Giftwrap 911!
Here are the details from today's Home & Family episode! We've all been there...you've managed to get the right gift, get it in time, you just need to get it wrapped before you run out the door and realize...oops...no wrapping paper or ribbon! So, here are several options for that Giftwrap 911 situation...using things you already have around the house.First, you need paper to actually wrap the gift. Two good options are brown paper shopping bags - they are easily cut flat to use for wrapping. The other good option is white butcher paper, white easel (borrow it from your tots art station) or even white copy paper - you can always tape them together on the under side to create larger sheets. Once you've got the boxes covered, you need to glam them up a little.
FOIL FLOWERS
I made these using foil cupcake liners, but you could use any cupcake liners you have. The assorted pastel ones would work nicely. Fold each cup in half and scallop the edges with scissors. Once scalloped, turn them inside out to get the color on the inside. Nest different colors and sizes to create your flowers. Cut a circle out of the bottoms to create the flower centers. Secure the layers with a drop of glue and then attach them to the wrapping with another drop.
SNOWY HILLS
Start by wrapping your gift in an inside out brown paper bag. Using wax paper or parchment paper (the wax paper will be more translucent than the parchment paper), cut a gently curved piece the width of the package and glue it in place on the lower edge of the box with a glue stick. Cut out simple trees of different sizes and glue them along the curve. Overlap them to create dimension, putting the smaller trees in the back.
FAN FLOWER
This flower could be done in any size and in white or natural. Create the inner flower using a toilet paper or paper towel roll. Cut it into slices and then squash these slightly into a petal shape. Attach 8 of these together with a drop of glue to create a flower.
To create the fan, I used cone coffee filters. Trim off the crimped edges that run along the side and bottom and then accordion fold what's left. Attach four of these together using scotch tape from underneath. For the center of the flower, I cut the bottom out of a foil cupcake liner.If your package is wrapped in brown bag paper, then layer a piece of white copy paper on top to create some contrast. Then wrap kitchen twin around the package half a dozen times. Using a few drops of glue, assemble all of the layers.
CONFETTI WRAP
Use a hole punch to create self adhesive confetti from Post-it notes. Punch along the sticky side to create dots that are ready to go. Stick them randomly on a gift wrapped with white copy, easel, or butcher paper. Create the bow using masking or duck tape - I was lucky enough to have some neon green duct tape laying around (it really was just laying around - I know, random!). Fold the tape back on itself to create ribbon. Make three long piece of ribbon. Take one and cut notches out of the ends. Glue it to the top of the box for the ribbon ends. Take the other two pieces and taper the ends slightly with scissors. Bend each piece so the ends meet, and glue them in place on top of the box. Glue a button to the center.
RUBBER BAND & MAP WRAP
I always hold on to colourful buttons and rubber bands when I come across them (that includes the blue ones that comes with my broccoli!). A really quick fix for smaller gifts is just a few rubber bands, either in a cross pattern or in concentric circles for a more modern look. A few buttons on top, ties it all together.I love using maps for wrapping. It seems we have an endless supply of old out of date maps from past vacations. The sheets are the perfect size to use for gift wrap. To add a little pizzaz I like to create cars or planes that can be speeding along the package. Use masking or duck tape doubled back on itself to create what can double as construction paper. From that, you can cut out your vehicle of choice. To give the package some depth, I create a spring using two thin strips of paper glued and the ends at a 90 degree angle. You then fold one piece over the other, then bend the next piece over the first. Take the first piece and fold it back up over the second piece and so on. In just a few folds you'll have a small spring. Glue the ends, and attach it to the map with another drop of glue. Attach the car or plane on top and you are good to go! There you go - 6 ways to wrap your gifts without having to leave the house!