Make something beautiful in 2011

Now that you've opened all of your beautifully wrapped prezzies and enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing Christmas day, let's talk projects for the new year. I'm not really into making hard and fast New Year's resolutions. I prefer choosing a theme around which I'll try to live. There's a lot less pressure that way, and resolutions are so limiting. That said, consider doing something special this year, maybe you can have a year of...

- Re-connection: Send 12 letters this year. That's just one letter a month! Write to someone you care about, or send a letter to a different person each time. I'm talking hand-written letters. With an envelope and a stamp, not e-mail. Who wouldn't love to get a little note in their mailbox along with the bills and junk mail? I get so few letters or cards in the mail these days, it's really a treat when I do. And don't even get me started on penmanship; that subject will fill its own entry and then some.

- Sharing: pack a lunch for a few of your work friends and invite them over to your office/cubicle/desk for lunch. Like a picnic. In the height of winter, wouldn't an indoor picnic be lovely? Maybe a nice, comforting soup and a crusty bread for 2 or 3 or 4 and some lovely healthy fruit? Better yet, plan a potluck lunch. It's less expensive than eating out, and more fun than web-browsing and leftovers.

- Spontaneous beautiful gifts: This origami wreath took about a month to make, but it came out beautifully. I gave it to my mom, as a way to give her flowers that would last forever (or close). I bought a styrofoam wreath and got to work folding paper. I used a gluegun to stick the flowers to it (about 200). Send a little gift out of the blue and brighten someone's day.

Whatever you choose to do, make it special and inspired. The result will be beautiful! And send me pictures, I'd love to see: carol@joliecolis.com.

Happy 2011!

Holiday giftwrapping tip 8: rob your Christmas tree

It's almost go-time, and if you're like me, you're probably frantically getting those last few gifts on your list. That means you've got less time to lovingly wrap them. Here's a clever way to dress up a gift that's quick and green, in a way. Your recipient will take home your gift and hang the little ornaments on their own tree.


Cute, right? This prezzie has mini-ornaments and a jingle bell, secured with a simple, slim ribbon. The pleated paper band is optional, of course. And if you don't know how to do the pleat, a regular band of paper, or a wide grosgrain ribbon will do.

For larger gifts, use larger ornaments. Just make sure you take them from the back. :)

Happy holidays!

Holiday engagement giftwrapping, part 2

My last post on wrapping engagement rings had quite a response, so I'm posting another idea.  This one is really simple, and it's incredibly romantic.

I printed two versions of a love poem, in a large and small font size. Skew the angle of the lines so it's visually interesting. And don't worry about it not being readable; this is as much for the graphic effect as it is about the sentiment.

Cover the top and bottom of a box with the printed text, and add a simple ribbon. It's a lovely way to make the moment extra special, especially if you're not great with words. Use a poem, or song lyrics. Heck, you can use lines from the first movie you saw together, if that's meaningful to you.

This project would work nicely for any other occasion, like Mother's Day, Father's Day, or even a version with words of wisdom for a graduation gift.

Holiday giftwrapping tip 7: play dress up

One of my favorite things to do with gift wrap (regardless of the occasion) is to dress it up like the person getting the gift. I think it's an extra thoughtful way to show you were thinking about the recipient. In this case, the recipient is a colleague who is fashionable and really into pink. This chandelier paper has been in my shop for a while, waiting for the right occasion, and here it is.

Don't you just love the girly-girl bow and little spray of pearls? Something like this can easily be modified for a beautiful presentation of an engagement ring or bridesmaids gifts.

I admit, I do a lot of girly giftwraps, because I'm quite girly myself. But I promise to show a masculine gift soon.

Until then, give (extra) pretty!

Holiday giftwrapping tip 6: work with what you've got

For those trying to keep the holidays sustainable, here's a way to dress up the classic brown paper package tied up with string.

Supplies:
- brown paper bag
- string or twine
- a little sprig of pine. This one is artificial, but in a bind, you can cut a bit of the tree when nobody's looking.
- a bit of ribbon
- a little ornament (in this case, a jingle bell)
- double-sided tape
- super-sharp scissors

How-to:
- Wrap your gift (use a box!) using the brown paper. Don't worry about the wrinkles or folds.
- Wind the string around the box several times, criss-crossing, if you like.
- Tie your pine sprig and ornament to the string in the middle.
- Finish with ribbon

That's it! Happy (sustainable) holidays!

Steampunk gift machine!

Sorry it's been a while, I haven't been feeling well, and this latest project took quite a bit of planning. My husband is a real fan of steampunk, so for one of his Christmas gifts, I've built him a funky gift machine, complete with little gears and moving pieces.

No how-to on this one, it's really just experimentation. I just got a bunch of materials together and winged it. If you're interested in doing one yourself, here are the colors, textures, and materials to use:

- metal gears and (if you're really ambitious) watch movement parts
- woodgrain paper (I used cherry wood Con-Tact paper)
- metallic cardstock
- little brass stick-on buttons
- jeweler's wire (for the tiny coil)
- faux leather (I didn't use it, but it would look awesome)

Once again, for complex gift wraps like this, I prefer a box with a top and bottom, so you don't have to tear any paper. And you can use it for other things post-gifting.

I'll be back tomorrow with a holiday how-to. Stay tuned...

Holiday giftwrapping tip 5: pop the question with style!

Besides the general happiness of the season, I always look forward to hearing news of holiday engagements. Here's an idea for anyone planning to give a HUGE gift this year. You know, the kind measured in carats.

This wrap, called "Say Yes", is one of my favorites. It's totally romantic, and the little "clues" (sheer veil and tiny bouquet of real flowers) are sure to make your sweetie go weak in the knees. This is one of the biggest gifts you'll ever give, so do it right!

Holiday giftwrapping how-to: monogram gift boxes

The long-awaited how-to video is here! This is my first time shooting and editing video, so bear with me; I'll get better at it. The captions look pretty small in window, so click here to see it on YouTube.

My 5 favorite papers: stylish bargains and splurges

I know I should be focused on buying holiday gifts, but I can't stay away from the many beautiful papers you can buy online this time of year. Some of you might be surprise to hear that a $6.50/sheet paper is a bargain. Compared to something that's $18/sheet, it is!

Anyway, here they are, in no particular order:

Bargain #1: White squares on silver, Papersource $4.95/sheet

I actually used this cool paper on a corporate job I had last year, and it held up great. The silver is really bright, and it has this nice weight and linen texture. I just wish I knew I could get it through Papersource. I bought it locally and paid almost twice that. Ugh.

Bargain #2: Paisley batik, Elum $3.75/sheet

Elum makes gorgeous letterpress stationery and chic giftwrap. A subtle pattern like this is beautiful with a wide ribbon in a deep chocolate brown or gold.





Bargain #3: #1741 Winterberry, Snow & Graham, $6.50/sheet

Like Elum, Snow & Graham makes incredibly cute letterpress and paper products. I love this one because it's wintry and evocative of the holidays, but it's not so literal (see Holiday Giftwrapping tip #4). It's pretty on its own, but would look sweet with a wide red ribbon.


Bargain #4: Joyeux noel, Cavallini, Luxe Paperie, $3.50/sheet

I'm a huge fan of Cavallini's charming, vintage-inspired paper products. In fact, I have several sheets of Cavallini paper waiting for frames to grace my home. It's hard to believe how this paper can be so affordable. You get gorgeous prints on really nice, heavy, textured paper. Almost too beautiful to cut!

Bargain #5: Thai marble paper, gold/black, Kate's Paperie, $5.50/sheet

Of course, I have to give Kate's Paperie a shoutout, since that's where I first discovered my love for paper and wrapping gifts. This is another incredible buy. I love the contrast and drama of this paper. This stuff is interesting because it's very thin, very sturdy, and feels like fabric.




Splurge #1: Handmade open geo, black, Kate's Paperie, $24.50/sheet 

So, so cool. I'd layer this on a contrasting color, or over a subtle pattern. It's so artful, I'd consider framing this, too. It reminds me of Jackson Pollock.








Splurge #2: Orange stitch on pink paper, Papersource, $9/sheet

Hooray for an affordable splurge! This paper comes from India, and is sewn with contrasting thread. The thread and little holes in the paper add graphic and textural interest, too.



Splurge #3: Personalized gift wrap, Neiman Marcus, $90 
This is a super-cute, super-splurge, and I'm not even sure how much you get for the $90. Maybe if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Various colors and patterns are available, and you can personalize it with your initials or a limited amount of text.





Splurge #4: Pine cones, Heidi, $21.99/set
Heidi sells stylish gift wrap sets in pre-coordinating colors and patterns. Very convenient. You get enough to wrap about 2 shirtboxes, complete with paper, ribbon, gift cards, and note cards. It's like the Garanimals of giftwrapping!





Splurge #5: Richard de Bas floral paper, Paper Arts, $18/sheet
I love this paper because it reminds me of pressing a flower in the pages of a book. And because I'm a total romantic. 




Well, that's all for now, friends. Tune in tomorrow; I'm finally going to post my video on how to make the monogrammed prezzie from last week.

Holiday giftwrapping tip 4: be festive, be subtle

Happy Hanukkah, friends! Today's tip is something you can use year-round, but is especially appropriate for the holidays.

This time of year, stores are chock-full of seasonally-themed holiday gift wrap. While I understand the convenience of picking up a three-pack of holiday themed paper and some curly ribbon, it's a bit pedestrian, isn't it? (*Besides, you wouldn't be reading this if themed paper and curly ribbon were good enough for your prezzies anyway!)

Last words on the three-pack stuff: skip it. It looks cheap and your gifts deserve better. Santa-and snowmen-themed papers are the giftwrapping equivalent of holiday sweaters with little jingle bell applique. You know the ones I'm talking about.

Take this little number, for example. This wrap has enough of the traditional colors to associate it with Hannukah, but it doesn't hit you over the head with Menorahs, dreidels, and stars. The result is sophisticated and elegant.

The key to getting this very pulled-together look takes a page from one of my favorite shows, What Not to Wear. Whether you're dressing yourself or your gift, any fabulous ensemble incorporates color, texture, pattern, and shine. (More on those important elements in a future post.)

Since this is a somewhat technical project, I'll post a how-to video soon. Until then, give pretty!