I’ve so been busy writing about Cinco de Mayo celebrations this week that I’ve almost let a few last-minutes Mother’s Day DIYs slip by (Mom, I swear we love you more than margaritas!). I created my own mom-customized wrapping paper for Mother’s Day gifts. Start with a roll of white paper — try the craft store for ‘banner paper‘ or a shipping store for white packaging paper — and start scrolling out the word Mom in various sizes with a thick marker. The fun thing about this project is you can be really loose with it, it looks put together because the patterns repeat, but aren’t too perfect or precious (if you have kids give them a try at practicing their writing!). What worked best for me was using the king-size sharpie marker, and rotating the paper to get the writing at different angles. It can be totally customized — does your mom have a fun nickname, or do you kids call her variations of Grandma? Write those on too! When you’re done, wrap up the present and tie it with neon twine — I grab this hot pink twine at the hardware store (or purchase it on Amazon if you’re a prime-addict like me!). 
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My little sister is born on Cinco De Mayo, so fiesta is a bit of an eternal theme for her birthday celebrations. I sadly can’t make her party this weekend so I decided to send a little fiesta in my place with some festive wrapping. I used fringe scissors, washi tape, and ribbons to give them an extra special treatment — and I think it’s official: I won’t be able to wrap a present without fringe ever again!
Wrapping gifts were an Olympic sport, I’m pretty sure I’d be selected to represent my country. I went on a wrapping bonanza this weekend and taped up, tied, and adorned packages for hours. Every year I pick a color palette so my gifts have a ‘theme’ and this year I decided to pick some classic colors — lots of reds and whites, with touches of kraft paper and Christmas greens. I got great papers at Target (the fair isle print is from the dollar-bin, and chevron is from the regular wrapping section!), and added in some accent papers from Paper Source (the wood grain) and TJ Maxx (the plaid — that I’m in love with!). And I mixed up the ribbons with a combination of bakers twines and leftover silk ribbons from years past. I’m so happy how they all look together!
I dove head first into holiday festiveness this weekend. I finished my Christmas shopping and set up what looked like Santa’s workshop in my kitchen to wrap up all of my gifts. I addressed and mailed out a huge stack of Christmas cards. And celebrated the holidays with all of my best friends with perhaps one too many glasses of champagne on Saturday night, followed by a very chilly home through a snowstorm. If that whirlwind of holiday cheer didn’t get me into the Christmas spirit, I don’t know what else would! And now I’m cruising through the work week and counting down to some much-needed time off to close out the year. 
I’m miraculously half-way done with my Christmas shopping already, so now comes my favorite part: the wrapping! This year I plan to forgo my usual grosgrain ribbon and try something a little more three-dimensional. Leftover baker’s twine inspired me with the festive red and white colors, so I decided to whip up some fluffy pom-poms to top my presents. Making them is easy as pie; all you need is some baker’s twine, a fork, and a pair of scissors.
To start, wrap the twine the fork until it starts to look round and full. Then, thread the end of your twine through the center of the fork and tie it around the ball of twine. Finally, trim the loops and slide the ball of twine off the fork. After a few fluffs and puffs you have a pom-pom for the top of your gift! 
There are two kinds of people in the world: wrapping paper rippers, and wrapping paper openers. Some relish in the frenzied tearing of paper to see what’s inside — but not me, I’m in the latter group. I carefully pick apart the seams of the present, because to me the wrapping is one of the best parts of the gift. I’ll fold up pieces of the paper to reuse or save if I like the pattern, cards get tacked up on my bulletin board or fridge, and I’m the one picking up ribbons and bows at the end of the party and rolling them up in my pocket. This why I’m drawn to the chalkboard tags on Kate’s Papergoods (having an awesome name doesn’t hurt either). I love the idea of re-purposing these on different gifts, using them at parties to note seating arrangements, or writing little messages on them for fun. How special would you feel if one was on the gift you were opening?
All images via Kate’s Papergoods
Just a few more presents to wrap up and then I’m all done with my Christmas list! I found super cute wrapping paper at Target so the presents looks delicious underneath my tree. Almost too pretty to unwrap… almost.
Despite my anger with the Container Store, and their deceiving wrapping paper… I have to say, my Christmas presents came out pretty darn cute. Almost too cute to rip open (ok, no wrapping paper is THAT cute).
