STOPLIGHT GIFT WRAPPED PACKAGE

Fun packaging to wrap up to give to a car enthusiast!

My son just turned 16 and is car obessed, so for his birthday I decided to decorate one his presents to look like a stop light.

Items used:

• Tissue paper
• White printer paper
• Tape
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Jar lid or other circular item
• Markers (optional if you use red, green and yellow tissue paper)

Wrap the present in white printer paper if the box has writing on it indicating what it is the package before wrapping it in the tissue paper (I chose to use yellow tissue for the main part of the stoplight) and secure the pieces with tape as you go.

This turned a little tricky when I decided to buy him a lava lamp that he wanted and it was in a tall, cynlindrical package instead of box. To cover the ends in paper, put in the center of a white piece of paper and draw around it, then cut approximately 2-3 inches away from the drawn circle.

Make cut around the circumference of the piece up to the center circle like so then apply the glue stick to the edges,

Line up the center circle with the top of the item to be wrap and press down each of the tabs individually and overlapping them to and you go so it will be flat around the edges (if you have ever made a tom-tom out of an oatmeal box, it is the same concept). Repeat for the other end if desired.

Repeat the above steps with the yellow tissue paper. For the lights on the stoplight, use a lid or other circular object that is proportionate for your gift box, making one red, green and yellow.

I cut out 3 layers of the green light in tissue paper and glued each layer together.

I didn't like how the red looked and as the base was yellow, needed a different shade of yellow for the other lights, so I used printer paper and colored with red and yellow markers.

Use the glue stick to glue the the red, yellow and green "lights" on the package. I then outlined each of the lights with a black marker so they would stand out more.

Garden Guardian Angel Ornament

Make a garden angel ornament using a clear plastic bottle and an angel ornament.

The inspiration for this project was the little plastic angel that did not make it back in the box when the Christmas items were put up and has been sitting on my desk for 6 months, but I have also seen ones at the dollar store that would work as well.

Items used:

• Clear Plastic Bottle
• Small Plastic or Glass Angel
• Decorative Stones
• 1 Large Jump ring
• Gold Acrylic Paint
• Small sponge brush
• Cardboard
• Clear Acrylic Spray (optional)
• Caulk (I used a single use caulk)
• Clear Glue (I used Amazing Goop)
• Box Cutter
• Craft Scissors
• Push Pin

The bottle you use depends on the size of angel that you have as it needs to be able to fit in the bottom. Remove the labels from the clear plastic bottle.

Paint top of the lid of the bottle with the gold paint. When dry spray with the clear acrylic sealant.

Paint a cross on the cardboard using a brush, allow it to dry then cut it out.

Flip it over and paint the other side.

For this side, which is the side I used facing out, I textured the paint by dabbing it with the sponge brush and squishing it down.

Use a box cutter (I tried using a regular knife and it was not sturdy enough and scratch the front) to start a cut along about an inch from the bottom, then use the craft scissors to cut the shape of a door.

This is what it will look like when you are done.

Put the cross in the bottle (you may have to trim it to fit).

Apply the clear glue to the edges to hold the cross in place.

Squeeze the caulk into the bottom of the bottle and distribute it evenly using the end of the sponge brush.

I put a decorative stone on the back of each edge of the bottle.

Put the angel in the bottle and press it down slightly into the caulk.

Use a push pin to make a hole in the door and a hole just to the right of the door.

Put the large jump ring through the hole and bend to close and you are done.

I put mine out on a piece of marble and put 4 decorative stones in the front, but you could put it wherever you like.