bits an bobs found around the house (or garden) and a little imagination!

Start by wrapping your gifts in kraft paper…Not looking very festive? Don’t panic! What could be more Christmassy than snow? Queue the chalk marker! Generously add lots of white spots over your kraft paper and voila….See how easy was that!

With this super snowy background whatever you now add will be sure to look fabulously festive, so it’s time to be creative and have some fun!   Here’s some we did earlier…!

We simply love the Scandinavian look and it’s so on trend!  We’ve added a wooden decoration and tied it in with some plain white satin ribbon. Ta dah!

Simplicity in itself….We’ve added a red felt coaster (that we got free in a home magazine some time ago) and tied on some matching wool we had in our craft basket. Easy but effective!

Got lots of buttons you don’t know what to do with?  Why not use them to make a cute picture. We’ve added in some wool scarves for colour and used a marker to draw in some detail and complete the picture.  The buttons can then be placed in their final position and securely stuck with double sided tape or glue.

 

Ever wondered what you can do with your Washi tape? Why not recreate a look of bunting with some string and write a festive message! (Well as long as it’s not ‘bah humbug’ that is!)

Want a classy look but in a hurry?  Just add some fresh foliage and pine cones then tie with a simple white satin ribbon. 

Merry Christmas and happy wrapping everyone! x

To sign up to our e-newsletter or for more information on our workshops visit http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk

 

 

 

Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping

In our workshops we not only teach lots of gift wrapping techniques but we also like to reveal our secrets of how to transform something rather plain looking into something stunning by adding simple to make, handmade decorative touches!

So this month we thought we’d share one of our festive favorites with you, just in time for all that Christmas wrapping – This gorgeous Pine Cone and Foliage Corsage!

There are various artificial alternatives you can find in the shops but none that will look quite as stunning  or be as inexpensive to make being that our version involves a spot of scavenging in the garden and surrounding woodland for most of your materials! By using fresh foliage it’ll not just look stunning but (depending on the type of foliage you use) it will smell gorgeous too, filling the air with a beautiful aroma and bringing that festive feeling into your home (and to the person’s you’re giving it to too!)

So here it is…Do have a go! But don’t forget…Foliage will dry out without water so to keep it looking as fresh as possible our tip is to have your gifts wrapped and cones wired up and waiting, then simply add your foliage at the last minute!

What you’ll need:  2 pine cones ,  some foliage  (we’ve used a mix of rosemary and hebe from our garden), wire (£1 for 15 wires) and florist stem tape (£2.50 per roll) both from our More Pretty Things shop.

Gather your pine cones, foliage and materials together.

Place a wire near the base of the pine cone in between one of the sections and wrap the wire around the cone.

Bring the two ends of the wire together to meet one another and…

…Twist! Keep twisting the two wires together and when you near the end, turn the sharp ends of the wire over so that you have a rounded end instead.

You now need to cover the wire with stem tape. To do this start at the top, pinch it on and then twist it on to the wire all the way down the stem…

Continue winding stem tape down to the bottom of the stem then fold over and come back up the stem to the top. Repeat with other pine cone.

Take your foliage and remove some of the greenery from the ends to reveal about 2 inches of the stalk.

Add your foliage and cones together and secure in the centre with a small amount of stem tape. This will prevent it all from falling apart when attaching it to your gift.

Take your wrapped gift and using ribbon, tie on your pine cones and foliage corsage.

Voila! A fabulously festive wrapped gift ready for giving!

Easy once you know how isn’t it? Know someone else who might like to try it? Please feel free to forward our ‘how to’ with a friend or share on social media.

Happy Festive Wrapping!

For more information on our Gift Wrapping Workshops and Demonstrations please visit our website at http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk .

Hello birdie!

In my line of work I have the pleasure of meeting lots of wonderful people, many of them very creative!  This week was no exception and I was thrilled to stumble upon the very talented Artist and Illustrator, Iona Buchanan.

Iona has designed a fabulous collection of homewares ranging from a rather gorgeous artichoke apron to a really delightful wren tea towel…Ooh and a lovely lobster cushion that caught my eye… I have just the place for that!

Lots of lovely things there were but you can imagine my delight can’t you when Iona introduced me to her gorgeous gift wrap! It didn’t take me long before the scissors were out and I was wrapping with it…

Not just for twitchers this fabulous Sea Birds Paper is an instant reminder of the seaside and perfect for anyone with a love of nature. It’s sold in a pack of 2 sheets with matching tags and is currently available to purchase along with another lovely gift wrap pack (called ‘garden birds’) as well as Iona’s full range of products on her website www.ionabuchanan.com

Our wrapping tips: From a practical point of view (for storage/posting out etc) wrapping papers can often be sold flat packed and invariably this will mean you have some creases to contend with. Before starting to wrap have a look at the paper and try to line up the creases with the edges of the object you’re wrapping. This will help to disguise them as a natural folding line and give a neater look.  Also, when choosing a lovely paper like this which is full of fabulous detail that would be a shame to hide, tie your ribbon in an off centre position that will show it off at its best (as we’ve done) and pick a ribbon colour that will bring out the colour in the wrap. We’ve chosen this lovely sunny yellow, inspired by the Eider Ducks beak!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this months blog and if so … Please do pass on the gift wrapping love by sharing with your friends!

For more information on our gift wrapping workshops or demonstrations find us at www.moreprettythings.co.uk  or contact us on 01226 492770 for more details.

 

A spot of Man Wrapping!

When buying a roll or sheet of gift wrap it can be difficult to see past what to do with it other than tie a ribbon around it, especially when wrapping for men! Achieving a different look or something a little more personal can be easy (when you know how!) and certainly doesn’t have to mean spending lots of money on materials, it’s just about being a little bit creative with what you have around you. With Fathers Day just around the corner and lots of male birthdays to wrap for, we thought you might need some inspiration ….So with just one roll of what we consider ‘manly’ paper and a few bits and bobs, here’s how!

 

Here’s a quick and easy one to do for a simple but classy look. Take a gift tag, hole punch it and thread the ribbon through, then secure at the back with double sided tape (or tie it if you prefer).

Say what you want with scrabble tiles! Simply tie on some stripey string and stick the letters on. Of course you could write someones name instead or ‘Happy Birthday’ and if you don’t want to use your scrabble tiles, just print some letters off your computer instead and attach those.

If you’re looking for something totally bespoke then this one’s for you! Choose photo’s you wish to use and photocopy them or print them out onto white paper, cut around to give that nostalgic ‘polaroid’ look, write a caption then secure on stripey string with a peg. Add message if required.

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed todays blog and that we’ve inspired you to get wrapping! If so, please do feel free to share the gift wrapping love with a friend or on your social media. And to find out more about our Gift Wrapping Workshop Days, Demonstrations for groups etc simply visit us at http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk

 

Just add a Gift Tag…

Over the years I’ve found myself with a variety of unintentional collections of this, that and the other. Things that I’m sure I’ll need in the future so can’t bear to throw away…You know the kind of thing….Odd buttons, old keys, mini toiletries from hotels and…..Gift tags!

Yes, it’s a thin line between ‘collector’ and ‘hoarder’ at this point and my profession as a gift wrapper won’t save me on this one as after rummaging through a very large box of gift tags, it’s clear my love of them started way before my business began! (Many moons ago judging by some of the styles.. Apparently tastes do change!)

So, if like me you have some (??!!) very pretty gift tags you’re hoarding (I mean saving for a rainy day) that you don’t have matching paper for, then fear not….You can use them up and plain paper is your friend!  Couple the tag with a bit of ribbon and some imagination (in other words hole punch a second hole in the tag, thread a length of ribbon through, secure on the back with double sided) and this is the result….A unique and pretty decorative touch to embellish a gift!

Like being creative?  Don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter on our home page at www.moreprettythings.co.uk to receive month updates and gift wrapping tips etc

Hello Spring!

Hello to Spring and to everyone with a Spring Birthday!  What a lovely time of year to have one …With days growing warmer and sunnier and flashes of colour starting to appear in the garden it truly is a beautiful time of year.

It’s also a time of year our Creative Spring Gift Wrapping demonstrations are in full swing and it’s such a pleasure to tour around the UK meeting different groups, teaching them lots of new gift wrapping skills and bringing the outside in with the beautiful spring feel gift wrap and ribbons we’ve sourced.

One of the wrapping papers we simply love and have been using for our personal

wrapping and in our demonstrations is this gorgeous ‘Bold Roses and Garden Ditsy’ double sided paper.  Doesn’t it just shout springtime?!

And being a double sided wrapping paper too this means you can wrap with it ….

Or….(Should the urge take your fancy) you could get creative and make some pretty spring decorations to adorn your house or garden with instead. How lovely!

For more information about our workshops visit http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk and Happy Spring Wrapping everyone!

How to wrap a magazine…

Being poorly or having a stay in hospital is just rotten isn’t it?!  You’re often confined to the space you’re in and if in hospital you’re without your home comforts and things to keep your mind occupied.

Now, as a visitor it can be difficult to know what to take or send to someone in advance of a hospital stay as some hospitals don’t allow flowers and even a healthy bowl of fruit or traditional bunch of grapes can be a faux pas if the patient is ‘nil by mouth’!

One gift that suits the occasion well therefore is a magazine (or two). Whether you’ll be visiting the person during their stay in hospital or sending them in advance of the day you can always find something that’ll suit. And they don’t have to be any less attractive a gift as flowers or a fruit bowl!  Not with a bit of ‘more pretty things’ gift wrapping magic of course!

Here’s a picture of how I prettily wrapped a couple of magazines this month for someone lovely who had to have a hospital stay.

I chose some lovely Spring colors of Greens, Oranges and Lemons for their ‘uplifting’ feel and I wanted to do something bespoke, so I designed a co-ordinating label which forms a band around the tissue and is printed with the words ‘Wishing you a speedy recovery’ on it. (Simple to do with a printer and a little basic knowledge!) If you don’t have a printer or feel you can do that then don’t worry. Simply use some co-ordinating patterned paper instead or use plain and write your own personal sentiment on it.

So if you’d like a go at doing it yourself,then please see below for our ‘how to’ guide to prettily wrapping a magazine.

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And don’t forget….Magazines make a nice gift at other times too including Fathers day…With the likes of ‘Top Gear’ magazine and of course, Mothers day being the perfect time for a thumb through the latest ‘Ideal homes’ or ‘County Living’ magazine (my hints are just shameless….shameless!)

For more information on our Gift Wrapping Workshops visit http://www.moreprettythings.co.uk