Gifts & Holidays Articles

Step by Step / Updated 11-09-2021

Making flat, tailored ribbon bows is quick and easy. A tailored ribbon bow lends a clean, modern edge to gift wrapping; and because it's flat, this bow is ideal for gifts that will be shipped or stacked.

Article / Updated 11-02-2020

Folding and cutting out paper snowflakes is a fun and creative holiday craft that anyone can enjoy. Most of the time, people cut up their folded papers pretty randomly, so they end up with random snowflakes. But with a few tools and a few tips, you can design a snowflake that is uniquely yours: Consider the cutting options you have besides plain old scissors. At scrapbooking stores, you can find hole punches in all sorts of shapes, as well as scissors with patterned edges. You can also (carefully!) use a straight pin or sewing needle to poke tiny holes through the paper. Remember that you don't have to make all your cuts with the paper completely folded up. Add some interest by partially unfolding your snowflake and making further cuts. Use the symmetrical properties of your folds to create recognizable shapes that are also symmetrical, from hearts and some letters to Christmas trees and even faces. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Steve Debenport 2012 Although snowflakes are white, paper snowflakes don't have to be. In addition to using colored paper, you can add colorful highlights to your snowflake by coloring any cut edges with a marker before you unfold it. When you create a beautiful snowflake worth preserving, use a warm iron and a little spray starch to flatten out and stiffen your snowflake. Make your paper snowflake sparkle like new-fallen snow with a little spray glitter from a craft store.

Step by Step / Updated 04-12-2017

Wrapping presents in gift bags and tissue paper is quick, versatile, and economical. The bags are reusable or recyclable and are perfect for wrapping oddly shaped gifts of all sizes. Gift-bag designs range from plain to over-the-top gorgeous, and tissue paper comes in a rainbow of colors.

Step by Step / Updated 03-07-2017

One of the easiest, most common, and most enjoyable of holiday crafts is cutting snowflakes out of paper. Folding your paper to create a standard eight-pointed paper snowflake is pretty easy, as long as you can keep track of which corner will be the center of the snowflake. Just follow these steps.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Carving a pumpkin is a fun and inexpensive Halloween tradition. For your jack-o’-lantern, carve a Halloween image that's funny, scary, or pretty into pumpkins that are green, white, pale orange, or even red-orange. Take your design template with you when buying pumpkins to ensure you buy one with the right size and shape. Look for pumpkins that are clean (dirt could be hiding a rotten spot!), gouge free, and smooth.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Make your own floral bows (florist bows) to save money and to add a custom look to Christmas wreaths, garlands, and gifts. Tying floral bows isn’t difficult; if you can make loops, you can make beautiful bows. For a bow that holds its shape, use a sturdy fabric ribbon or a wire-edged fabric ribbon.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Make flat, tailored bows to give your holiday decorations a clean, modern look. You can make flat bows with ribbon that’s hard to knot or gather. Use them on packages, floral arrangements, and napkins. Because these tailored bows are already flat, they still look great if they get crushed.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

One of the easiest, most common, and most enjoyable of holiday crafts is cutting snowflakes out of paper. Folding your paper to create a standard six-pointed paper snowflake is a little more difficult than a standard eight-pointed snowflake, but it isn't difficult. Just follow these steps.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Folding and cutting paper snowflakes is a common holiday craft idea that everyone, young and old, can enjoy. Creating a paper snowflake with an even number of sides is fairly easy, but you can really impress your friends and family by creating a five-pointed snowflake. Here's how you do it:

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Make fluffy floral bows (florist bows) from ribbon to customize gifts and craft projects. A floral bow begins with a small central loop; the side loops gradually get larger as the bow gets bigger.