Imaginary Tweets: Procrastination Edition

Oh boy. Instead of blogging, I've been reading...

This delicious collaboration between Whimsy & Spice and West Elm.

A book by Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO. Can lessons from this shoe czar help our little business?

About the imperfect makeup trend.

This sad memoir (recommended on Cup of Jo).

This totally not sad memoir.

Read anything good lately? (As if I needed more to read!)

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{Image via West Elm}

Coconut Milk Can | Gift Wrap Everywhere

Gift Wrap Everywhere highlights items I've run across in daily life that are perfect for unconventional gift wrapping. Seriously, gift wrap is everywhere!



I've always enjoyed this type of coconut milk can. It probably hasn't had a redesign since the '80s, and the graphics are printed right onto the smooth sides of the can.

Add gauzy tissue to make an unconventional gift 'box'...

or finish it off with a ribbon to add a bit of polish to this otherwise quirky gift wrapping!

Don't cook with coconut milk? Try a nod to Andy Warhol with a classic red-and-white Campbell's soup can. Feeling impish? Take the bottom off the can and fill it from the underside!

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A Year Ago on The Gifted Blog

2010
How to Wrap Five More Eggs, part 1: Highlights from the classic book on Japanese packaging.

Letterpress Baby: Gift wrapping idea using a card from one of my favorite letterpress companies.

The Best of the Gifted Blog: In which I look back on my first 6 months(!) of blogging.

2011
Common Thread Studio: Sharing the good news - I got a job!

First Day on the Job: Looking back, I only posted 3 times this month! Here I share what I've been up to away from the blog.

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Imaginary Tweets: Date Night Edition

Favorite hot chocolate: 1 T cocoa powder + 1 T sugar + pinch salt in mug. Microwave 1 c. milk. Pour a very little in and stir well before adding the rest. YUM.

I got to meet the lovely Lucy of Paper Tiger Shanghai! Lucy, so glad you could drop by the shop.

For my fellow Californians: $5 date night?

Moms of young kids, how do you fit date nights in? Or do you? It's tough!

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{Image via Bon Appetit}

Sewers' Gift Wrapping Roundup

Some of you know I work at Common Thread Studio, a sewing studio in South Pasadena, CA. It's so rewarding to have another outlet for encouraging people towards everyday creativity. I've collected some ideas for sewing-related gift wrapping of many kinds. Sewers, this one's for you!

Old patterns as tissue paper at The White Bench
Cardboard embroidered gift tags by Family Chic
Measuring tape as ribbon at Molly and the Princess (2nd gift down)
Sewn gift box by ISLY
Scribbled stitches gift wrap by Alisa Burke (shown above)

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{Image via Alisa Burke}