I used to scrapbook before I began blogging.
I loved documenting our family story but I didn't relish cleaning up the mess or the big sucking sound of money flying out of my billfold.
Once I began blogging I quickly realized that this too is a record of all things important to me at the various chapters of my life.
But what to do with all of those scrapbook papers, stickers, and embellishments?
I have used some in altered art projects...
(rub ons)
(embellishments)
(sticker letters)
Still, I have a LOT, hundreds? of dollars worth. It scares me to think about it.
So one of the ways I make use of my resources is by incorporating them into gift wrap.
This month there are two family members having birthdays so I set aside an hour or so and went to work.
At Christmas time, when there are so many packages, I like them to coordinate and this past year I went with only two papers in black and white. Then I trimmed everything with green. I got the idea on Pinterest and loved how it looked. Birthdays, though, are different. For birthdays I like the wrapping to be a hint to what is inside. I let the gift inspire me.
For this package I cut up scrapbook papers and incorporated some relevant stickers.
Faux flowers are another favorite of mine when it comes to wrapping a gift. For years I have recycled what seemed like a house full of silk flowers into my gift wrapping. This time I started with a mirrored paper and then added some scraps of craft paper and the last remnants of a sheet of birthday stickers. They must have a shelf life because they don't want to stick like they used to.
Embelishments, ribbon and glitter stickers jazzed up this gift.
This last trio of packages have to travel all the way to South Korea so I have to think small when I'm buying. I will wrap each of them in tissue so hopefully they arrive looking like they do today.
I have embellished them with jewel and three dimensional letter stickers, ribbon and trim.
I have used paper to create three dimensional flowers like this one that donned a baby gift
but this was one of my favorites. It was a new grandma gift for a friend. I almost didn't want her to open it.
:D
Gift embellishing is a fun way to use up some of those left over supplies and I love the endless creative options. The problem is, I have enough scrapbook stuff left that I think I will be able to wrap birthday gifts for the next ten years without having to replenish my supplies.
Geesh!
#ineedanintervention
:D
