Fun Gift Wrapping

With just a few days left before Christmas, many of us are probably scrambling to wrap the gifts we bought for others. I know that’s the way I usually am! If you want to spruce up your gifts a bit this year then we can help. I know it’s the thought that counts for the gift, but when it comes to the “wrapper” it’s kind of nice to have something a little bit more exciting and different. Some times when I get a fancy wrapped gift I get truly excited just for the gift wrap and I don’t want to open it; it could almost be a decoration. I think it’s so much fun wrapping gifts especially if you do it in an interesting way. I often will find different shaped boxes to wrap my gifts in, maybe add some rocks inside etc. to make it seem like something totally opposite from what’s actually in there. You can also wrap the gift in your own homemade wrapping which we shared with you a couple of Christmas’ ago - see it here.

You can also turn your gift into a decoration to make it look like something else, like these ones...

After looking at your gift, decide on a “thing” to turn it into. Some shaped gifts are easier to turn into things than others.

Be creative. Start off by wrapping your presents in a plain brown wrap or newsprint and then go from there.

If you wrapped coloured paper around the gift then you can draw things onto it to give it depth like seen in the fireplace gifts. You can also paint it or colour it with felt if you prefer, like the doghouse and car. The giant sled has some cardstock attachments and some colouring on it.

To alter your gift shape a bit, you can use cardstock to add on shapes as most of these gifts have.

You can attach tissue, sticks, cardstock cut outs, or even felt/fabric like how the stockings are on one of the fireplace mantles.

You can also attach things on the outside to elevate your gift.

Wrap your presents first in the wrapping paper of your choice.

For the angels paint a face on cardstock. The body and the wings are made of wide gold ribbon with the wire edge so you can position them as you like. A skinny ribbon gets attached on for the arms. Then used gold braid as accent but you can also use it for the hair. Just pull it apart gently and attached as desired. Glue it all on with a glue gun directly onto the wrapped gift.

The candle gift was also wrapped first and then the candles were attached afterwards. To make the candles, little cylinder tubes were wrapped in red tissue paper (you can make some from cardboard or cardstock if you have nothing like that hanging around your house). The holly used to cover the ends of the candles was real but you can use fake as well. Then attach flames made from shiny gold wrapping paper and adorn with little festive bits like bells, ribbon, bows etc.

However you wrap your presents will be much appreciated I’m sure, but if you want to try something a little different now you have some ideas to run with!

DIY Cat Toy and Dog Treat

It’s a week dedicated to your pets. We’re showing you how to make a DIY cat toy and some homemade dog treats. Of course not everyone has cats and dogs so create something for the pet that you have. I have a bird so I know that they like millet treats and seed treats made with honey so you can find a recipe for something that includes that.

First up...a homemade cat toy.

We used a brand new chopstick along with some colourful feathers that we got at the dollar store, some of our card making ribbon, jingle bells, some string, and a glue gun.

To start off, wrap the chopstick with ribbon. We had a design idea in mind (a candy cane). We chose a white ribbon and we tightly wrapped it around the chopstick. Start by gluing one end with a bit of the ribbon and wrap it around; then when you finish, glue that last piece of ribbon.

Next we took red ribbon and wrapped it around the white like a candy cane. Glue the ends only again.

Now that you have your stick/handle wrapped, you can prepare you attachments.

We tied string to some green feathers.

Tie some jingle bells onto the ribbons. We threw in some green, polka dots, and sparkly ribbon to the mix. We did about three with the jingle bells and left the rest of the ribbons plain.

Now tie some string to the pointy end of the chopstick; make sure you tie a tight knot and use hot glue to make sure that everything stays in place.

Secure all of the ribbons and feather strings together with string tie a knot and glue once again to make sure that everything stays in place.

Here’s your cat toy present for your little fluffy friend.

Now for the dog treat.

You will need:

¼ cup of hot water

8 chicken bouillon cubes

1 package of active dry yeast

1 tsp. of sugar

1 ½ cups of tomato juice

2 cups of flour

2 cups of wheat germ

1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

In a large bowl, pour the hot water. Then add the sugar and yeast and let it stand for 5 minutes.

After that, add in the chicken bouillon and crush them with a fork as you stir them in.

Add in the tomato juice, 1 cup of the white flour, and wheat germ. Stir until you form a batter. Then add in the rest of the white flour along with the whole wheat flour. The dough will be dry and stiff so use your hands to mix it the rest of the way.

Sprinkle flour on a flat surface and start to roll small balls of dough out to a ¼ inch thick.

Cut out shapes, a dog bone might be a good shape.

Place on a cookie sheet and bake for about an hour.

Dry in a turned off oven for four hours or so.

Serve with a bowl of water or wrap up nicely for your pups Christmas present!

Stocking Stuffers

Now that we have your advent calendar ready for the lead up to Christmas, it is time to think about stocking stuffer gifts to get for your loved ones. I find that it’s always best to shop as far in advance as possible because the closer to Christmas we get, the more busy and stressful the shops get which is so overwhelming to me.

We’re gonna break this into two categories, humans and pets.

Everyone in the house deserves to have their own stocking with their name on it or decorated to represent them, even your pets! We have come up with some fun ideas for gifts to give to your pet friends this Christmas. You can also make them some toys and treats which we’ll be talking more about in the next blog.

Now time for you human loved ones. Here are some of our favourite things to fill up stocking with.