This one is for all you mandarin lovers. I eat the fruit day in and day out during wintertime and it’s only fair that I dedicate a gift wrap post to one of the best things about winter. Here’s what you need to recreate this look:

Kraft box
Speckled white wrapping paper
Mandarin leaves (fresh is best because it’s not so fragile, but I’m using dried ones and they still look beautiful)
Chunky glitter in a gold/silver mix
Wide gold mesh ribbon
Gold glitter string
Green glitter string
Silver glitter string

ModPodge
Foam brush
Scissors
Tape

Wrap the kraft box in the wrapping paper. Wrap a piece of the wide gold ribbon around the box and secure the two ends on the back with a touch of glue. Let dry before flipping over. While it’s drying, apply some glue to the curled edges of the mandarin leaves. Top off with glitter and shake off the excess. Let dry.

When the wide ribbon has set, take a piece of each of the three glitter strings and wrap once around the box, layering over the wide ribbon. Secure each strand on the back with a small knot. Once the leaves have dried, glue them them onto the top of the box over the layered ribbon and voila, you are done!

See more of this year’s holiday gift wrap ideas here:
Glitter Stripe Noble

That time of year has come again. Yes! I’m going to start posting lots of Christmas gift wrap ideas, starting with this one that uses leftovers from my tree. We got a huge one this year and there’s plenty of these itty twigs around.

Paperless gift wrapping is something that many look to when it comes to wrapping because it’s true, if you don’t have a knack for perfect wrapped corners, your gift can end up looking worse wrapped than unwrapped. To recreate this paperless wrap idea, here’s what you need:

Kraft box
Gold glitter tape
Emerald green satin ribbon
Fine gold glitter
Twigs from your tree

ModPodge
Sponge applicator
Scissors

Start by apply a spot of glue on the edges of the needles of your twigs with the sponge. Apply the glitter and shake off the excess. While that’s drying, take the lid off your kraft box and carefully apply strips of the glitter tape diagonally across the top, folding the ends under the lid. You can try keeping the spaces between them equal or use variation for a more handmade look. Place the lid back on the box and wrap your ribbon around it three times, securing with a small knot on the back. Once your twigs are dried, simply slip them under the topmost strand of ribbon.

A printed photo will always be a meaningful touch. Whether it graces a wall in your home, the dresser in your bedroom, the pocket of your wallet, or even a wrapped gift. In our digital world, less and less is getting printed by the year, but as a paper lover, I doubt I will ever do everything digital. I recently had some photos printed on matte paper so I could have pictures of Henry growing up scattered around the house or given as gifts to family. Today, as we’ve seen many before me do it too, I’m dedicating a gift wrap post to the idea of putting a printed photo on your wrapped gift — not because it’s a new idea, but just to encourage you to do it this year, whether it be for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the New Year. Embrace your life; put your memories into print.

And for those of you who are curious, the photos were printed with Artifact Uprising.