Category Archives: Crafts ~ DIY ~ Projects

The Envelope That Is Also A Gift

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The envelope is the gift
These simple, festive wraps will brighten any holiday message

<-<-<-(INSERT)FOUR STRAIGHT FOLDS and you’re done. It’s almost that simple to make two styles of card wraps that do away with standard envelopes. In­stead, your seasonal greetings will resemble small, flat pre­sents that are wrapped in col­orful paper with curved or angled edges.

Both wraps start with pa­per from art supply or sta­tionery stores. Choose from a wide variety of paper in 20-by 30-inch sheets, tablets of construction paper, or colored 8’/2- by 11-inch writing paper. For ease of folding, use sheets no thicker than construction paper. The angle-sided card wrap below encloses a 4Vz- by 6 ‘A -inch rectangle of post­card-weight paper, upon which you can mount a pho­tograph or write a message. Make traceable patterns for the lazy X or pinwheel wrap from a large sheet of three-ply or heavy paper.

Other materials include a ‘ craft knife to cut the paper, a pencil to make crisp folds, and adhesive-backed stickers to close envelopes. You’ll also need a ruler and a compass to make the curving-edge wraps.

Indoor & Outdoor Banners

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Heralding the holidays, these colorful ban­ners greet visitors at the street, by the front door, or in the house. These contemporary versions of medieval gonfalons have a ban­ner-shaped backing of weatherproof fiber-glass screening ordinarily used in doors and windows. Our banners show a waving Santa, a Nutcracker rat, and a persimmon branch, but you can copy and enlarge any favorite image or printed message. Because the screening is almost transparent, the image seems to float in air.

To make these banners, simply paint, cut out, and sew can­vas shapes to screening. The screening is sold by the foot in 2-, 3-, and 6-foot-wide rolls (30, 40, and 90 cents per foot) at most hardware and building supply stores.

Start by drawing a full-size paper pattern, then transfer it onto off-white artist’s canvas (available in craft and art supply stores) with fabric markers. Paint in the colors with acrylic or fabric paint. Iron the canvas flat (some fabric paints require heat to set them in any case). Follow the steps below to cut out and sew the fabric to the screen.

Finally, at the top and bottom of the screening, make a hem generous enough for a ‘/2-inch-diameter dowel. The top dowel should be wider than the banner and hang from fishing line or thread. The bottom dowel, cut to the banner’s width, unobtrusively keeps it hanging straight.

Persoanlized Gift Boxes & Sacks

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Personalized wraps for Santa’s pack

Utilitarian boxes boxes are hardly glamorous wrapping I materials, but try thinking of them as blank canvases for artful holiday collages. With color, glued-on material, handwritten mes­sages—and imagination—you can transform them into per­sonalized packages for gifts. It’s also a way to involve ju­nior members of your family in the holiday preparations.

You can find unadorned boxes and containers of all sizes and shapes: take-out boxes (from delicatessens and restaurant supply stores), can­dy and cake boxes (from pastry supply stores), paper paint buckets (from paint or hardware stores), and odd-size boxes (from gift, paper supply, and party stores).

Use a wide-ranging palette of decorative materials. Felt markers, paint, construction paper, stencils, fabric scraps, stamps, ribbons, wire, but­tons, beads, leaves, children’s drawings, and cut-up snap­shots decorate the packages in our photograph. You’ll also need craft glue, tape, scissors, a craft knife, pinking shears, a punch, and a stapler. Use an inner lining of colored tis­sue paper to nestle the gift.

Cranberry Vinegar For A Special Gift

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Cranberries give mild rice vinegar a snap that celebrates salads.

Very berry, very red vinegar

LEAR VINEGAR BOILED WITH cranberries turns bright red and absorbs the fruit’s fla­vor. The blend makes attrac­tive holiday gifts in decorative bottles.

Splash the vinegar over salad greens, orange slices, raw or cooked red cabbage, and turkey salad.

Cranberry Vinegar
2   cups fresh or frozen cranberries, rinsed
3   cups rice vinegar
About 3 tablespoons sugar

In a 2- to 3-quart pan on high heat, bring to boiling cranberries, vinegar, and 3 tablespoons sugar. Simmer, covered, until cranberries pop and are soft, about 5 minutes. Add more sugar to taste, if desired. Let stand until cool. Pour vinegar through a fine strainer into a container with a pouring lip; discard residue. Pour vinegar into decorative bottles, using a funnel if necks are narrow. Seal with lids.
Use, or store at room temperature up to 4 months. If an opaque film de­velops on surface, spoon it off or, to preserve clarity of vinegar, pour vin­egar through a fine strainer into a 2-to 3-quart pan and bring to boiling. Wash bottle, then refill with vinegar. Store as before. Makes about 3 cups.
Per tablespoon: 7.4 cal; 0 g protein; 0 g fat; 1.9 g carbo.; 2.5 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.

Heart Embedded Candle

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