Pretty Junk Mail Gift Bows

My goal for today is to get some of our gifts wrapped. I've gone back in the archives and made some lovely junk mail gift bows. Remember these? HERE's the tutorial, just in case you'd like to give 'em a whirl!

Happy wrapping!

♥M

Series 6: The Box Chain #2 - Junk Mail Rosettes

I figured if I'm going to make more box chain crafts, I might as well organize them into a tidy series. Not that I'm tidy. No, that is something I strive to be but have yet to master. But it is a goal, and it's good to have goals (I hear), no matter how lofty.

So for Series 6 - The Box Chain #2 I'm showing off the little gift embellishment I used to pretty-up this gift as suggested by the lovely Ann Flowers back in these comments. Thank you Ann! Same exact concept as described in Part 1. I just made several short box chains out of junk mail, glued their ends together to make little rosettes, and attached them with glue directly onto the recycled tissue paper wrapping. See how cute and simple this is?

Make a bunch of rosettes, configure them however you like on your package, and Bob's your uncle, it's a gift!

You have a great day now, I'm off to advance myself. I'll see you soon!

P.S. Interesting article in Handmadeology today about making sure you're headed down the right path (something that isn't always clear to me)... Check it out here.

Series 5: Halve a Circle #2 - Wallflowers

It's here. Did you notice? Spring has arrived. And while the flowers have yet to show their pretty faces, their time is oh so close at hand. But I'm terribly impatient. So I'm giving them a little nudge... Are you with me?

Come here.

Cut up some of these...

Make some of these... hee hee...

Glue a half dozen of them together to make these...

And hang them everywhere like this...

The garden varieties will follow suit in no time, I betcha.

In the meantime you have a lovely day, and I'll see you again soon!

P.S. To see part 1 of the "Halve a Circle" Series, click here.

Series 4 - The Candy Wrapper Chain #1

Welcome to a new crafty series, Series 4 - The Candy Wrapper Chain #1!

Let me begin by saying this:

I lead a sheltered existence.

See, until last Friday, I hadn't yet heard of the allegedly famous candy wrapper chain. It was only when my artist and blogger friend Cathie a.k.a. Clevelandgirlie was kind enough to enlighten me on the subject, that my whole world opened up to the enormity of these alluring little chains.

You, of course, already know about the chains. And obviously, you know about this guy, Gary Dushl. Of course. He's the guy who has single-handedly built the longest candy wrapper chain in existence. I would wager it's the longest handmade THING in existence made by a single human. More than likely, right? I mean, he started in 1965, and he's still going strong 46 years later, so... yes, probabl-ee. Isn't that something? Isn't that 12 and a half miles or roughly 20 km of something? Holy mackerel, I wasn't even alive when he started. Like, holy mackerel, eh?

And also, you already know how to make the candy wrapper chain. It's not like it's new or anything. Right? But just in case you - like me - are also 46 YEARS behind the times, here is a video tutorial that shows you how to make them.

So, I've spent a little time since Friday playing catch up. I know. Kinda late. Nevertheless, I'm happy to report that I've learned how to make the chains! Yessirree! Except I made mine out of the telephone book because I used up all of my candy wrappers making these.

And, I love them... They are so pretty and useful!

For example, my chains have already doubled as ribbon!

And I've made this eclectic flower bow by simply coiling the chain around itself many times...

It looks sort of like an artichoke, or something mildly vegetable-y, don't you think?

There are people out in the world making wondrous things like bracelets and bags and baskets, and probably intergalactic space vehicles as well, all out of candy wrapper chains. Just google candy wrapper chains, or gum wrapper chains. You'll see. It's pretty amazing stuff!

Thank you Cathie for catching me up with the times. Is there anything else I should be aware of? Anything? No flying cars, or household robots that make bread? If, so, I'd love to hear about them!

Oh, and, by the way, I'm not done. You haven't seen the last of the candy wrapper chains here, no no. No no. This is just the beginning, see. Series 4: to be continued here!

Now have yourself a fabulous day, and I'll see you again soon!

Tutorial: Quick and Pretty Junk Mail Gift Bow

It's that time! Yes, indeed. Time to get those gifts dressed up to the nines and pretty as petunias. Now, there's no need to go out and spend good money on fancy papers or frilly bows! Goodness no. People will be ripping this stuff to shreds. No, what you do is head on over to your friendly household recycling bin, grab some of that Christmas flavoured junk mail and follow me!

Let's do this thing. Time's a wastin'!

Tutorial: Quick and Pretty Junk Mail Bow

You will need:

• Christmas flavoured junkmail or any not-too-heavy weight paper from the recycling bin
• String
• Glue
• Pair of scissors
• Clothes pins or clips for clamping

1. Gather supplies.

2. Cut out 2 rectangular pieces of junk mail of the exact same size. Take one of these.

3. Fold in half lengthwise.

4. Fold up in quarters.

5. Fold up in eighths.

6. Make 2 cuts starting from the raw edge and diagonally toward the center fold.

7. Unfold the piece. It should look as mine does in #7.

8. Fold up like an accordion.

9. Pinch the accordion in the middle.

10. Fold in half.

11. Tie a piece of string around your accordion at the half-way point.

12. Fan out one edge of the accordion towards the other edge. This creates a half flower. Glue the two edges together. Use a clamp to hold it in place. Repeat steps 1 through 12 with the second piece of junk mail. These two halves glued together create the full flower.

13. Once you've glued both halves together, flatten the petals out between your fingers.

14. This way the petals will stay open.

15. Create a little coil of paper with a folded strip of junk mail.

16. Fasten the coil with glue to the center of your flower bow.

And you are done! Attach junk mail bow to the gift!

Quick. Pretty. And the price ain't bad either.

Here's a white poinsettia I made with telephone book pages. For the center, I balled up some little pieces and glued them to a tiny circle of paper. Once dry, I glued this circle to the flower (or leaves, for you poinsettia purists) center.

If you don't want your gift recipient to rip up your beautiful handiwork, attach a little piece of gold cord to the bow and tell them it doubles as a Christmas ornament! See, now you're thinking of all the angles.

Enjoy enjoy!

And please, have yourself a lovely day!