DIY Network

Wrap It Up The perfect gift deserves the perfect wrap. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-413

(Continued from page 2)

Take gifts to the next level with ornate bows, pretty beaded letters and blooming branches.

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Blooming Branch

Blooming Branches

Materials:

10" bare branch
brown floral tape
pink tissue paper
white tissue paper
green tissue paper
glue stick

1. Cut pink and white tissue paper in 1" and 2" squares; cut green tissue paper into small triangles (2 squares and 1 triangle are needed for each bud) (figure A).

2. Layer white and pink squares on top of one another; secure with a drop of glue in the center of the layers (figure B). Next, attach a green triangle to the top of the glued squares (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

3. Shape glued squares into a bud by wrapping them, pink or white side in, over the point of a dull pencil or paintbrush (figure D). Slide part of the blossom off the pencil and twist the end into a small point.

4. Attach to the branch with brown floral tape (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Beaded Letter

Beaded Letter

Materials:

seed beads
heavy-gauge jewelry wire
small silk ribbon
needle -ose pliers
wire-cutters
computer print out of a cursive letter

1. Cut off a piece of wire long enough to fit the printed letter (figure A). Make a small loop in one end of the wire with round-nose pliers (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

2. Thread seed beads on the wire, leaving a small section of wire free of beads (figure C). Place the beaded wire on top of the printed letter and shape the wire to form the letter, adding or removing beads as needed (figure D). Finish the end of the wire by coiling to secure the beads in place (figure E).

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

3. Tie beaded letter to a small silk ribbon and attach to a package.

Decorator Bow

Decorator Bow

Materials:

long zipper, measuring tape or ribbon
hot glue
scissors

1. Twist one end of a piece of ribbon into a loop and secure with a drop of hot glue (figure A) (figure B).

2. Create a figure-8 by making a second loop of ribbon the same size as the first loop (figure C). Twist loops together and secure with a drop of glue.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

3. Continue creating loops and figure-8s until you have rounded out the bow, decreasing loop size until bow is full (figure D) (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

Recycled Gift Bags

Recycled Gift Bags

Start with fancy store gift bags, cover up the logos and add fun scrapbook paper and embellishments to create a personal gift bag worthy of any present.

Materials:

paper bags (with handles) from department stores and boutiques
scrapbook paper
stamps, rhinestones, paper punches and other embellishments
scissors
glue stick

1. Cut shapes from scrapbook paper to cover department-store or boutique logos (figure A).

2. Embellish paper with stamps, rhinestones, paper punches, etc., (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

3. Glue paper shapes to the bags.

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