Wantist: Give Amazing Gifts

Posts by Brittany

Wrap it

How to Wrap A Present – The 18 Best Gift Wrapping Videos

Time to wrap! Whether you’re looking for inspiration or how-to help, we’ve gathered up the best videos to help embellish or upgrade your gift-wrapping skills.

The first few cover the basics of wrapping a box. You’ll also learn creative ways to reuse materials already around your house and crafty DIYs with pom poms and potatoes.

For veteran wrappers, learn clever fixes for when your paper is too short, how to wrap a cookie tin and make it look beautiful, a dramatic way to wrap a wine bottle, and how to make glossy confetti-filled gift wrap.

These first two are simply to get you in the mood. They made me smile. I hope they do the same for you!

Holiday video by Amsterdam media company, Suikerdepôt

From the ever-festive folks at Kate Spade.

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wrapping-vidsdandeeonekingslaneetsynormandailycandytwinstriperecyclenowthreadbangerconfettiheidielsagekatescookietinjapanese-winemay-diagonalucgoodswrapcatGift Wrap Video Tutorials from The Container Store

Give & Tell

Give & Tell with Chris Gardner of ManMadeDIY

Chris GardnerWriter and maker Chris Gardner is is the main man at ManMadeDIY, a crafting blog for guys (though this gal really digs it too). He’s also the editor at Curbly.com, a community of people who make things for their homes. As Chris explains, “ManMade recognizes that all sorts of creative outlets can be realized by, for, and with men. Rosie can rivet, Chris can craft, and all demographics can DIY!”

I’m been a big fan of Chris’s creative how-tos and crafty finds from around the web. In the spirit of the holidays, a couple posts of his you’ll want to checkout are Why You Have to Make Egg Nog… and How to Do It, How to Make Modern Perforated Tabletop Christmas Trees, and How to: Turn a Tacky Glitter Reindeer into an AWESOME Glitter Reindeer.

Oh and while you’re at it, don’t miss Curbly’s mega set of holiday roundups like 10 Other Places to Hang Your Christmas Stockings, or their rad gift guides like 30 Hip Design Gifts Under $25. Here he is sharing gifting tips and tales as only Chris can—thanks so much Chris!

Have you ever done any sneaky research to determine the right gift for someone?

Oh my, yes. I’m a total trickster when figuring out preferences or sizes for gifts. My masterpiece was giving someone a hug while secretly holding a tape measure. I also made up an elaborate story to snag my sweetheart’s fingerprint to make some original art for Valentine’s Day last year, and have managed to use calipers to figure out her exact finger size while she was taking a nap.

Could you share a wrapping secret with us?

I think brown kraft paper will never get old. It looks amazing simply tied up with string, but can be customized in all sorts of fun ways. Last year, I cut out the recipient’s name from old books I got for ten cents at the thrift store and simply glued them on. I also figured out a way to make custom gift “envelopes” by sandwiching the gift between two layers of craft paper and stitching it shut with a zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine.

Plus, it matches regular brown paper sandwich bags for those small or bulk gifts, which can look amazing with a simple stamp or hand-printed gift tag.
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Chris Gardner's Gift Picks from Wantist

Wrap it

Martha’s Gift Wrap Challenge—Cast Your Votes!

Vintage Portraits Wrap by Something's Hiding in Here

Vintage Portraits Wrap by Something’s Hiding in Here

As if it were possible to pick! Well okay, we’ll try.

All this week over at the Crafts Department on Martha Stewart, some of our most favorite crafty bloggers have been sharing creative and inexpensive wrapping ideas as part of a Gift Wrap Challenge.

The ideas are bursting with inspiration, and now the trick, to choose the most inspiring! Will it be color copies turned gift wrap? Sleek and stylish stitching? Homemade bows with confetti inside? Or whimsical glittered gift tags?

Pictured are each of the submissions with links to their tutorials so you can give them a go. Wrapper friends, these bloggers are true stars and their sites are wonderful corners of the internet. So go get lost, but don’t forget to vote!

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Adorned Glitter Clothespin Gift Toppers by Creature ComfortsConfetti Bow Ribbion and Pom Pom Topper by Hello SandwichStitched Wrap and Printable Pull Tag by Shimtokk

Wrap it

Falalala with Gift Wrap From Mr. Boddington’s

Wrapping Paper by Mr. Boddington's Studio

Wrapping Paper by Mr. Boddington’s Studio

If you haven’t started yet, it’s time to get wrapping!

Of all the paper in all the land Mr. Boddington’s has my heart this Christmas. Extra points for the chevron pattern? Well of course! What can I say, I love a happy zig-zag.

Their wrapping paper is sold by the sheet in mix and match sets of 5 or 10. That’s right you pick the ones you like most! My five pack would look something like this: 3 Red Chevrons, 1 Rudolph at The Disco, and 1 Big Johns Christmas Trees.

If Hanukkah is your holiday of choice this December, Mr. Boddington’s also makes an adorable hand-drawn paper for you too featuring matzos, Menorahs, and more!

And let’s not forget, a proper present needs a proper tag. More chevrons!

Chevron Gift Tags by Mr. Boddington's

Gift Tags by Mr. Boddington’s Studio

Orders should be placed with Mr. Boddingtons by Dec. 20 to get them in time. Happy wrapping!

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bodd-300Chevron Gift Tags by Mr. Boddington's

Give & Tell

Give & Tell with Amy Turn Sharp of Little Alouette

Amy Turn SharpI met Amy shortly after Alt last year. She’s a hoot, a poet, and the wood queen of Little Alouette, an organic wooden toy shop she runs alongside her master carpenter husband, Joe.

Their toys are beautifully handcrafted, wonderfully natural, and the kind you keep in the family for a long time. I gifted a wooden letter H to baby Harper last spring and I’m still waiting for the right little person to come along to give these gorgeous stackers to. Love the grain, don’t you?

If you need a gift for a wee one in time for Christmas or Hannukah, this wooden guitar and mustache rattle are in stock and ready to ship. And they’re awesome. Naturally.

Amy’s a mother of 3 in Columbus, Ohio. She’s also a public speaker, novelist, twitter addict, and blogger. Babble has named her as one of the top 50 Etsy Moms two years in a row. Thanks for joining us Amy!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

When I had my last baby my friends bought me hours of mothers helpers in advance. That was ace. I will always think about that. Mother’s are good gift givers.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?

I think when I collected a life scrap book for my gran’s 89th birthday. I took photos and letters from everyone in her life and mementos and compiled them together in a large book. She cried for days and days. She held the book for a long time.
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Amy Turn Sharp's Gift Picks on Wantist