Tuesday, January 28, 2014

How to Pretty Up a Package

These days I find myself celebrating a lot of milestone birthdays for friends and family.
For these special birthdays, I like to present a pretty package.
Now, one of my "very serious" faults is that I cannot wrap a package for the life of me.
I try...but my corners are never right, there is tape everywhere - you get the picture, right?
So I have taken to embellishing and creating fun ways to pretty up and personalize packages (to divert attention from my other wrapping faults)! 

Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Using  my Lifestyle Crafts Dies and Evolution Die Cutter, plus some fun chevron washi tape and miniature pom poms...and anything else I can think of, it is easy to create pretty packages for those special people in your life.
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

 I have long loved playing with paper. With the Evolution I can cut and emboss and make beautiful projects so easily. I really cannot get enough and am discovering new ways to use the dies and the Evolution daily!

Now for the wrapping...
I generally wrap my gift in plain white paper bags or with basic kraft paper. I did happen to find a kraft paper with a simple white polka dot and use this through the holidays (with a few embellishments) and have since decided this is the perfect paper for wrapping a gift and the perfect versatile canvas for making a package special and personal.

Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Supplies and Tools
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Optional -  Pom Poms:
Here is a full tutorial on how to make miniature pom poms
My pom poms are flat on this package...but the process is the same...just use less yarn
Make It!
1. Select the word or numbers you want to cut and place them on the magnetic Genius Platform mat. (In this case I used "F-O-R-T-Y" and "4-0")

(NOTE: you may notice the following photos are not for the actual "forty" project ...BUT the process is the same!)
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

2. Cut your paper to size, to fit the Genius Platform
3. Prepare the Genius platform: platform, dies, paper, cutting mat
4. Run the platform through the Evolution.
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

5. Place the brads into the holes on the cut outs to create the mini banner
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Finish It!
  • Wrap the gift.
  • Use the Sticky Thumb Adhesive on the ends of the banner/words to affix the banner/words to the gift.
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

  • Place more adhesive on top of the ends of the banner, and place your pom poms.
  • About 1 1/2" up from the bottom of the package (you may have to adjust that measurement depending on the size of your package) and run one line of Chevron Washi Tape (you can do multiple lines too!)
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main
  •  Add the pom poms and enjoy the cuteness! (NOTE: my pom poms on this package are flatter than the pom pom tutorial I did. Just do not wrap the yarn around as much for a flatter pom pom)
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

I think this very simple package adornment really added something special to the gift and the special day of my friend...and it looked pretty darn cute!

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For more amazing ideas and product keep up to date with
Pretty Packaging with Lifestyle Crafts by 504 Main

Signature
This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre
 
disclosure: I am part of the Lifestyle Crafts Studio Team and also an affiliate. 
 
http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/handmade-projects-add-yours-1-27/
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8 comments:

  1. One of my sorrows at watching my kids grow is not being able to blame them for poor wrapping jobs on presents. Now people KNOW I did it. These ideas are fantastic!!

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  2. Fun packaging, Holly! Love the washi touch!

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  3. Hi Holly, Christine visiting from Little Brags...follow you now through Blog Lovin. Love the gift wrap idea!!!

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  4. Super cool! Dumb question-- is this a machine you turn a crank to cut stuff or is it a laser deal inside the machine?

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  5. Oh! So very cute! Didn't know that washi tape came in chevron...how fun! Well done. Hugs, Catherine (newest follower of your blogging adventures!) : )

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  6. Such a cute package! Love the chevron tape and I want one of those cutters!

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  7. Looks beautiful! That cutter looks like a lot of fun.

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  8. Holly, I love your creative packaging and the Evolution sounds like a wonderful tool!

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Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!