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Thursday, December 15, 2016

DECEMBER 16TH: IT'S A WRAP!

Now, I know you are going to think I'm as nutty as a fruitcake (Christmas reference there) but I love to wrap  Christmas presents.  When I was a youngster, I used to beg my mother to let me wrap them, which she gladly allowed.  When I got older, I dreamed of getting a job at the big department store, J.L. Hudsons, in the wrapping department.  I love picking out just the right paper  to fit the receiver's personality and the ribbon to go with it.  I like folding the corners into crisp little folds.  I love it!

I'm a firm believer that given the right wrapping paper and ribbons, you can make even an old shoe look like a treasure.  Confession is good for the soul and I must confess, that I'm guilty of buying less expensive gifts at Wal-Mart and Target and putting them in boxes from swankier stores and giving them to some of my harder-to-please  family members.  They never know the difference.  Appearances are everything to some people!  Here's how to fool fussbudgets:

Use a good box.  You can buy plain white boxes next to the wrapping paper.  Do not use just any old box.  Erma Bombeck used to do a skit about getting gifts from her mother in a rectal thermometer boxes.  DO NOT DO THAT!

Cushion the inside of the box with lots of tissue paper and do a proper job of folding the clothes before placing them in the box.

Don't skimp on the wrapping paper.  It's better to cut away extra than have it not go completely around the box.

Use real ribbon for the bows.  I collect interesting spools of ribbons at thrift stores throughout the year. They usually cost around a quarter and some are very nice cotton velvets and real silk.

Take time folding your corners and fold under the paper on the backside, so no cut edges show.

Clear the table and allow yourself a lot of room for cutting and wrapping.  Don't do it on a soft bed.

If wrapping Christmas presents annoys you, I think you might find this amusing. I hope you don't have this hard of a time with it!

Here's a picture of my $2.99 Nativity set I found yesterday:
It's cast metal and marked Italy.  Looks like it was used in one of those Putzes. And Baby Jesus' eyes are where they should be! I love to place Nativity scenes all over my house this time of year to remind me what the season is really about.

Some of my ninety-cent treasures from the Re-Use-It Center:

This teacup reminded me of a Scandinavian design  and the saucer underneath it will be used under one of my plants.  I purchased the vintage bottle brush tree (the vintage ones have wooden bases) from the same place early this year for five-cents (it was half-priced 😄)


I'm sorry, I'm a grandma, having silly little things like this snowman decorating my kitchen shelves is required! He's an incense burner.  He's missing his pipe, I'll have to fashion him another one, it would be quite comical to see smoke coming out of it.
The little snowman was part of the "haul" yesterday.  He's an old perfume bottle.  The bigger guy was from a past thrifting adventure (fifty-cents).
And this small three-inch pitcher that has the date 1901 etched into it.  I like these little ones for bud vases, because in spite of growing thousands of blooms, I never can bear to cut an entire bouquet. I also purchased a Fiesta ware teacup that I'll put some sort of goodie into for my son who has a collection of that china. And a vintage sewing book from the 1940s.  I love old sewing books and have quite a collection.  I  love to read them like others read novels. All in all, I think it was ninety-cents well spent and the money goes to a good cause.

Before I go, just wanted to let you know Blogger ate more comments. :(  I just want you to know that I read them and appreciated them immensely!




21 comments:

  1. ooo i love vintage china too, my preferences at the moment are roses. also love to collect knitting patterns
    sorry to hear that blogger keeps eating your comments lol
    i enjoyed reading your 'day' gift, what a very sweet gift to spend it with someone you love
    have a wonderful xmas
    thanx for sharing

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    1. MY preferences change all the time,Selina. At the moment I'm quite taken with Scandinavian designs and ironstone. I love vintage knitting patterns too! Especially the socks and mittens ones. Aren't they easier to follow than the modern ones? And they were so cute! Have the merriest of Christmases possible!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  2. Jane, I'm not a grandma and I have Santa Claus and Mrs Claus salt and pepper shakers. I am very in touch with the child within. I bet your mum just loved handing over the wrapping of the presents to you.

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    1. Well, if truth be told, Sherri! I actually would decorate with these silly little things, even if I didn't have grandchildren. They make me happy every time I see them. Yeah, I don't think my mother had any problems with delegating the gift wrapping!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  3. Your decorations are so pretty. The nativity is so neat! I always admired how stores would wrap gifts. Not sure if I've seen any gift-wrapping departments in stores anymore like I used to. Hugs, Andrea

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    1. I think department store gift wrappers have gone the way of the buggy whip makers, Andrea. Department stores aren't like they used to be either. What a shame. They were so much fun, especially at Christmas. I wish my children could have had the pleasure of experiencing one. Guess it will be something to tell the grandchildren about.

      HUgs
      Jane

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  4. I am really really enjoying your daily blogs
    thank you sooooo much!

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    1. Thank you! Comments like yours make it worth the while.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  5. Your treasures are all so pretty--you have a real eye for picking. That nativity set is beautiful--what a find! I would rather have a vintage set than a new one any day. It seems to me that Ran could whittle you a miniature pipe for the incense burner in no time--he's already shown his talents there. I have to agree it would be cute to see the incense smoke delicately curling out of a teeny pipe!

    I enjoy wrapping gifts as well--I was taught by the best, my mom. You should see her with a roll of freezer paper and a 1/4 steer cut up--her wrapping jobs are pure poetry. :^)

    I woke up feeling positively joyous this morning (it's cold but the sun is shining!), and I hope everyone here will have a joyous day, too!

    Sue

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    1. That's wonderful Sue! I think it's the sun being out that makes all the difference, don't you? It's warmer here too about 18 degrees.
      I think Ran could whittle the little guy a pipe in no time. And I'm glad I'm not the only one that like to wrap gifts. I hear so many people grumble about it, I was beginning to think I was crazy for loving it. Go out there and spread the joy!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  6. I think your presents are beautiful. I tend to put all my efforts in to the adults presents and not worry too much about the grand children's. They are going to go wild anyway. Maybe later we they get a little older ha ha. Love your Erma Bombeck story

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    1. I wrap the grandkids' gifts in tissue paper so it's easier for them to tear, Vickie. I love Erma. She had a way of making the ordinary humorous. I think I need to look into some of her books after Christmas. Have a wonderful day!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  7. Your nativity set didn't disappoint. It is very pretty. I can see why it took so long to find it. Plus the price was amazingly low and the condition is amazingly good. You are an inspiration to thrifters everywhere!

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    1. I have fun, thrifting, Sheila. It's like a hunt. These little putz figures go for quite a bit on Ebay, so I'm thrilled with the price. I think they have an old-world look to them. Have a happy day!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  8. SO many good things in this post! I also like to wrap presents. OMG, I think I missed that particular Erma Bombeck, which is too bad, as it sounds hysterical. You found some wonderful treasures. The Italian nativity's a beauty. Got to keep an eye on Blogger... the keyword portion of my stats has apparently been broken a couple of years!

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    1. I think I remember that particular skit because I actually had a similar incident in my life, Laurie. My mother-in-law would wrap things in any box she found and sometimes they were quite inappropriate. This is the second time this month where I hit the publish button and the comments disappeared. I hate to have people think, I deleted their comments and get hurt feelings.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  9. Your new nativity set is a beauty, Jane. Love that all the pieces have such good color to them. And what an adorable incense burner. You do need a pipe for it, and then it will be perfect. I have a quirky cast iron snowman with green mittens that are so big they look like boxing gloves. lol

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    1. I hear ya on the color thing, Toni! I don't like it when the Virgin Mary is wearing a Barbie pink robe or when the Magi have such bright red cheeks, it looks like they went on a three-day bender. Your snowman sounds cute. Got to have our little happy things!

      Hugs
      Jane

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  10. Oh, Boy! I am the polar opposite of you in regards to wrapping. My family can pick out a gift from me a mile away. (And, i've made peace with it! Ha!)
    I do love all your goodies, especially the tree in the teacup. Everything is just gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks Debbie! The key is to do a little at a time so you don't get overwhelmed.

      Hugs
      Jane

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  11. Great deals! Love your nativity!
    I wish I had your talent for wrapping...at this point, I just want them done. :D

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