Wrap Story: Mini Assistant

This Wrap Story is part of a mini-series, documenting every present I’ve wrapped since the launch of The Gifted Blog. Click here for the whole series!

My sister- and brother-in-law have been parents to a beautiful little girl for over a year now. Back when they were expecting, a baby shower was thrown for them with a book theme. The idea was to stock the little one's library with stories for her to enjoy later.

Being half a country away, we weren't able to go to the shower, but I was excited to get a copy of a personal childhood favorite for our niece-to-be. When I had the opportunity to babysit in the weeks before the baby shower, I knew exactly the project for my young friend:



Decorate wrapping paper!

Here you see the kraft paper in action. I used a few strips of painter's tape to secure one end to the table and weighted the roll down at the other end to keep it from curling up. (I suppose that is one downside of kraft paper - it keeps a very strong curl, making it somewhat difficult to manage.)

My young assistant drew some lines himself, but he was more interested in having me hold the pens and then moving my hand around. Hey, whatever works.



I found some cute teal ribbon in my stash that matched one of the colors of ink. I paired it with a sheer gold ribbon to make a bow.  I really like the idea of kid-made wrapping paper for another kid. And I cannot wait until my own baby is old enough for art projects like this one!

Runs in the Family

My grandmother, who we call Baachan, is a great influencer of our family culture. She loves paper; my mom loves paper; my aunt loves paper; my cousin loves paper; I love paper.

Here she is at home amongst wedding presents for her granddaughter:



[Related side story: When I put my gift bag (decorated with M. and M.'s wedding invitation image) on the table, my mom said, "Oh, I was going to do something like that!" Seriously. Our family.]

Baachan is the only person I know with a filing system for her greeting cards. She wakes up early on the day after Christmas, not to hit the shopping mall sales, but to beeline to the Hallmark store to stock up on the next year's Christmas gift wrap.

Her gifts are always beautifully presented, wrapped in quality paper with classic designs. Even when she sends a card with birthday money, the bills or check are - without fail - wrapped neatly in tissue paper and sealed with a sticker. My grandma is the real deal.

Here is one of the presents Baachan wrapped for the wedding. Note the sheer fabric ribbon. Maybe this is where Auntie A. gets it!



Another funny story:
Auntie A.: [looking at the gift above] Mom, I thought you were going to use that other paper.
Baachan: I tried but it was too small. Then I decide to use this gold paper. [Shaking head] Jiichan [my grandpa] leaned on it and it got creased!

I had just started brainstorming for The Gifted Blog and hurried to write this conversation down.

Baachan is very neat. Her linen closets are labeled and orderly, and so are her wrapping supplies. There's a place for each thing: the boxes, rolls of paper, and ribbons each get their own space.



Here is a detail that made me smile:



I am grateful for my family. The fact that there are things like gift wrapping that bind us together is fun.

Did you inherit any creative traits from your family? What is your family's gift-wrapping culture?

Gift Wrapping Arsenal: Fabric Ribbon

Gift Wrapping Arsenal is a mini-series on the items I personally find essential for gift wrapping. As you'll see throughout my blog, there is an emphasis on versatility, thrift, and style! Click here for the full series!

My Auntie A.'s presents almost always come wrapped with fabric ribbon, as opposed to the shiny curling kind. Often it is a sheer, slightly shimmery variety. I noticed that fabric ribbons do a great job of making a present look special. It's fairly goof-proof as well. If you mess up, just untie and start over! Even better, the ribbon can be reused if the recipient is so inclined.

Pictured here is my mom, Auntie A., and me in my grandparents' garage. Auntie A. coordinated the flower arrangements at my cousin's wedding and you can see her special touch - sheer, coordinating ribbon around the centerpiece vases. Outerwear and blue sweatpants are courtesy my grandparents (it was cold in there!).



Around the same time I bought kraft paper to use as my only gift wrapping paper, I decided to take a similar approach with ribbon. What ribbon could I buy that would simplify my gift-wrapping process, while still looking pretty? I hunted down a 40% off coupon for Michael's and selected a ribbon that I thought could be used for all occasions. Inspired by Auntie A., I picked a sheer gold spool.



In retrospect, it would have been wiser to pick a higher-contrast color. When used with kraft paper, the brown color kind of camouflages the ribbon. Still, this little spool has still been most helpful, lending a festive touch to many presents over the last year!

As you might have inferred from the ironing comment in the last Wrap Story, I have also acquired a small stash of fabric ribbons from wrapped presents past.



While I would be amiss to dictate hard-and-fast "dos" and "don'ts" for gift wrapping, I must say that fabric ribbon is my preferred type of ribbon. Not that it's the only way to make a bow on your present! More on that to come.

Work in Progress: Gifted Bags

As much as I love gift wrapping, I am well aware that for many people it is a chore. When I got the idea for Gifted, a line of reusable gift wrap, I loved the thought of making things that both gift-wrap-lovers and -haters could enjoy. For lovers, it's a fresh, handmade way to package a gift. For the haters, it's as easy as throwing the present in a paper gift bag...but without the stigma of "oh, you just threw this into a paper gift bag"!



I found instructions for sewing drawstring bags and went to town.  The first batch are small, 6"x5" ones perfect for a fancy bar of soap, mini journal, set of stationery, or other small gift (like a Leatherman multitool (see, who said this was a blog just for girls?)).

For weeks, I had an awesome rhythm of measuring, cutting, and sewing in the mornings while N. napped. Then I just ran out of steam. I was so close to finishing this little batch and I freaked out a little. I had in mind to sell these - but I was afraid of actually showing them to anyone!

It took a crafting get-together with a friend to get out my rut. Sitting at the dining room table, I began the final step of threading the drawstring ribbons through and knotting them.



It was a cool lesson in the power of doing something collectively. Anyone else up for making stuff together?

Wrap Story: M&M Bowls

This Wrap Story is part of a mini-series, documenting every present I’ve wrapped since the launch of The Gifted Blog. Click here for the whole series!

Image courtesy Lisa Higaki

My cousin M. got married! She is a writer (more specifically, a poet), and I was especially excited to pick out a gift for her and her husband because we share some aesthetic sensibilities. She loves handmade things and is an artist herself.

Partially because I have fond memories of childhood pottery classes, and partially because I was stoked about buying some (budget-friendly) locally made goods, I went to Pasadena City College's ceramics sale. This is an annual event to benefit the Art Department that takes place in the beginning of May. I was a little concerned about the selection beforehand. The sale was over three days, and I wasn't able to make it there until late on the last day. But there was plenty of good stuff. I took N. out of his stroller and we circled around and around the tables until I found three sets of pottery that I was excited to purchase and give.

Here is the pair of bowls I picked for M. and her husband, M.:





I knew this would pose a bit of a wrapping challenge, since the bowls did not come with a box and would have to be wrapped in a way that protected them and accommodated their unusual shape. Though it wasn't my first choice, I found a plain paper gift bag in my stash and decided to use it once I realized the bowls just fit inside.

I crumpled plain packing paper to give some protection at the bottom of the bag, then wrapped each bowl well. In thinking of how to decorate the bag, M. and M.'s wedding invitation came to mind. The invitation and reception card came in the mail about a month before the wedding and are lovely:



I cut out the flower design and chose a light yellow rice paper to back it. I finished off the gift with an artificial bud tendril and bow. The tendril and ribbon were from my stash. I am not above ironing out the wrinkles!



Here's the final present, pictured with gifts from my grandparents and a giant spreadsheet of the wedding day activities, made by M. and M.'s friend and wedding coordinator.



The sad reality of wedding invitations is that often so much effort goes into making them, yet the vast majority are tossed once their purpose is served. My hope is that M. and M. enjoyed seeing the image they selected for their celebration used again on their wedding present!

Work in Progress

Back in April, I got the urge to make things with my hands. This is not uncommon. It is something that is built into me by my family, and even more so, built into me by God.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.

Though this is a God who knit and wove each one of us by his hand, I sometimes have a hard time believing he would value my own creating. Back in April, I wanted to invest time in making things, but I didn't know if there was value in it.

I prayed with a friend who sensed God bringing this passage to mind:

Then the word of the LORD came to me: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel..."

This really resonated with me. The story was not a familiar one, but God used it to highlight two things. Specifically, I felt God encouraging me to see the worth of the work of Zerubbabel's hands. I also felt exhorted to not despise "the day of small things". Often my projects seem like "small things". It is hard to imagine something larger coming from them.

So I set out to be faithful in little, to make time to create things and take risks in doing so.

I honestly didn't mean to write this as I began this post! I was all set to write about drawstring gift bags(!). But I feel this is important context for this blog and the work displayed here. I would love to know how you feel about your creative work. Does it come easy for you to see its value? Or is it hard to see its place in your life?

Gift Wrapping Arsenal: Kraft Paper

Gift Wrapping Arsenal is a mini-series on the items I personally find essential for gift wrapping. As you'll see throughout my blog, there is an emphasis on versatility, thrift, and style! Click here for the full series!



Our first apartment after we married was cute but compact, a little one-bedroom place here in Pasadena. It had a bright dining room window looking out into trees, hardwood floors, a purple accent wall left by the previous tenants and (big surprise) not much storage.

It was around this time that I decided to try using only one kind of paper for wrapping gifts. It seemed like a practical and economical move. Practical, because I'd only need to store one roll of paper. Economical, because a whole roll of kraft paper can be had for a buck at the 99 cent store! Take a look in the mailing supplies section.



Okay, so the rolls at the dollar store are a bit skimpier.

I personally like the neutral tone and feel of kraft paper, but it is definitely reminiscent of a grocery bag. So unless the recipient of the gift I'm giving is into:
a) an earthy, all-natural aesthetic, or
b) a minimal, no-frills look,
it's a fun challenge to figure out how to dress it up.

Recent attempts have included:
- cutting images from Trader Joe's bags to collage on the gift
- topping the box with a hand-sewn flower and paper leaves (more on that to come!)
- gluing a red heart from a roll of specialty paper on top

For its versatility and value, kraft paper definitely has a spot in my gift wrapping arsenal.

Tutorial Tryout: Grocery Bag Pom-Pom

Tutorial Tryouts are my reviews of DIY gift wrapping ideas from the internet and other sources. Click here for the whole series!

My first exposure to the Creature Comforts blog was the author's awesome "Chic for Cheap" series. I was happy to see that Ez not only puts together  great outfit ideas, but has several free tutorials, including gift wrapping ideas!



This particular how-to from her blog reminded me of wrapping gifts after a trip to Laos and Thailand in high school. Almost every purchase of silk scarves or jewelry at the market was given to us in a small, colored plastic bag. Inspired by the translucent pinks, yellows and blues upon returning, I improvised bows by fringing the plastic and gathering them into little puffs.

The Creature Comforts tutorial gives instructions on how to make a much fuller pom-pom out of a plastic shopping bag. It was easier than it looked, especially because precision is not essential! In summary, you cut the bag into two long strips, then loop and cut those strips to make the pom-pom.

I used a Stater Bros. produce bag left at our apartment by babysitting friends. (Yes, friends, I pulled your bag out of the trash.) Since it's smaller than your standard shopping bag, I imagine it made a smaller pom-pom. I realized since my hand is small it affected the size anyway.



Apologies for the picture quality. It's one downside of getting excited about a project after sundown...

After a few snips and fluffs, I had my very own pom-pom gift topper!





I like the way the thin plastic of the bag looks - a little more translucent than a regular grocery bag. I think this gift wrapping idea would be nice even without all the bright printing. I do feel this kind of gift decoration would have to be used for the right person. Someone who would appreciate its previous life in the produce section!

A Present for Me

As an aside, I wanted to note the way G. wrapped his anniversary present for me. After hearing some rummaging around in the paper supplies cabinet, I was presented with this delightful small package:



G. used the cover of CalTech's Engineering and Science magazine to wrap the box. A paper leaf from our wedding was used as a tag with a note to me.

I appreciated his resourcefulness and use of bright colors. Inside, I found the original pearl from my wedding ring...but no ring! [It had gone missing from my nightstand a few days prior.] G. pulled my ring, newly cleaned and updated with a shiny white pearl, from his pocket. Since pearls are soft, wearing one every day takes a toll on its delicate surface. It was nice to re-receive my ring exactly two years after the wedding band joined the engagement ring. Thank you, honey!