Around here, the art of a beautifully wrapped gift goes far beyond the holidays. In our totally digital lives, good old-fashioned birthday presents, Christmas presents and presents for no particular reason take planning, thoughtfulness and love. And the gift wrapping part of this is essential. Ripping open a gift with your name on it is one of those joys that might actually get better with age.
the basics of gift wrapping
Joy Cho, Bri Emery and Jordan Ferney who shared some of their own tips for adding a personal touch to all those holiday presents.
And now we’re back — and this time we’re designing our own wrapping paper, adding confetti, fringing it up and more.
It’s all part of an exclusive DIY Starter Kit that we teamed up with Scotch® Brand to create to go along with the release of our book, Homemakers. And guess what? YOU can win your very own Homemakers Starter Kit along with a copy of our book! Simply submit your email address below and you’ll be entered to win. The contest runs from March 3 to March 17, and 10 winners will be chosen at random — you can see all terms and conditions here.
This contest is now closed.
Now, let’s get wrapping.
Materials:
– solid color gift wrap
– patterned gift wrap
– tissue paper in various colors
Tools:
– Scotch® Double-Sided Tape
– Scotch® Washi Tape
– Scotch® Patterned Duct Tape
– Scotch® Magic™ Tape
– Scotch™ Utility Knife
– Scotch™ Scissors
When it comes to wrapping paper, make sure the rolls you choose go nicely together. We went with a pair of patterns as well as a pair of solids in order to create a bunch of different prints and color combos. As far as tools go, most of these are pretty basic — you may even have a handful of them in your DIY drawer already. Now, let’s get wrapping!
1. Dip Your Prezzies in Confetti: For an unexpected layer of texture, cover part of your gift in Scotch® Double-Sided Tape. We recommend a “dipped” design, but you could also create stripes or shapes. If you can tape it, you can confetti it ;) Once you’ve got your tape adhered to your wrapped gift, sprinkle confetti onto the gift and press firmly to attach. We found that making your own confetti out of tissue paper is easy, fun and sticks to the tape way better than the metallic store-bought variety.
2. A Little Patterned Duct Tape Goes a Long Way: For a big burst of pattern, add patterned duct tape accents. We used a roll of Scotch® Patterned Duct Tape with a sort of peacock-inspired design. This method is also an awesome way to give packages you ship an extra pop of personality. Since duct tape is so darn durable, it can withstand the trials and tribulations of the postal service without so much as a scratch.
<b>Create a Peekaboo Effect</b>
How awesome is this? First, wrap your gift in one type of wrapping paper. Then, use a Scotch™ Utility Knife or Scotch™ Scissors to cut shapes out of another piece of wrapping paper. Wrap that piece over the wrapped gift, and boom — peekaboo! You can use the shapes you cut out to create a reverse effect on another gift as well.
4. Fringe Your Gift: Next on the tissue paper train, we’re creating fringe. Fold your tissue paper lengthwise and use Scotch® Scissors to snip upward, creating fringe. Use Scotch® Double-Sided Tape to attach each layer of fringe, staggering the layers as you move up your present.
5. Never Underestimate the Power of Washi Tape: Okay, maybe that is a slight exaggeration… but you know we can’t get enough of our old friend washi. For this simple tip, add stripes and patterns to a plain wrapped gift in a matter of seconds. It’s a great way to add flair without the ribbon.
6. Design Your Own Wrapping Paper: And finally, why not create your own custom wrapping paper? Take a solid roll of gift wrap or kraft paper, and add your own designs using a gold paint pen and black marker. We’ve found that repetitive patterns tend to work best — but there are really no rules when it comes to the DIY design department!
Back in January, we introduced you to a feel-good cause to inspire your New Year's resolution: a walking challenge to help raise funds for the amazing cancer fighters at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I took part in the challenge with the Brit + Co team and ended up walking 105+ miles in January — it was awesome.
This spring, there's a new challenge on the horizon, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Big Climb. The ask: On May 15, 2021, you can step up to take cancer down by committing to climb 1,311 steps, walking 3.2 miles, or doing 440 chair step-ups at home as part of the Big Climb. If you need some motivation to bring movement back into your daily routine — look no further!
As always, it's free to sign up, but climbers are encouraged to set a fundraising goal to help beat cancer. We'll be organizing another Brit + Co team to step up, and I hope you'll join us too! Keep scrolling for a peek at where I'll be completing the challenge in my Los Angeles neighborhood around the hidden Silver Lake Stairs. Happy climbing!
Never underestimate the power of an accountability buddy! I asked my in-laws, my partner, and a few friends to join me so we can keep each other motivated and accountable in completing the challenge — virtual high-fives all around! Also, my dog Fox is a great climber, too.
An aesthetically pleasing backdrop is a huge motivator for me! I'm fortunate to have all sorts of painted steps around my neighborhood to keep the challenge interesting, but you can also keep cool inside with at-home chair step-ups.
Don't forget to share your progress on social — #BigClimb!
Feel free to break the challenge up if you need to by tackling half the distance in the AM and half at sunset. Here's me 1,311 steps later and ready for a break — but, think I earned this one!
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