That's a Wrap!

I had to wrap a Boxed CD set for my Husband's Birthday last year and wouldn't you know I'm unable to just do it like a normal person.

Instead I altered a cigar box to do the job.

Click on images to see larger sizes

We have a room for his guitars, a garage for his fishing gear and we like to play scrabble. So, keeping all that in mind I started by photocopying a Scrabble board and reducing the size till it fit my little Scrabble tiles. After printing the image I dunked it in very strong tea, and then used a blow dryer on it. I have to say this is my favorite distressing technique and I use it often. The recipe was found online and already distressed, I only brushed on a light spot or two of tea.

The pole is a twig and I added a real fishing fly to the string (with the hook cut off).. but I see it's missing.

For my manly projects I like to use black nylon screening and natural papers such as Mulberries and plain old brown paper bags. The screening can be cut to size unevenly and then if you pull the threads off a few at a time you get that eyelash effect along the edge.

On the inside there is more of the same idea.. I also added a little
brown bag that holds a tag. On the flip side of the tag is a description of a fishing trip I planned for us at a cozy lakeside cottage.

I wrapped the CD set in plain Kraft paper (not shown) and I made the tiny tag on twine to add to it.. I lined the inside of the box with torn pieces of paper bag instead of the usual tissue. Recycle! It made a nice cushioning for the CDs.

The long edges of the box were plain so I spruced them up with some music sheets, mulberry paper and a couple of sentiments I had around the scrap room.

The bottom of the box is a lovely wood. So, I only added another old recipe I found online for Possum Stew.

Here is the card... simple but effective.  Inside verse is on vellum and reads "Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words"- Plautus.

I made the envelope with more paper bag and cut a corrugated heart to make a seal.









So, next time you need to wrap a gift,  see what you have laying around!

This project is being added to : Inspire Me Fridays link up party!
                                                : Salvage it Saturday linky party!
                                                : Creative Cutting Room linky party!