Tag Archives: gift

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.

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.

Chex Party Mix

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Quaker Oats Party Mix

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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.