Wedding Envelopes.........with an extra touch

My sincere apologies for not posting in the past few weeks, it has been what summer is supposed to be......busy and full of weddings, parties, quick weekend trips, getting my Dad settled back home and catching up with our son who is home for a few months between rotations. Our humid, humid weather zapped the energy out of most of us during July and though I am never one to wish away time, I do hope August is just a tad cooler. I cannot for the life of me figure out why I have not thought of this obvious idea before, I am always looking for ways to make a wedding envelope more of a presentation. In the past I have searched out and found boxes for that occasion only to arrive at the reception and find they won't fit into the holder slot. A reception is no time to gain promises that your awkward card shape will find its way to the bride and groom. With that in mind, I tied a simple but gorgeous length of ivory double-face satin ribbon would give any simple wedding envelope the extra touch that I think it deserves for this romantic occasion. 


Photo by family friend Bev Pentland

Yummy Treats at Summer Camp

These delectable notebooks caught my eye while spending a few humid minutes browsing a new blog named Simply Seleta. Actually it was way longer than that, you must go visit her charming blog that I found via the aqua-infused blog House of Turquoise. I loved the colours and simplicity of these personalized notebooks from Paperwink that were featured in a past post at Simply Seleta, wouldn't they make a lovely summer hostess gift? At $15.00 for a set of 3, I thought this personal gift treat was almost as satisfying as eating gelato in these delicious flavours. So yummy that it inspired another summer camp post of simple gift wrapping. Did I tell you that I had some pistachio gelato in Chicago on the holiday weekend? It wasn't as good as the huge scoop I had in Rome last fall, but I could live on that stuff right now. Especially today with the temp at 110. That is the Feels Like temp, but at that point I don't think it matters much..........it is just plain hot. Bring on the gelato.

It is all about the technique and this is a pretty simple and affordable presentation. Any solid gift wrap, a yard of satin seam binding ribbon, and two of the 8 Martha Stewart flower stickers. I showed you the same flowers in the bright tones the other day when I embellished the Kate Spade box. The 2 remaining white ones bring a fresh summer look to this gelato palette. 

While I was playing around, I also tried just a few other applications. Moved the flower around a bit. You could use this gift card to write a personal gift message. If I was a better camp leader I would suggest drying and pressing real flowers from your summer garden for a future embellishment. But buying them is about 100 times easier and summer camp is supposed to be kind of lazy.

I took an hour break from camp and headed over to my embellished world where more is always better (I did tell you I am a lousy camp leader). Since it is so cool here in my studio I wrapped up a trio of green paper flowers in satin binding ribbon just to see how they would look on this ribbon striped gift.

More can be better in my world....... flower on top and then another flower on the gift card.

Todays camp tools.

These Paperwink notebooks are also available in several other delectable colour combinations.

Photos 2, 3, 4 5, and 6 by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Simple Kraft Boxes.........embellished

I am staying in the coolest part of our house right now. Temps are at 100 plus and as we all know you simply cannot put a 56 year old woman in that kind of heat and not have her display an awkward melt-down. I am cool as an English cucumber and playing with my collection of Martha Stewart scrapbook embellishments, continuing the summer camp of gift wrapping I talked about in my last post. In the summer spirit of keeping gift wrapping simple and easy, I also picked up a collection of basic Kraft boxes to illustrate that gift giving doesn't always have to be a overly-embellished affair. I have deliberately left the boxes unadorned, no gift wrap. Sometimes it is best to keep the presentation simple but thoughtful. When? giving a simple just thinking of you gift. a homemade gift. when you don't know the recipient well. if they live a green life. if an over-embellished gift would make them uncomfortable. when it feels right. when your gift message is simple. when you are sensitive to their reciprocal gift budget.

A special novelty ribbon can elevate even the most humble of gift boxes as seen with this bird nest stamped satin ribbon from Midori Ribbon. The contrast of materials, humble and luxurious, makes for a beautifully understated presentation. The secret to successfully wrapping simple gift presentations is understating the presentation but in a novel way. It shows thought behind the effort even when using the most humble of gift wrapping materials.

For the XO (Kiss Hug) box I used a small jewelry box in Kraft, recycled the brown ribbon from my Kate Spade store box and then added two silver letters from Martha Stewart. As there is no alphabet repeats in the set, you may have to get license plate clever with the words you use. Which can make it all the more fun and novel.

Nothing like a little sparkle to jazz up this larger Kraft box. I thought these Glitter Chrysanthemum stickers from Martha Stewart were a colourful embellishment and you could use a single mum or go colour crazy with multiples as I have shown in this photo. I like the stickers cascading over the box edge but a single glitter mum as seen in a section of the third photo (just brown and silver) works well too.

The MS letter stickers are slightly embossed which gives them an interesting dimension when used in such a simple application. You could also use their initials as a monogram or.............ooh, I just had an idea that would take care of single letters most efficiently(another summer camp post). Next post is the orange and white scrolls you see to the left. Isn't summer camp fun?




All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life


Please Note: Due to the technical difficulties that Blogger was experiencing with comment moderation today, many comments that were received today were not posted. I was able to enjoy them by email. It appears the problem is fixed as the last comment received is now showing.  Hopefully, comments will be back to normal now. SC

Kate Spade............meet Martha Stewart

It is not that I planned a blog break, it just happened. Lots of personal catch-up, a bit of a new e-reader addiction to sort through, and time to form a lasting relationship with my new Mac desktop. To get myself back into the blog groove I spent an afternoon at Michaels craft store to see what I could come up with in the way of gift wrapping ideas. First I must state I am not a scrapbooker, but I can see the appeal. All those little packages of pretty little things. Before that little shopping expedition, I spent a day at Somerset Mall in Michigan where I indulged in a bit of Kate Spade so I did have this pretty box to play with...................Kate Spade meet Martha Stewart. You two look good together.

Since I am not a "craft" person so to speak, I wasn't really aware of the scope of scrapbook supplies or that Martha Stewart was in the game too (I am just not getting out enough). This is probably just as well judging by my lack of fiscal restraint when it comes to little packages of pretty little things and the way I see it, whoever does scrapbook must have lots of fun little embellishment leftovers that can be used up in other ways so I thought that is what I would show you in the next few weeks. Gift wrap ideas that use up these pretty little scrapbook things, easily and simply. Sort of like craft day at summer camp, only the grown-up kind.

To make this frou frou feminine type of gift box I simply took two packages of Martha Stewart Crafts stickers in two types of paper floral styles using 7 of the 12 pieces. Each package has 6 flowers and here in Canada was $8.49 per package though I am certain that it is less in the US. I changed the grommet-tied store ribbon to a narrow melon colour bringing it to the front instead of the top where it looked way too busy. This idea could work on a plain white or craft box too, in fact I think I will have a few to show you.

To the 1,000 followers of A Gift Wrapped Life................Thank you!

You have made my life more beautiful in the most remarkable of ways.

Birds Nesting............in gift wrap

When I was wrapping up a trio of gifts yesterday which included this delicate rosebud frame I happened to notice these little birds sitting beside them in my inventory room. It seemed to me that I should try and work them into the gift wrapping as they matched the gift wrap and the frame finish. The photo I borrowed above is my parents on their wedding day and since so many of you have asked.............that handsome guy you see is doing very well, positively perky with all the attention he has been receiving from attentive nurses and family.

And I did work them in........I anchored their little feet into a voluminous nest of double face satin ribbon tied into multiple bows which was a gorgeous match to my aqua Bird Nest gift wrap. I have been on a marathon of gift wrapping this past week so orders have been flying out the door. I am dangerouslyy low on my ribbon supplies so need to spend some time at my desk instead of idle bird-watching this weekend.

Since I hear birds chirping around here all day long, I have become accustomed to thinking about them more.........no wonder they worked themselves into my gift wrapping. The subconscious mind is an interesting place. I have a few more "bird" ideas I want to try in upcoming posts. If I start putting rabbits on my gifts, you will know I have gone too far with this outdoor frame of mind. I see quite a few of them too.

A trio of Birds nested in Ribbon. And a few waiting.

I hope you have time this weekend to watch the birds, the sunset, or just enjoy the sunshine.

Thank you for your continued comments for my Dad and a wonderful Welcome to new followers.

I am so happy you have landed here at A Gift Wrapped Life.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Dutch Touch Art....... French Alphabet Series

~ Body Parts ~

~ Before You Go ~

~ Rose & Table ~

~ Animaux ~

I have shown you the work of Dutch Touch Art once before in a post, a huge and spectacular floral painting that is mesmerizing in its luminous detail and size. Dutch Touch Art first captured my attention at the tail end of my design career and my second thought was "where were they when I needed them most?' Of course my first thought being " their work is incredible" and as you browse through their website you will see what I mean. Picture their collection of florals, still life, animals, and portraits in a modern or traditional setting and you will appreciate that their oil paintings have a unique quality that makes them perfect for either direction. This French Alphabet Series is a more humble series for this company know for their lush, old world oil paintings (and I mean lush), but I thought they were simply charming. Wouldn't they be adorable in a sophisticated nursery? The company was originally founded in The Netherlands but opened a New York and Los Angeles showroom in 2000 run by mother-daughter team Barbara von Schreiber and Shawn Silver. They have an interesting new artist addition to their collection that I will show you in an upcoming post. Though only available to the trade, the company would be more than happy to help direct you should you fall in love in one of their paintings. Many of their paintings are available in several sizes and many of them dramatically oversized which can be a bonus in adding visual drama to interiors.

All photos provided by Dutch Touch Art

Nocturnal Blogging

I think I am on to something here..........nocturnal blogging. I am a creature of habit and that included blogging at my desktop PC, always in my home office, mostly in the mornings. It was such a habit that I almost missed out on what has quickly become my favorite thing this summer when I was forced into my late, late blog visits. Blogging in the late evening, on my laptop, on my covered veranda, by candlelight, and watching the rabbits hop through the yard (yes, I see and hear you). I could turn on the lights, but much prefer the diffused ambiance. Obviously I should add a glass of wine to this setting but that might prompt very silly subject matter and best left to very tolerant friends and family.

So two things...........if you blog it might be good to change locations and settings now and again. Just a thought, it does change your perspective a bit. Like changing a room around or going on a date with your husband. Blogging outdoors at night in the summer is just a fun thing to do. And if you ever build a house, make sure to somehow add a covered veranda to your house plan. You will at some point in the future thank me for this advice.

One more thing just in case you think the new name of my blog should be called A Gift Wrapped Life in Florals, I should mention that I am busy preparing plenty of gift wrapping posts for the weeks ahead. I always did think better at night.

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

My profusion of Peonies........and a Thank You

There is no possible way to thank you for your support during the last two weeks. I am beyond grateful to be able to tell you that my dad is slowly making his way back to us. My last post was published a few hours before we got the hospital call that every family fears and I believe your support and prayers helped in part to bring him back to us. Something worked that night and I am eternally grateful to the many of you who offered prayers and support by comments, emails, and phone calls. Actually, I am beyond grateful and maybe there is a way to thank you in a way that feels right to me.

Today is the 31st, the last day of May. I almost missed the May Giveaway and I am going to go about this one in a slightly different way. It is my way of thanking you for your incredible kindness towards my father, me, and my family. If you left a comment or an email by yesterday concerning my father over the past few weeks, your name is already entered in this Thank You Giveaway. I will post this special gift and select the recipient by the end of the week.

Comfort comes in many ways. Though I had no time to comment the past few weeks, I did enjoy your blog posts that I would read late at night on my laptop, on my veranda, in the dark when I couldn't sleep. The blogging world has become a comfortable one for me and I am not sure bloggers always know how good they are at what they do. I just want you to know that you are a unique and talented group of women...........

..................and totally amazing. XO

All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

An extra prayer for my Dad please

It is a with a sad and breaking heart that I tell you my father is fighting for his life after his surgery last week. I doubt I will be posting this week as we are at the hospital all hours. As I told you with my peony post he was tickled pink with your good wishes, thoughts and prayers. It gave him the biggest smile and for that I am grateful to all of you who shared such in your comments.   Now I want to ask you to pray for him, me and my family. Maybe with the force of all your prayers we can now send comfort and peace his way. You are always my most wonderful supporters, even in the sad times and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. XO

A Magnificent Surprise

Today I got the most lovely surprise.......

To say I am a peony lover would be an understatement. I went around and counted all the peony buds today and can expect a few hundred blooms in varying colours over the next few weeks. A few years ago I planted a second round of peony plants which I thought were a deep pink. Well, they are and were to begin with........ until they opened this morning and presented me with this most magnificent surprise. This first one that opened literally took my breath away. Isn't she a beauty? And look closely to the middle right, a bold little ant trying to get in my photo for evolutionary credit (he is also at the bottom of the top photo). Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for all your kind support for my father. Even though he still isn't sure what this blogging thing is that his daughter is doing, he was tickled pink that so many of you sent your good wishes, thoughts, and prayers. XO



Photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Mary Frances handbags....... and my favorite shoes.

While in the beginning stages of an overdue closet purge, I came across a few of my older Mary Frances handbags that are definitely not on the purge list. Then I thought I would go take a look at her new ones, anything to delay being purge-decisive and something definitely more fun. You might want to go pick a couple of your favorites as well and add them to your wish list. I have gifted Mary Frances purses (what we call handbags and clutches here in Canada) a few times and can tell you it is always a special gift choice to give or receive. Looking at pretty purses got me thinking about my all-time favorite pair of dress shoes that I have had for several years now. I wear them any chance I get, which isn't nearly enough. I almost feel I should apologize to them.

Mind you, I do get almost as much pleasure looking at my Lualdi shoes as I do wearing them. They are one of my most comfortable heels which is saying alot these days and with the mix of chartreuse, blue, pink, gold, rust and............

                                                                                           

................an unexpected red heel, these Italian beauties go with just about anything in my closet. You can see they have been well-worn..........

..........and they are certainly well-loved. I am sorry I don't wear you more.

Top images from Mary Frances/Bottom 3 photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

Sweet Pea and Grosgrain

Officially, this is my 200th post but don't tell anyone because I do want the post to be a bit more special and include a May Giveaway. Maybe something thoughtful and profound. And so this is my unofficial 200th post as sometimes life gets in the way and even blogging goes on hold. The official 200th post will be sometime in the next week, as soon as we see our Dad through a major and unexpected spinal surgery tomorrow. Before I left for the hospital this afternoon I had to get a few orders wrapped and delivered and thought I would show you one.......I call it Sweet Pea.

I know you rarely see me gift wrap in what is referred to as a monochromatic color scheme. Nor do you often see me use grosgrain ribbon as I certainly favour double faced satins for the most part. I actually do enjoy working with grosgrain, it can be simple but striking. I will try some other variations in grosgrain ribbon in upcoming posts. It is an easy ribbon for most to use, it always ties easily, makes for a crisp, neat bow and is one of the most affordable ribbons.You can't ask for too much more than that from any ribbon.

What you have heard me talk about multiple times is the use of offcuts, those leftover strips of wrapping paper that are generally long and narrow. If you look closely you will see that I used an offcut as a wide folded strip over the gift wrap for dimension and as a guide for placing my three lengths of 1" grosgrain ribbon. The offcut is taped to the bottom (with double-sided tape so nothing is visible) and also works nicely to hide the folded sides. I simply brought the ribbon under the offcut strip and positioned the trio of grosgrain bows, one on top, two to the bottom. You could do any variation you like depending on the size of the package. This was a fairly large box so using three lengths seemed to enhance the presentation because I was using narrow ribbon. Gift wrapping is all about proportion, just like home design. Then again, sometimes rules can be broken and isn't that the fun of it?

It is official, I love the name Sweet Pea. This was a gift for someone so I do look to add something cheery and pretty. I thought this die-cut card was lovely with this green gift wrap presentation, but then made a inside copy error in my rush. But as you know, I will simply cut the image off and save it for another time as a gift card. There is a few other card variations I will attempt in upcoming posts. I have a rather long and interesting list of gift wrap techniques to challenge myself with shortly so the upcoming gift wrapping posts look to be quite creative and hopefully inspirational. Many have asked me to resume my Gift Wrap 101 tutorials and they will be coming back, along with the Small Comfort Series.

And just so you don't think I have totally lost my mind by leaving out embellishments of some nature. I added these petite white flowers to see which style you preferred. Feel free to tell me your preference. Maybe all this time you would have preferred more monochromatic gift wrapping. And to the lovely follower who emailed me in the last week asking for help in selecting and buying good ribbon, I will be emailing you back with some suggestions as soon as this hectic week is over.


My blog posts may be sparse over the next week though sometimes blogging can be a nice stress-release break between hospital breaks, so who knows which way it will go. Thank you in advance for your patience and see you soon. I hope you will look forward to my official 200th  post and the May Giveaway celebrating this blog milestone. A most grateful welcome to New Followers and I am honored that you have joined me here at A Gift Wrapped Life.



All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life