Ten creative gift wrapping ideas.

Need some inspiration for wrapping presents? In a hurry? Try these ten ideas!

1. Use plain brown or colored paper and add 3-D stickers. Totally custom and very eco-friendly. Do the same with plain gift bags...add your own embellishments (photos, ribbons, buttons, bows, the list is endless) for gorgeous presentation.

2. Have some fabric remnants? Wrap a bottle of wine, some bath soaps, or a gift that fits the fabric size.  Fabric stores often have clearance fabrics that can work for year-round gifts. Furoshiki is the Japanese technique and is an environmentally friendly substitute for paper gift wrapping. It encourages reuse — depending on size, the recipient can use the wrap as a scarf or pocket square or pass it along as another gift wrap — and eliminates ribbons and tape. Have wallpaper instead? That works really well too!

3. Try decorative tapes instead of paper wrapping. You can customize a plain gift box, dress up a recycled box and make your holiday shipping boxes snazzier.  


4. Sheet music and maps make wonderful wrapping. Along the same lines, the comics from your newspaper, pages from large books (damaged!), foreign language newspapers (often at your local bookstore or large news stand), and old posters, make a great presentation and can be selected based upon the type of gift. Add a tag that fits the theme!

5. Instead of traditional tags, use a cookie tag. You can tie on a gingerbread man with the recipient's name, and even protect the cookie with a glassine envelope. Along those same lines, I like to tie on candy canes, coasters, small ornaments - that I write the name on -  dried magnolia leaves sprayed with gold, pressed oak and maple leaves, key chain tags, small picture frames, paint color cards, and even cut outs from old holiday cards.

6. Have an old scarf? Use it instead of ribbon. Other ribbon replacements I've used...jump ropes, pony tail holders (for top ties),  a mans tie, colorful rubber bands, seam binding, twine, chain, and even re-purposed electrical wiring. These ideas look very cool on the right gift.

7. For an elegant and natural gift, tie pine cones, small branches and other items from nature on with raffia ribbon. Using brown paper bags with the writing on the inside, tissue paper and other re-purposed papers, will make your gift eco-friendly.

8. Ever thought of using a mesh bag (from fruit) for a gift? Work well for children's toys, balls, sports equipment, and - with a tissue paper liner - can be great for other items as well. Dress it up with a candy cane, lollipop or other fun item.

9. When coming up with the idea to package your gift, think outside the "box".  An old lunchbox is perfect for many gifts, small items 'hidden' in a large can filled with candies is fun. How about using an empty cookie tin, a wooden wine box, an empty candy box, the old tennis ball container, a flower pot, a colorful sock, a great dish towel?

10. Use the shirt, sweater, or clothes as it own wrap. Since you'll likely clean clothing before wearing, you can add the accessories wrapped in the clothes for an interesting, time saving wrap.

Favorite Hostess Gifts

How about a sleek candle, BBQ and fire lighter from the Museum of Modern Art?

A warm and cozy throw is a gift most everyone can use and enjoy.

Decorative servers are a pleasure to use whether you entertain

or just use to serve yourself a casual meal.

Greenery that lasts for weeks is always a fabulous hostess gift.

A basket filled with food, gourmet oils and spices, pet items, or whatever suits

their fancy, is a joy to create and receive.

It's always fun to get decorative storage containers. How about glass jars with chalk
labels that you can customize with special contents like a recipe for cookies?

Tips for a festive holiday.

These are tried and true ideas for easy and festive decor for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's Eve. Most are inexpensive and you might find natural elements around your neighborhood.

1) Place candles or flame less candles throughout the house; the mood is wonderful and the accent light warm and festive. I use the same hurricanes throughout the years as candle holders, vases, filled with seasonal items, and even in the bath to hold sponges and bath brushes. To raise the bottom or create a stable base for small candles, I use craft sand. Here, dried flowers add color to the sand. 

2) Fill a glass bowl or hurricane lantern with ornaments for a quick centerpiece. You can add pine cones, seed pods from magnolia trees, cut greens from pine trees and much more.  I've added flameless tea lights with timers to the interior so that for about 5 hours, a soft glow emanates. I carry beautiful apothecary urn, vases and containers in the shop  and have fillers for all seasons.

3) Add seasonal greens to your stairs, tabletop, mantle, and shelves. These magnolia leaves are entwined with string lights for a non-denominational garland. Fallen branches and leaves from all around San Diego are my source. A bit of gold spray on some leaves make them glisten at night. Indeed there are some faux pine stems as well, since I like fullness when I create wreaths and garlands.

4) Add fragrance to your home. Scent is an often forgotten mood enhancer. Strategically place bowls of potpourri, freshly ground spices or dried lavender, scented candles, room sprays, and small carafes of essential oils (my favorite).

5 easy ideas for holiday decor.

With Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve all in the month of December (not to mention National Maple Syrup Day and Human Right's Day), there is often a desire to create a festive setting in your living, family and dining rooms.  Here are some ideas to dress up your space for the holiday without taking anything from the style of your rooms.

1) Fill glass bowls, hurricane holders and other clear containers with flowers,candles, ornaments and seasonal items.  For Kwanzaa, you would fill them with colorful fruits and vegetables. Ornaments, in the same colors as your normal decor, adding a touch of blue and silver for Hanukkah and gold and green for Christmas, will create a festive table centerpiece. Silver, white, and black are dramatic and elegant for New Year's Eve.

2) Add some bling to your pillows. Pin on metal elements, old jewelry, ribbon, and even holiday decor to dress up the pillows you use everyday.
























3) String lights from banisters, over entryways and headboards. I often add greenery for drama.

4) Replace houseplants with seasonal versions for a quick update. 

5) Dress up your everyday dishes with simple items...a pine cone, greens, colorful napkins and other seasonal findings to create a custom table setting.

Must Haves for November!

When you entertain for the holidays, do it in style with these fabulous finds.

A welcoming door holds a wreath. This one is unique.  www.tot-home.com

Camellia napkin rings from Kim Seybert.

Crate & Barrel's festive plate.

For an elegant and long-lasting hostess gift, give an oil burning candle.

Get ready for the holidays!

With all of the activities on your schedule, here are tips to help you get ready for holiday entertaining without skimping on style.

(1) For a festive table use your existing dinnerware but add a different piece (charger, bowl, salad plate), some holiday linens, and dress it all up with ornaments and greens.  Try adding an inexpensive clear bowl in lieu of the matching soup bowl and fill with an ornament, pine cone or a floating holiday flower.  Have two sets of dishes? Mix up the plates and bowls. For a centerpiece, I often start with a pre-made wreath, add small branches, sprinkle ornaments around, and finish with bows, candles and place cards. 

(2) For a buffet dinner, create separate stations for food, drinks and desserts. It spreads the holiday cheer around your home.  Layer on a tablecloth or even a bolt of fabric (which can be under $10 at big box stores), raise up some areas with boxes or pots underneath, wind miniature lights around, and fill in spaces with poinsettia plants, ornaments, and greenery. Keep your theme and colors the same or similar to the rest of your house and at each station to help make it easy.

(3) Place wreaths in your dining room windows, tie to your shutters, or simply hang on the wall (use 3M Command hooks for damage free hanging). Using a great ribbon to tie on will create instant ambiance. For under $10 you can find great faux wreaths that you can use for years. If you have time, add lights, ornaments and more!

(4) Hang holiday cards on a door or wall by hanging a ribbon, and clip or pin cards on. I simply hang mine over the shutter. You  can hang them vertically or horizontally.  Instant decor and a great way to track card-giving for next year!

















(5) Dress up your dining chairs with fabric and ribbon.  Drape the fabric over the top of the chair and create a large bow at the back. If you have seating for 18 (I do sometimes) just do the host and hostess chairs. Simple and elegant.  This is an especially handy tip for folding chairs.