Vintage Glam and a Wrapping Technique for Guy Gifts

I love how these rust and pink tones are used together in this Vintage Glam setting found at Southern Accents. I kept returning to this photo and wondered how I could combine these tones in a gift presentation. It intrigued me and you know how I love these gift wrap challenges I set up for myself. I don't have every paper and ribbon at my disposal so sometimes I do have to improvise. Perfection would have been a gold and matte silver flocked type of paper (which I do not have) but as I worked with this matte burnished gold gift wrap I saw that it needed a bit more glam and it worked into a good little gift wrap tip, something to do with those leftover paper strips left over from wrapping smaller boxes. Do not be throwing those away.




I often use my leftover gift wrap strips to do this layered effect. One I like to use them up wherever I can and in this case it added a bit more gilt. I also think layering paper adds some dimension to the presentation. Paper strip edges are neatly folded and then simply taped at the bottom with double sided tape. You don't have to be precise in measuring the strips, it could even work if they were of dissimilar width. This technique would also work well with bright colours such as Kelly green and hot pink, look around, bet you have some sheet paper and strips that can be used together.




While I was in the layering mood, I knew the only way I was going to get these two unlikely colour tones together was to layer the rust and pink ribbons and work within the existing paper strips. It was either going to work or look positively awful, I found I liked the combination and kept going. Again, ribbon is simply double-sided taped to the bottom, just keep all the edges lined up nice and neat. The gift could be complete at this point, it certainly could go out the door at this point. This is a great gift wrapping technique for a male-gender gift, minus the pink ribbon of course. Change the pink to a chocolate brown or black and it turns it's feminine direction real quick. Guys get funny when they open a gift with a bow, they actually blush if you ever noticed.




Ok, we're done with the guy wrapping (that was quick!) and there is a pale pink flower in the photo so on goes a silk peony. I have this crinkle ribbon that I have been wanting to play with so I wrapped a continuous length around the flower, almost making a ribboned nest. Again, just to give it a bit more dimension. Sometimes I go too far with my experimenting and have to remove something, today it was a large bow to the rear of the flower, it was simply too overdone with all those ribbon layers.

Here is another pale pink leaf ribbon that I adore. It doesn't take to tying well as the little leaves get tangled and break but it does look good laying flat or used as a dangling length. Check in next week......I'm actually going to do some "Guy Wrapping" for Father's Day. No promises, but I will try some blush-free techniques.

Top photo from Southern Accents/Remaining photos from Sande Chase ~ Oooh la la Cadeau

Blue Satin

photo by Chris Everhard

Sometimes you just need a zone-out movie so my friend and I headed over to see Confessions of a Shopaholic and though we both squirmed a bit with the movie message (put away the "magic" cards), as my friend said "that one hit a bit too close to home"! We just loved the stylish mix of clothes. I tend towards more serious cinema, but this one was just what I needed, silly and fun. From my vantage point as a former interior designer, I can't remember a time when design was more fun. Mix it up, patterns, colours, textures and styles, the more the better. This highly individualistic fashion and design style is just what we need these days, in a larger sense I think it means we're finally getting it........we're all unique and that is a really good thing.

I've been practising layered bows and almost have the hang of it. I did straight-pin the back, a thread stitch would be better, my husband has to mend his own socks , so that wasn't an option. I used a wide double face satin, I'm not too keen on wired ribbon, it seems too contrived, like I can't tie a bow and need all the help I can get. I know I'm the only one who thinks this way, a bow with wire stays up all fluffy and big, who am I to be a purist about ribbon for heavens sake! But I just love the "fall" and the "hand" as they say in the design business for a double face satin. I use all types, the real silk double face satins from France and Germany, the polyester ones from China, doesn't matter, it's all about the colour and feel. I like the smooth application around a box, wired ones get all bumpy, listen to me..............no don't, I sound weirdly intense. Like I need a life or something.

See the trailer {click herehttp://www.buzzsugar.com} should you need some silly fun.

Top photo by Chris Everhard at Sarah Kaye/Middle Photo fromby Sande Chase-Oooh la la Cadeau/ Bottom Photo from BuzzSugar.com

Merci

Happy, Happy Birthday to my la la friend Stephanie! Maybe I will make her this wonderful angel food cake {recipe here} when we have her birthday celebration in a few weeks. Have a fun day Stephanie!

Sometimes a simple thank you can be the best. I'm sending you over to Etsy today to see a store where everything is simply wonderful. I've sent you there before (those great wood bracelets) but a few other things captured my attention. Especially this ribbon.

A simple bowl of diminutive dimensions perfect for jewellry, a cube of soap.

A paperweight? A conversation starter? You decide.

Wood notecards with vellum envelopes. How novel. They even

offer them custom words or names. Be inventive.

And you simply are the best. Thank You to readers and followers

who have been sending comments and support. I love hearing from you!

You are sending my mind in new directions and I'm enjoying the stretch.

Merci!

Top photo from Carolyn Roehm/All other photos and product from Palomas Nest at Etsy.

Tiffany Blue

One of my favorite ribbon bow ideas is to bring the bow to the front of the gift instead of to the standard top position (not that there is anything wrong with that!) especially on petite boxes. It usually is quite enough, the unexpected bow placement is novel on it's own and I was going for the monochromatic Tiffany tone of the photo below. I tried to do the classic Tiffany box with white ribbon, then realised I wasn't having any fun (not that's there anything wrong with a Tiffany box!). I must have been in a spring mood because I started adding ribbon layers to the top, looking to pop more colours together. Layering ribbons is another favorite, especially when the occasion calls for a bit of restraint, not everyone loves bows! It works well when you have lengths of ribbon that aren't quite long enough to make a bow. Simply use double-sided tape to neatly hide ends on the bottom of the box. Layer colours and ribbon widths for a more colourful presentation. I've used both methods here, but either works well alone.

Hard to believe I could stick to one colour, but I do love the simplicity of this colour scheme and room setting done by Atlanta designer Eric Prokesh. The petite black secretary seems to ground the vibrant colour perfectly. I need to sizzle up some of my studio wall colours so this one has me thinking it's time for a happy palette.

The same wall colour taken in a whole new direction by the same designer, the true mark of a talented interior designer. I'm going to see if I can hunt down some more examples of his fabulous style. More colour, more Parisian. This could do it for me too.

Top photo by Sande Chase - Oooh la la Cadeau/Middle and Bottom Photo from designer Eric Prokesh via Southern Accents/