Tutorial: Furoshiki

Furoshiki is the traditional Japanese method of using fabric to wrap gifts. It is a simple, eco friendly way to round out your gift giving during the holidays (or anytime), and is definitely a bonus for whoever is on the receiving end (they can reuse the fabric!). This red and white stripe satin furoshiki by Lucinda-Newton Dunn is a beautiful example. Get creative with scarves, tea towels, and/or scraps of fabric you might have laying around. Or, check out this super awesome tutorial from Bookhou on how to print your own!



Written by Rachael of Open Eyes Press

Red and white stripe furoshiki photo courtesy Lucinda-Newton Dunn.
Block printed furoshiki photo courtesy Poppytalk.

Simple Gift Card Holder Tutorial

Gift cards make great last minute gifts around the holiday. They are quick, easy and the recipient can get exactly what they want. Where they fall short however is presentation. Although most of us love to get gift cards they are often shoved in lack luster, totally boring envelopes...but no more!

This Simple Gift Card Holder tutorial by Smashed Peas and Carrots will have the packaging for the gift card be just as great as the present it holds. Check out the tutorial from Smashed Peas and Carrots by clicking here.

Jigsaw Gift Box Tutorial

Tired of the same 'ole gift wrap options? Well cruise on over to Sandy's Space and check out her Jigsaw Gift Box tutorial. The recipient of this gift box will give you a standing ovation!

Even though it is a jigsaw box, there is no puzzle in how to make it! Sandy uses lots of photos and straightforward instructions. She also provides other "out of the box" ideas for how to use this clever Jigsaw Gift Box.

For full instructions, visit Sandy's Space by clicking here.

Pom Pom Package Topper Tutorial

Being a child of the 70's insured two things… 1. I had white roller skates that I used every Friday night at Skateland and 2. those white roller skates were accessorized with handmade pom poms. I made pom poms in every color imaginable to match my outfit. What a Skateland fashionista right?

So you can imagine my joy when recently I received a present topped with a trio of wonderful handmade pom poms in lieu of the traditional bow! How freaking clever of my wonderful Secret Santa, Kristen to wrap such a cute present and put to good use the long forgotten (at least to me) craft of pom pom making. Not to mention her fore site to take an adolescent craft and make it all grown up.

Needless to say, I ran home, whipped out some left over yarn and resurrected my pom pom making skills. With Kristen's blessings I would like to share this clever gift topper idea with you.

Supplies:

• Cardboard (can be from the recycled bin, old soda 12-pack or cereal boxes work great)
• 21 yards worsted weight yarn
• Scissors

1. Download pompom.jpg and print it out full size (a scale has been placed on each jpg to help with printing at the correct proportions).
   
   
2. You will need two circles for the pom pom maker. Trace the circle template onto a piece of cardboard twice and cut them out.
   
   
   
   
3. Cut the wool yarn into ten 6 ft. lengths and one 3 ft. length.
   
   
4. Place the two rings together and take a length of the yarn. Holding one end of the yarn on the outside of the ring feed the other end through the center, round the back and though the front again. Keep wrapping the length of yarn until the entire piece is wrapped around the cardboard donut.
   
   
   
5. Repeat step 4 with the remaining pieces of yarn until the cardboard donut is covered.
   
   Note: As you use the additional pieces of yarn you do not need to tie them together, simply make sure the ends of the yarn start and finish on the outside edge (trim the ends of the yarn if necessary).
   
   
   
   
6. When you are finished wrapping the yarn, carefully cut around the edges of the donut layer at a time. Your scissors should be cutting between the two pieces of cardboard eventually.
   
   Note: Make sure to hold the donut of yarn firmly with one hand in the center so the yarn does not slide off.
   
   
   
   
7. Take the last length of 3 ft. yarn and slip it between the two pieces of card board, around all the strands of yarn and tie it together. Make sure the pom pom is firmly tied together.
   
   
   
8. Take your scissors and carefully cut a slit in the two cardboard rings avoiding any yarn. Remove the cardboard rings.
   
   
   
9. Trim the pom pom as necessary.
   
   

Written by Kolleen Kilduff from Design by Night