We have to say it, Martha Stewart’s site is must-visit for all crafty, foodie, and creative person out there. Overflowing with ideas, we just love the easy to follow articles like this home-office desk from the Fabulous and Fast Furniture. Not to mention the many downloadable templates.
Ever wondered how creative you really are? This is your chance to find out. We just discovered this wonderful website where you can be your author, layout artist, publisher, all rolled into one. Simply put, you have total creative control over anything you want to produce, as long as it’s in book format, that is.
It’s www.blurb.com. Yes, the ubiquitous term used to describe any kind of copyrighted work is now a verb. The website is the perfect venue for writers, photographers, artists to publish themselves and their works without the hassles and trappings of going through the usual avenue. It’s your work, your effort at your own pace.
Blurb.com is one of the fastest growing “publish yourself” websites proliferating in cyberspace these days. With ready templates and formats, it’s a no-fuss approach to achieving literary acclaim.
One of us is a bit addicted in making stuff out of used paper. On one weekend, she managed to weave some paper mats from old magazine pages and then made a small gift bag by joining two small mats with strips of used white paper, adding a handle and a home-made gift tag. It is not much but hey, this was made while watching television. And boy, this was very tedious!
Watch out for more stuff out of these paper mats. If you like the idea but do not like making your own, check out some products from Echo Store in Serendra.
Get crafty
From http://www.chocolaterain.com
Chocolate Rain, a Hong Kong grown brand collaborates with artists in reusing old, discarded objects to create decor and accessories. This Exhibition/Workshop opened last April 2 and runs through April 19 at Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
So what makes Chocolate Rain worthy of praise? Read here to find out.
2 – Go to “Random quotations”
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
3 – Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
4 – Use photoshop or a similar editing program to put it all together.
As the countdown to Christmas draws near, so should your gift buying. But buying gifts is one thing and wrapping them is entirely another. We’ve all been guilty at one time or another of having gifts wrapped as if they came straight from the factory. And who wants that? Of course, we want our gifts to look as personal and as special as the person you’re giving them but without the major fuss that usually goes with it. After all, let’s face it. We’re no Martha Stewarts here, but we can certainly try.
So we came up with a few alternatives to the store bought gift wrappers that show you really care.
1. A wrap of a different kind. There are a lot of wrapping papers in the market these days, so don’t feel limited to the usual Christmas gift wrappers with the Santa prints. Handmade papers, usually available from craft stores, are pretty good options. They come in different sizes, colors and textures-from plain to embossed with leaves and other patterns. Just tie them up with a neat bow and you’re good to go!
2. Alternatively, you can make your own giftwrap using old newspapers or music sheets, old maps (just photocopy them in black and white). For added interest, stain them with coffee or tea to give an aged look to it. Another cheap (but equally nice) is to wrap your gifts using brown or kraft paper and with a gold poster or acrylic paint, give it a good painting or rub to add glimmer and sheen.
3. Give it a good punch. Accentuate plain wrapper by using craft punches (available in craft stores), and punching out shapes on a strip of paper with a contrasting color to that of your wrapper. Wrap the strip onto your first wrapper and the color underneath will show through the punched-out patterns. Another option is to create patterns on your paper using a stamping or embossing tool to create visual and tactile interest on plain wraps.
one-two punches galore!
from marthastewart.com
4. You may even want to do away with wrappers entirely, and use decorated gift boxes instead to save time and effort. All that’s left for you to do is to add small ornaments and embellishments to add pizzazz.
5. Take a bow. Don’t know how to make those fancy bows. Don’t fret, even a simple one will do, but experiment with different textures and materials. Depending on the look you’re going for, try raffia, twine, rope, silk, brocade…the choice is up to you.
6. Embellish it with your choice of ornament. Nylon butterflies such as those shown here is a wonderful and whimsical way to add style to your gifts. Even found objects such as twigs, flowers, and leaves will do.
embellish your gift boxes with these nylon butterflies
These are just a few tips to help you on your way to being a giftwrapping maven, but as we say here on Drunk on Design, only your imagination is the limit. So free your imagination and just fly with it! Happy Holidays!
Still racking your brain for gift ideas to give friends, family or co-workers? It’s only two days shy from the big day and we know the panic and frenzy that goes with trying to find the perfect one. But why not make your own? We’re throwing a five nifty last-minute ideas and we hope that it will ease some of the holiday headaches.
1. Take a picture. Using your trusty camera, take snapshots of your favorite person (it could be you, the recipient or someone else entirely), and print it on coasters, jewelry charms, mugs, magnets, shirts…you get the idea.
2. Stress Busters: We know how the holiday season can put a toll on anybody. We suggest giving away homemade bath soaps, bath fizzies, or even herbal pillows that are sure to melt those stresses away. (check out some recipes from marthastewart.com)
from marthastewart.com
3. Turn the Volume Up. We believe that music is meant to be shared so why not do some sharing of your own? Burn your favorite tunes on a CD and go creative on your presentation, and voila! You can’t be more personal than that.
from marthastewart.com
4. Reuse and recycle. No, we don’t mean recycling last year’s gift…instead, use your old, unused tea cups as containers for some handmade candles. (check out some recipes from marthastewart.com)
5. Go Green. Check out your local nursery, and discover an array of herbs, potted plants and bulbs that are wonderful to be given as gifts. Simply transfer them in more presentable pots and containers and you’re good to go!
From familyfun.com
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printable gift tags from marthastewart.com
Like everyone else, we are all caught in the holiday rush. To help you out, we found these printer-friendly tags from Martha Stewart. Get them here.
How do you wrap your Christmas presents in an earth-friendly but designer way? Share with us your ideas and get to win special tokens. Email photos of your project to info@drunkondesign.com with your name, brief description of what makes it an earth-friendly idea, and your contact information. We will choose the top 5 ideas and post them here.
Christmas is just around the corner. And in this Sunday morning’s entry, we thought this craft was perfect! We wouldn’t really mind if you don’t use a white paper plate. You can explore using other types of paper and different sizes. Group them together and make a nice centerpiece.
Image from marthastewart.com
