A Pretty Package for Sheila

So there are two things (among many) I'm terrible at:  1) remembering friends' birthdays so that I can send a card or gift on time, and 2) wrapping said gift nicely. 

I'm totally patting myself on the back today because I managed to accomplish both of these for once!

A few days ago, I remembered Facebook reminded me of a dear friend's birthday this coming Saturday.  This friend, Sheila, lives in Arizona, so that left enough time to make her a little somethin' somethin' and send it off.

Since the present (which I can't share here since she subscribes to the blog...don't want to spoil the surprise!) was homemade, I had no packaging for it.  Ruh-roh!

Enter an adorable tutorial from Elyse Major of Tinkered Treasures in the April issue of Romantic Homes. 

Elyse embellished simple paper sacks with cupcake/muffin liners and other sweet paper details.  Here's a peek from her Facebook page of one of the bags she made.  So cute, right?

Photo by Elyse Major via Facebook

I adapted her original idea to work for Sheila's present.  Rather than a paper sack, I used a small plastic bag and a single Martha Stewart cupcake liner picked up this weekend from Michael's.  (I'll have to show you guys the other liners in the pack--they are squeal-inducingly cute.)

I folded the edges of the liner so it would fit the width of the plastic bag. Using double-sided tape, I then attached the liner to the bag after putting the present inside. A homemade label-turned-sticker (thanks to my mother-in-law's Xyron) completed the wrapping job.

Now, I just need to get it in the mail so it can arrive in time for Sheila's birthday!  :)

How do you like to creatively wrap presents?  Do you have any tips for particular supplies to keep on hand to make pretty packaging easier?


-Erin