Omiyage Blogs: guest post

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Gift Wrapping: Tiny Tassels & Washi Tape Stripes

Giftwrapping expert Corinna vanGerwen is joining us today with a fun way to wrap it pretty!

Looking for a fresh way to wrap your next gift? Try a fun combo of twine and washi tape.

To wrap this gift, I started by creating some tiny tassels using a selection of the Divine Twine Fresh Colour Collection and the Divine Twine Solid Colour Collection. Tassels are pretty easy to make — Google to find instructions (I modified the steps of this tutorial).

After wrapping my gift in glossy, white paper, I dressed it up with the Blue & Green Gift Washi Tape Set — I used the stripes tape along the edges of the box, and added a label from the roll of labels (the roll has so many cute options on it!).

Next, I wound Divine Twine in yellow around the box four times (to add bulk and more colour), then attached the two tiny tassels to the bow.

Done!

Gift wrapping consultant Corinna vanGerwen provides gift wrapping services, training and workshops in Toronto. For more of Corinna's gift wrapping ideas, visit her over on the Corinna Wraps blog, sign up for her monthly Gift Wrapping Newsletter, connect via Twitter or get inspired via Pinterest.

DIY Letter-Stenciled Drawstring Bags

We're delighted to have gift wrapping expert Corinna vanGerwen visiting today with a fantastic DIY idea using our new drawstring bags.

While these little drawstring bags are cute as is, they’re also the perfect blank canvas for fun DIY projects. Here I used craft paint and adhesive letters (found at an office supply store) to stencil a light-hearted message onto the bags. This is a great way to make unique party favours or personalize a gift.

First, cut a piece of cardboard to fit snugly inside the bag. This will give you a smooth surface for attaching the stickers, and will keep the paint from bleeding through to the second side. You may want to tape plastic wrap or wax paper around the cardboard; I didn’t and found that the fabric stuck to the cardboard a bit after painting.

Next, attach stick-on letters in your choice of message, or try the recipient’s initials. To get the letters straight and evenly spaced, use a ruler and pencil to measure and create guides. Firmly press down to make sure the letters are securely attached.

When ready, squeeze a line of paint along the bottom edge of the bag, then use a brush to spread the paint upward toward the top of the bag, creating a fading, feathered edge. Brush in only one direction. Add paint as needed, and be sure to fill in all the corners around the letters.

Let dry, then remove letters and cardboard. Your bag is ready to fill!

Gift wrapping consultant Corinna vanGerwen provides gift wrapping services, training and workshops in Toronto. For more of Corinna's gift wrapping ideas, visit her over on the Corinna Wraps blog, sign up for her monthly Gift Wrapping Newsletter, connect via Twitter or get inspired via Pinterest.

Guest Post: Easter Gift Tag Printable

We're thrilled that Geri of The Languid Lion is visiting us today to share the sweetest DIY and Free Printable for Easter Tags. Hope you love this project as much as we do!

It seems that Spring might just be taking its time getting here, but these adorable tags will certainly getting you smiling! It all started with the idea of creating some Easter tags featuring an bunny illustration by me and, of course, some washi tape... well, here they are. Aren't they cute? I had soooo much fun playing around with them and creating the template (yep, I'm a bit of a nerd), which is made especially for the large tags that Omiyage carries. You can also get all of the washi tape & Baker's Twine shown in the tutorial there, too!

Ready? Ok... here we go!

THE SUPPLIES:

• Large shipping tags (either white or cream)

• a printer

• PVA or craft glue (or glue gun)

• scissors (and/or craft knife, not shown)

• washi tape and clear tape

• Baker's Twine - I used the Fresh Colour Collection

• cotton balls

Print out the first page of the template & line up your tags within the outlines given.

TOP TIP: **It's always a good idea to try printing Page 2 onto the outline page WITHOUT the tags while you make sure how to load your printer; plain paper is a LOT cheaper than wasting tags!

I tried two techniques to print these tags; using clear tape or washi tape to secure the tags to the template & print them out.

When using the clear tape, the benefit is that you simply run two strips of tape across all of the tags and you're done; the downside is that printer heated up the glue of the tape and tore the tags slightly when I removed them from the template, which is easily covered by the washi tape later.

When using the washi tape, the benefit is that you only have to tape once; the downside is that you have to figure out your decoration placement first and tape each tag individually.

I used both techniques and found them to be about equally pleasing! Print Page 2 of the template onto the tags, being sure to figure out to place the tags in the appropriate tray & alignment of your printer (for example, mine is face up, bottom first).

As a cute little addition, I added a cotton ball tail to the bunny. Editor's note - you could also use a small pom pom as a tail!

I also made a little bow with some Baker's Twine for the bunny's neck, attaching it with the same glue as the tail and finished off the tag by threading some more Baker's Twine through the tag hole (the craft knife or a hole punch works great)!

Download your free Easter Tags & happy handmaking!

Geri Jewitt is a designer gone rogue from Corporate who now owns The Languid Lion, creating handmade & eco-friendly stationery, decorations & illustrated art prints for those of us who celebrates love & the art of handmade. She is also the editor of The Lion's Den, a blog where she writes about love, life & handmade.

Connect with Geri via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and see what lovely things she's been pinning over on Pinterest!

DIYU - School For Crafting Misfits

DIY U - School For Crafting Misfits is now in session. DIY University is a blog series created by eco-fabulous Jenelle of TrashN2Tees which aims to teach craft & DIY basics to those of you who exclaim "but I'm just not crafty!" Today's lesson is my tutorial for a Washi Tape Birthday Card and matching envelope. Hope you'll join me over there!

DIY Felt iPhone Sleeves

Stitch up a stack of wool felt cases for the iPhone-carrying members of your gift list. Or make one for yourself. Simple construction, clever function! You can even choose how many pockets to make.

Join Marisa over on Poppytalk for the tutorial.

DIY Felt Monogram Ornaments

Felt Monogram Ornaments make the perfect gift - or gift topper! Who doesn't love receiving a personalized gift?

Marisa is sharing the step-by-step tutorial over on Design Mom today.

DIY Shipping Tag Advent Calendar

Looking for a great activity-based Advent Calendar? Join Marisa over on Poppytalk today and learn how to make this Shipping Tag Advent Calendar.

DIY: Wrap It In Neon

There's nothing quite like a well-wrapped gift. You know, the kind you don't want to open because it's so beautiful/cool/unique, but you really really want to open because if the outside is that good, what's inside must be incredible! I invited expert wrapper Corinna vanGerwen to come and share some neon wrapping ideas with us, and they are oh so good!

When Marisa offered to send me a Fun With Neon Crafty Grab Bag to play with, I was thrilled. Like everyone else on the planet these days, I’m in love with neon colours. Bright, intense and full of fun, they’re perfect for summer. And they’re a brilliant addition to gift wrapping.

All the neon pieces in these three wrapping looks are from the Fun With Neon Crafty Grab Bag. For my base, I used white paper to amp up the intensity of the neon colours and really make them buzz.

Show up at a party with a gift wrapped in neon and you’re sure to have the coolest present there.

Gift wrapping doesn’t start and end with what goes on the outside of a box — the inside deserves some attention too! Sprinkle some confetti among the tissue to surprise and delight. It will be like unwrapping a party!

Speaking of confetti… Create a confetti-like pattern with dot stickers. I used mostly pink with a few green dots and kept them clustered mainly to one side of the gift, with some going over the edges. The birthday message is written on Shocking Green washi tape using a Sharpie.

To get this look, wrap three strands of neon twine around the present three times, keeping them from twisting or overlapping. Tie the ends in a knot around all strands, then fan out the pieces of twine on one side while pushing them together on the other. (You may want to secure them in place with a few pieces of tape on the bottom of the box.) For the tag, layer two colours, punching a hole in the top tag.

Corinna's motto is "Because beautiful packages make people smile!" Click here to find out more about Corinna, her work and how you can improve your gift wrapping skills by taking a workshop.

Inspired to create great looking gifts of your own? Corinna shares wonderful wrapping ideas and useful info (like which tape to use / how to measure wrapping paper) via her newsletter and blog. You can also connect on Pinterest and Twitter. Go on now, your gifts (and their recipients) will thank you!

Guest Post: DIY Heart Memo Holder

We're thrilled to have Lisa and Sarah, the mother and daughter duo behind A Spoonful of Sugar, sharing a lovely tutorial with us today! Lisa & Sarah aim to Live Creatively and share lots of crafty tutorials and recipes on their blog and facebook page. They spend their time sewing, baking, and dabbling in a wide range of crafts. Lisa publishes her sewing designs in a number of sewing, craft, quilting magazines in both the USA and Australia. Lisa and Sarah love all things Japanese and are addicted to washi tape.

Heart Memo Holder

The Heart Memo Holder is a Valentine’s inspired project that serves as a sweet way to leave a Valentine’s message for someone special.

Materials/supplies:

Cardstock

Heart punch

Washi tape

Wooden clothespin/peg

Printed Valentine’s message

Double sided tape

Foam squares

Punch out a heart shape from the cardstock, and then decorate it with strips of washi tape.

Print out a Valentines message and cut it to fit one side of the clothespin. Tape the message in place.

Attach the heart to the top of the peg with an adhesive foam square.

Use the memo holder to display a message or photo. They can be used to hold place cards at a special Valentine’s dinner.

Optional: Add a strip of adhesive magnetic tape and attach it to the back of the clothespin. It can now be used it as a fridge magnet.

You'll find plenty more crafty goodness over on A Spoonful of Sugar. Thanks Lisa & Sarah!

DIY Washi Tape Wrapping Paper

On the hunt for a fun new washi tape project? Join me over on Poppytalk where we're making Washi Tape Wrapping Paper!

And if you're on the hunt for washi tape, we've just restocked our tape section!

Today We're Loving - Chevrons

1. Dripping Chevrons - Sandra Fettingis / 2. Chevron Stripe Lucite Tray - Tilly Maison

3. Happy Birthday Card - Quill & Arrow Press / 4. Brass Chevron Charm Necklace - Jamie Cox

5. Chevron Bitty Bags - Omiyage.ca / 6. Yellow Chevron Clutch - waterpath designs

7. DIY Chevron Inspiration Boards - name 5 things / 8. Blushing Crimson Pueblo Earrings - Ditty Drops

Today, Julie from 8balloons is dropping in to share something she's loving lately - Chevrons! Over to you Julie.

Hi there! I am Julie of 8balloons and I love to write about all things paper and other beautiful inspiring creations. Please stop by and do tell what inspires you!

Since I can remember my eyes have always gravitated towards anything striped, especially chevron stripes! It seems as though chevron stripes can make anything more fun and beautiful. I have no preference to what colour the stripes are per say, just as long as it is striped!

Visit 8balloons. Connect via Twitter or Facebook.

Update: Here and There

Happy Wednesday!

Hope your week is going well. Here's what we've been up to:

What's your secret to work-life balance? Over on Oh My! Handmade, Marisa is sharing one of hers with a little DIY round-up.
Want to know more about Omiyage? Check out our lovely Guest Feature on 8Balloons.
There's plenty of new Shinzi Katoh goodness in the shop - including 10 super cute deco tapes!
2012 Calendars are almost in the shop - they make wonderful gifts, so look for them.

And on a another note, we've been seeing a lot of delays on orders shipped to the US. If you have placed an order and have not yet received it, our apologies for the delay - we're not sure whether the slowdown is due to back-up from the Labour Day holiday, Customs, or a general USPS slowdown due to upcoming service cuts. We're keeping an eye on it, and if you're finding your package is taking longer than usual please feel free to contact us with your concerns.

Thank you in advance for your patience!