Just another reason to love blogging…presents! Blogging is still so new to me and so are all the friendships and connections that I’ve formed with other bloggers but what I enjoy most about blogging is that sense of online community.
Sometimes the friendships spill over into real life which is all kinds of awesome…and fun! Sure, the online world can sometimes turn nasty ‘n ugly but once you learn to filter and block then only the very best is shining back at you. Neat right? 🙂 Some of the friends I’ve made are good for my soul….
Like ‘Barbe from Fashionista in Suburbia’. Barbe was the very first style blogger I started following on Instagram and the lady has an edgy fashion sense and knows her way around a makeup palette. But the main reason I love Barbe so much is for her big heart. She’s kind, warm, gentle and likes to do nice things and bring good people together.
Cue her latest burst of goodness in the shape of ‘Sisterhood of the travelling gift’. A little ‘group gift exchange’ between style bloggers from all around Australia…well it started that way and before you knew it Barbe opened her heart ‘even more’ and welcomed women from everywhere! It’s all about connection.
The rules were were to spend around $30 on a gift and put some thought into the wrapping. Simple huh? I stalked my ‘matched sista’ on Instagram to get to know what she might like then I hit the shops. I spent a little more than the guideline (woops ) but I also got an awesome gift that had already been heavily reduced so I was pleased as punch.
Then it was time to wrap. This one stumped me for a few days because while I wanted it to look fab I didn’t want it to look over the top and I also didn’t want to spend loads of dollars on the wrap.
The gift I chose (it’s a secret but here’s a hint…MIMCO) is pretty glam so I wanted the wrap to be understated but nice. For budget wrapping I can’t go past TYPO and a good ole discount variety store. I picked up the polkadot paper at TYPO three sheets for $10, or three cards for $10…or purchase a mix of both. I love the blacks dot on the brown paper…bold but understated.
Then it was off to the discount store ‘Cheap as Chips’ for tags, hessian, a polka dot gift box and washi tape for the grand total of $8. A little tape on the edge of the gift tag dresses it up a little and complements the black in the paper and in the gift box. I wrote a personal message on the back of the card with a simple title on the front.
I popped some hessian inside the box to line it and then added the gift…sorry can’t give it away. On with the lid and a band of hessian with some washi tape strips.
Then it was time to wrap with the polka dot paper using double sided tape (no tape showing) and another band of hessian, this time a little narrower.
A little string around the gift to secured the tag…done!
Budget wrapping doesn’t need to be cheap or boring, sure I spent a total of $18 on wrap but I still have two and three quarter sheets of gift wrap, five tags and three rolls of washi tape leftover ready for future gift wrapping projects.
The best bit? I know my ‘matched sista’ will get a kick out of the wrapping as well as the gift.
Do you love unwrapping beautifully wrapped gifts as much as me?
Ohhhh, I love this…. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂 xxxx
Most welcome
What a wonderful idea. I love wrapping gifts up to be different. And boy the spots do pack a wham!
I’m a sucker for a polka dot
How gorgeous! Your matched sister will be stoked to receive such a gorgeous parcel (I am actually really hoping it’s me, Mimco, hell yes! Haha!) I have bought my gift but I’m so bad at wrapping, I haven’t started yet for fear of botching it.
You’ll have to wait n see just jump in and wrap…have fun x
Love gift wrapping tips because I am often stumped as to what to do, to make things look a bit special.
I am a sucker for gift wrapping, love it!
It looks amazing Jenni I’m sure your matched sister will be stoked Xx
It’s such a great thing to be involved in Lisa x
it looks great jen! … you have an eye and a knack!
and a lovely idea too!
love m:)X
That looks amazing Jen!!!!! Thanks for the nice mention xoxo
You so clever! I would have loved to play along with Barbe’s project but one of the things that put me off was my lack of wrapping prowess, I’m such a crapper wrapper! I would love to be a fly on the wall when your sister gets this, I think she is going to love the outside as much as what’s on the inside!
Sammie you should have played too, I bet you could have got quite creative with your wrap…like in a cake 🙂