candy colored.. and a bit of neon & gift wrap ideas

I've been very influenced and inspired design-wise this year by pinks, chartreuse, purples, tangerine and yellows.. sometimes almost neon-ish. You can definitely see the influence in my Sewing Nook and Bedroom that I redecorated this year.

I kept seeing these colors pop up in vintage Japanese items, and especially this year while perusing vintage holiday gift tags on Etsy. That same color combo kept popping up and I was totally drawn to it!

cards from cottagewear, bostonbaglady

My friend Pilgrim sent the above image to me thinking I would like it.. I think she's on to me! : )


I took this color palette and used it for our Holiday Gift Wrap this year and found supplies from the most unassuming and ordinary of places!

I struggle with wrapping paper every year. Truly. I never like the patterns out there, and if I do, they are designer papers that are out of my budget. I have a hard time justifying the price for such a small amount of paper. And I usually want colors that are not typically Christmas-y (although the classic greens and reds that I find in vintage decorations are definitely growing on me!) 

But to keep with my Candy Colored Christmas decor, I wanted some really fresh colors, in this color palette I can't seem to hide from. ; )

It's very hard to find these colors, and if I were to hunt them down, it would be online and that adds up with shipping, etc. So it hit me: What about colored Kraft paper? Does it exist? I googled it and realized, hey! It's bulletin board paper that teachers use! Bingo.

So I dragged Cooper with me to the local School Box store and was immediately giddy over the color choices and the SIZE of these rolls. I bought 5 rolls at 48" x 12' for $6.49 a roll. These rolls are easily twice as wide as a standard roll of gift wrap. And I really like the feel of the paper and the matte finish.

While looking at the paper, I noticed these "Terrific Trimmers" that teachers use as borders for their bulletin boards. I loved the scallop-ish design and all of the color choices! And even a cute gingham. I had a light-bulb moment. They were perfect for a gift-wrap accent. The design totally reminded me of a trim that you might see on a vintage mod 60's dress. : ) You get 12 feet of trim in a pack for 2 dollars and change. That is a lot for your money. Think about how much you spend on store-bought bows? I will have lots of trim and paper left over after Christmas.

To keep the look from being too simple and graphic, I added some vintage patterned ribbon and trims that I've been hoarding for the longest time. I have a hard time using things like this because they're treasures! But why let them sit in a drawer and not be admired? Life is too short. (But you know I'll be asking the giftees to give that stuff back to me after they've opened it. Haha. Luckily, they are supportive of my crazy ways. ; ) Reuse and recycle, right?

I basically just put two lengths of trim facing opposite of each other together, and then covered the "seam" with a length of trim or ribbon. You can even double up on one or both sides like I did above to add a bit of layered dimension. It really does remind me of trim that might go down the middle of a really cool mod blouse, don't you think? With a dash of 70's calico from the ribbon.

The gift tags were bought on Etsy vintage, again with that same color palette. I backed them with some cheap craft felt I had in my stash. (sometimes the cheap felt is the best thing!)

I used to spend a lot of time on gift wrap every year. Especially when I was all about the yarn pom-poms. After doing that for a couple years, I swore I wouldn't do it again. They are SO time consuming! They are gorgeous, but so tiring. As time goes on, I realize I need easier/faster solutions. Who has time to spend 30 minutes on each gift? Not any Mother I know. The great thing about this solution, is that it's super fast! But it looks like you put a lot of time into it. : )

If you've been coming to my blog for a while, you know my love of gift wrap. I put together a collage of what I've done for the Holidays over the past few years (2007 must have been a dull year, as I have no photographic proof of how I wrapped gifts that year. ; ) Maybe they'll spark some ideas for your own gift wrap this year. We still have time to make them look pretty!

Have a great weekend and thanks for the kind words in the last post! : )

Comments

[Chelsea Ann]

wow!!! Now I'm totally depressed about my gift wrap haha! I hope next year I can go all out but for now I have the one roll my husband picked up and I can't even attach bows because they would just get destroyed in transit.

[melanie]

these colors are all so beautiful! i wish i had the supplies on hand to make my packages a little prettier. the vintage doilies have got to be my favorite along with those raffia flowers.

my gift wrapping this years is consisting of wrapping paper that is craft brown with a silver plaid pattern and then im using cotton yarn in red and lime green as ribbon and ill be making pom poms instead of bows.

thanks for all these lovely wrapping ideas!

[Amy H]

LOve this post! LOVE the colors and all the inspiration! TFS!

[Tania]

YOU kill me!! I have quite a few friends who say my obsession with gift wrap is quite strange. These are all wonderfully creative, I love them!! Love them! Thanks for the inspiration, as always :)

[gina f.]

heck with the presents... I'll take the gift wrap! Gorgeous!!

[Jessica R.]

Wow you have the best ideas for packaging!!!!!!! I normally do a "theme" every year but lately I'm boring & really in love with the vintagey red/green colors so Im going more traditional. TFS

[Pam]

This is so amazing! I remember my mom having similar gift tags growing up. I wonder if she still has some? hmm ...

[kim whitten]

those colors make me swoon! what clever ideas you have Danielle. :)

[pilgrim]

wow... i'm quite speechless. firstly you've inspired my to put some damn effort in and secondly - could it be i want a COLORFUL xmas next year?! i've been such a red/white girl.. but.. you made color look so festive :D

[Bekah]

Totally and completely in awe and so inspired! Love all of your ideas and your home looks absolutely like a candy colored dream for Christmas. I love it all!!!
~Bekah(fullofbliss)

[Mandy Starner]

i am completely in LOVE with your holiday decor. Can I just stay at your house for Christmas? :)

[Bettsi]

I'm the daughter of a teacher- I've always LOVED the bulletin board stuff! What you did with it takes it to a new level of wonderful! Very, very cute!

[Julie]

You are the queen of cuteness!!! Love your style.
I blogged about your post..take a peek if you have time.
Short but sweet.
Merry Christmas
(~~)
Julie

[Susan]

You are seriously a genius!
I dream about living in your home the way children dream about living in Disneyland!!

[Sarah Knight]

I love color — those are some bright and festive looking gifts!
I always run out of time when I'm frantically finishing up making my gifts and wrapping them hours before everyone gets up for Christmas, so, every year I shop for wrapping paper like a fiend... I'm a tad non-denominational, so I have lots of blues and purples, with snowflakes or Christmas trees — I like those atomic era stylized Christmas motifs :D

[heather]

your world is so colorful and pretty... I adore it!

[greta]

I love it, and the best part is that your gifts are flat on top so they stack! That always bugs me, when I spend time on a pretty gift bow/topping and then it gets crunched!

[Joanna]

Oh my goodness those are incredible! You have impeccable taste. If I were to receive a gift that pretty I wouldn't want to open it, haha!

[Beth Perez]

I am totally and completely in love with your photos! What a wonderful sense of color and decorating you have!

[Jemellia]

I love it all! Please, do tell where you got the stockings.

[anna]

I love that used you a blanket for your tree skirt!

[Che]

i love these bright colours!

[Asha]

Your house looks amazing!!!! You have such and eye for color and detail, you are a true talent.

[Tosha Gaines Photography]

Do you have the pattern for the yarn loom and the flower.. I want to use this for the my photography packaging..

[Aneta]

I LOVE you super sweet Holiday pallet :), my kids will absolutely fall in love with that , and rapping ideas are super cool, can't wait to use some of them.

[Stephanie]

I love this! Where or where are those striped socks from?! I've searched and searched but cannot find any in those colors...

[Ms.Tips (Tammy)]

These are amazing! You always inspire me too go pull out my craft pile :)

[Eva]

I used to think about gift wrap but I lost it somewhere along the way. This year I'm proud to have put curly ribbon on.

Sad.

Would you tell where you got your stockings? They are just what I'm wishing for.

[Delores Orridge Naskrent]

Hi Danielle
So exciting to read about you and see the things you do. I am a graphic designer from Canada and I design cards, gift tags and gift wrap. I would love to send some to you to "play" with if you are interested. Find me on Pinterest or on my website.

[Ellie]

Love all of these ideas!! As a Nana always looking for things to do with my granddaughter, these will be especially nice (with supervision of course!). The cupcake liner bows are great!

[Zoe]

Lovely post! I'll really use your ideas!!
xx Zoe