making it pretty :: tutorial and free downloads

I'm so glad you're here for another day of holiday cheer. Wow, day one was busy wasn't it? Greeting cards take some time but bring joy to those receiving them, so to me it's worth it. 

In my mind, the packaging of a gift is almost more important than the gift itself. Silly I know. But, who doesn't adore being presented with a gift that looks lovely, enticing, well-packaged and begging to be opened? {As a child, I might just have used the scissors to cut through the tape on my Christmas gifts and then used rolled up tape behind the original spot to make it appear that it had not been touched. It's not my fault, they were begging to be opened!}

GASP! EEK! HORROR! Another secret revealed.

Today we'll take a page of labels and turn common everyday household items into lovely, enticing, well-packaged gifts that you'll be proud to present. Are you ready to get crafty?

I bet you already guessed that your gift from me today was another download. These labels are sized to be used with your favorite 2 inch punch and can be printed on white cardstock, colored cardstock, kraft or even those 8.5 x 11 full label sticker sheets.

download labels

If you don't have access to a color printer, don't despair. Print those labels! I'll show you ways to add color with your stash of scrapbooking supplies. Believe me, people will notice your creativity, not that they weren't printed in color.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. By doing so, our family has reduced our trash pick-up to just 3 bags per week for a family of 5. Which also means that we have a lot of empty containers floating around. It's gotten so bad that Mr. wRight and the 3 kiddos ask me, "Can you use this for your scrapbooking, Mommy?", before they take it to the garage.

And that story brings me to this. The first container was originally a bread crumb container, the second housed almonds and the third container held Stampin' Up brads. I'll use the first container to gift chocolate oatmeal cookies to my brother. He travels during the week and now he won't have to bother with returning my container. The second will have Nutty Nut Slippery Melts for my daughter's teacher. The smallest container will have a roll of stamps for my Mom's stocking. Three gifts wrapped and only a cajillion to go!

If you're interested in how I made the flower embellishments, I have a flower tutorial here and there's also a TUTORIAL section in my sidebar.

From start to finish in 5 steps:

1. find the card you'd like to use
2. embellish the label with ribbon
3. used pop dots behind the label
4. punch your desired shape from the front of the card 
5. place patterned paper behind the punched shape 

What to do for a classroom full of second graders? 

Candy cane treats, what else? Remember to have your child write their holiday message on the back of the punched scallop BEFORE assembling! Muuuuuuch easier.

Gift cards are a popular gift option for everyone. Have a few gift tins ready before you go shopping and pop them in when you get home. More gifts wrapped!

Another use for the label?

Use them for napkin rings. Or, you could write around the white circle shape {on the green cardstock} with the guest's name for a place card.

I bet you didn't even notice that the place cards weren't colored ink did you?

Keep a few extra labels on hand so you don't run out when you finally have a quiet moment to wrap a few gifts. Funny right? Quiet moment? At Christmas? With the kids at home on Break?

And just a few more ideas before we meet again tomorrow. The labels are an ideal size to be used:

1. in your December Daily albums as journaling spots
2. in your December Daily albums as a place to hold your date
3. as embellishments for layouts and mini-albums
4. as a Christmas memory game
5. as gifts {embellish a few and package them up for Teacher gifts!}