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Showing posts with label Babble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Babble. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

DIY: Gift giving--sometimes the magic is in presentation

image: Gift-wrapping idea from Babble
Pom pom yarn embellishments, Babble
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Once I bought a Wacom Bamboo tablet and, when I received it, I was amazed and delighted by the way it was packaged. A simple black box opened like a book to a one-layer, parchment-like tissue, folded over just so. Inside the tissue was nested the tablet. The whole package was so elegantly done that I felt I'd received a gift from Wacom.

The gift you're giving doesn't have to be expensive, and if it isn't, the way it's wrapped and presented can make it seem so. (Learning enough about the receiver to know what to give helps.) WikiHow has a good article about how to give a gift unconditionally. Babble gives 18 Creative Ways to Give Cash & Gift Cards (Leading image link is broken, but slideshow works well).
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image: idea for giving money as a gift from Babble
In case of emergency, Babble
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Some tips for wrapping your gift well can be found at these sites. The Container Store offers a PDF for download that gives Tips for Perfect Gift Wrapping. Lushome has some unique presentation ideas that look a bit like a lot of work, but they may trigger some ideas for more manageable projects.

According to an article published at Today,
The Japanese equate wrapping a gift with “wrapping the heart,” so every gift is marked by thoughtfulness and consideration, both for the object housed within the container or wrapping, and for the recipient of the gift. Bringing seemingly start [stark?] contrasts into harmony — like yin and yang — is central to the idea of any presentation. Rusticity and refinement, the transient and the eternal, the earthy and the sublime: such disparities are made evident — and rendered compatible — in choices of combinations of papers and ties that both emphasize and luxuriate differences in texture as well as, perhaps differences in color or pattern. A crinkled paper lashed with knotted cord, for example, reflects that approach.
The video below, posted by Paper Guru, shows how to wrap a gift with kimono pleats, a hand-tied bow, and a heart-shaped note card.
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-- Marge


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

DIY: chewed paper

Papier-mâché (aka paper mache, translation from French for 'chewed paper') is something many school children do in art class.  You apply a layer of soggy wet paper to some form, maybe a balloon. Then when it was dry you paint it with the ever-present tempera paints, getting results often less than spectacular.  Here's a delightful example of the process from Mrs.Euken's Art Mooseum.
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image:  photo of Mrs. Euken's 3rd grade paper mache project in progress
3rd Grade paper mache, Mrs Eukens Art Mooseum
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Paper mache can be an art form or a craft.  The works of two fine artists are shown below.
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image: paper mache by Sergio Bustamente, "Zebra Trophy"
Sergio Bustamante, "ZebraTrophy," Papiermache.co.uk
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image: photo of Chen Qiu-lin show at Max Protetch Gallery
Chen Qiu-lin show at Max Protetch Gallery, InitiArt Magazine
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Here are some works that border on art, showing popular subjects but done with fine technique:
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image:  "The Blue Mask" by Erinle
Erinle, "TheBlueMask," Etsy
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image: "Confetti Bowl" by Carolyn
Carolyn, "Confetti Bowl," Carolyn's Homework
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image: "Obi" by Cory Triplett
Cory Triplett, "Obi," Ultimate Paper Mache
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Sites that feature paper mache projects and techniques are plentiful. Ultimate Paper Mache features artists discussing their projects and giving instructions.  There are also tutorials and projects by type. Be sure to check out the recipes for home-made paper mache paste. Another site to check out is the Papier Mache Resource. For inspiration, try "DIY: 10 Stunning Paper Mache Projects," at Babble.com.

Some of these projects talk about paper clay and plaster gauze; both look interesting to work with, so expect future posts that discuss them. 

-- Marge


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

DIY + Easter

Easter is fast approaching (March 31 this year).  While you may not be one who celebrates this religious event, who can resist celebrating the profusion of color and renewed spirits of spring.  So get your food coloring out and gather any other crafty items you might need and give one of these do-it-yourself projects a try.

At Curbly, a "DIY design community for people who love where they live," user CapreeK has posted a Roundup of  "12 Modern Easter Egg Ideas."  Below is a sampling of the ideas offered:

image: Easter eggs by CapreeK

At Babble, a Disney blogging site, contributor kenziepoo offers "6 DIY Easter Ideas for 2013."  My favorite is this paper mache (vs. papier-mache) bunny:

image: paper mache bunny by kenziepoo

Scraphacker, "the hub for 'scrap-cycling' innovation & D.I.Y. innovation 'scrap hack' inspiration," is offering Easy Easter DIY tutorials.  This is the perfect site for pack-rats (like me).  How about chocolate birds' nests or edible placecards?

image: chocolate birds' nests from Scraphacker

Divine Caroline, part of the Ladies' Home Journal Real Girl Network,  offers "A Completely DIY Easter Party" by user FaveCrafts.  Links that are associated with the projects suggested in this article  take you to a FaveCrafts site.  While the ideas are good ones (Wild Misted Easter Eggs by Terri Sproul are shown below), I felt I was trapped in someone's sales campaign.

image: Wild Misted Easter Eggs by Terri Sproul

Even the Huffington Post is has DIY articles.  Huff Post blogger Kathryn Kattalia writes about Sock Bunnies from A Creative Cookie, a blog at Blogspot:

image: sock bunnies by Kate Gould

Arggh! Blogs, blogs everywhere.  My apologies if it got confusing.

-- Marge