using beads in your gift wrapping

My mom is one of the most creative people I know, not only is she a ceramic artist but she can turn just about anything into something unique and creative. And for as long as I can remember she always finds really pretty ways to wrap gifts for any occasion. Recently I asked if she would put together a project with some gift wrap inspiration and what she came up with are a few gorgeous ways to use beads in gift wrapping. 

A bead spinner is just about the coolest thing out there (would make a really fun holiday gift too). To use- you fill the spinner with small beads and then spin those beads onto any kind of stringing materials (we used 24 gauge wire).

We created a variety of different colors of beaded wire- measuring around 45 inches and then turned those beaded wires into all sorts of pretty little embellishments to top packages!

Wrap a package with beaded wire and then bend and twist more beaded wire into a bow.

Make Beaded Flowers

1. Start by crimping the ends of the wire so the beads won't fall off and then twist the wire into loops. 2. Work your way down the wire, twisting to create more loops. 3. As more loops are created begin bending your wire into a spiral so that the loops overlap and it forms the shape of a flower. 4. Add a large bead or even more wire beads to the center. 5. Finish with a pin on the back so that your topper can double as a gift!

Wire is SO versatile and forgiving - there are all kinds of ways to create flowers and shapes. Use your creativity to bend, twist and manipulate that beaded wire into a variety of sculptural objects!

1. Create the center of a flower by folding beaded wire in half. 2. Then twist it together. 3. Next gather and "scrunch" the wire so that it rolls up into something that resembles a knot! 

These little embellishments can be used for the center of flowers, can be turned into a pair of earrings or used alone to embellish all kinds of creative projects. 

We created simple felt flowers and added tiny beaded knots to the center and added a pin to the back (could also turn then into hair clips).

easy ways to use 3-d paint in your wrapping

I am obsessed with using  Scribbles 3-d paint (puff paint) in all kinds of ways (see HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE) and I've found that its great to use to create fast, easy and creative holiday wrapping!

life with lucy

I am finding each and every day that being a parent requires flexibility, patience and A LOT of creativity. I'm still working on the flexibility and patience part but I've got creativity down pat- which means I use it every chance I get!

What began as intentions to create salt dough hand print ornaments ended in lots of tears and fear (for some reason dough is a strange and scary sensation for 14 month old Lucy!) so I had to come up with something creative to do with a big batch of dough- FAST.

So I did what any artist would do....I pulled out the paint! 

I used a cookie cutter and cut out round ornaments and baked them in the oven. Once they cooled I coated them with gesso and let them dry. Then I let Lucy go wild painting them (we used Crayola non toxic paint and I mixed up some fun color for her to use). A simple alternative to our failed attempt at hand prints!

There were no tears or fear this time around because this kid loves to paint. And getting to watch and experience the joy and excitement that something as simple as a brush and color (and being messy) can bring- was TOTALLY worth having to switch gears with our little holiday project.

    

lucy paint from Alisa Burke on Vimeo.

Lucy painted the entire batch of ornaments and I finished them off with a couple coats of gel medium to seal. I added ribbons and they are ready to use as gift toppers. 

HURRAY for paint, HURRAY for simple projects and HURRAY for creative problem solving!

fashion friday- gift ideas

1. golden fish scale earrings from roots and wings jewelry 2. leather bracelet from son of a sailor
3. picado necklace from anthropologie  4. black gold dipped earrings from a merry mishap 5. copper enamel earrings from teka & zoe 6. inspirit layering necklace from free people 7. mint leather bangle bracelet from leather wraps 8. hammered heart earrings from saffron and sage 9. cinq ring from sundance 10. twig bangle from stratus silver

wood burned spoons

My favorite gifts to give (and receive) often revolve around food or cooking! And if you cook- you can never have too many wooden spoons around the kitchen. This year I decided to add a little touch of creativity to my cooking themed gifts by wood burning all kinds of simple designs onto wooden spoons.

1. I started with wooden spoons (found packages of four for $3.99 at my local kitchen store.) 2. Using my wood burning tool, I burned designs into the spoons. 

The result are unique and creative utensils (perfect for the foodie) that make for a great stocking stuffer or even a present topper for a food themed gift.

a free download for you!

I've put together a fun little download for you! I gathered some of my favorite doodles that I have created over time and turned them into holiday labels. If you are looking for some unique, colorful and non traditional labels, scroll down to the bottom of the post for directions on downloading. ENJOY!

To download-

Head over to my flickr site HERE

You will be taken to the labels

Click on the original size

                                                                   download to you computer and print!

labels are for personal use only- thank you!

exploring we will go