A better use for money - Donate to NW groups helping tsunami victims

Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake
Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-2669
800-852-2100
www.mercycorps.org


Northwest Medical Teams
SE Asia Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 10
Portland, OR 97207
800-959-4325 (HEAL)
www.nwmedicalteams.org


MSNBC has done a good job of pulling the satellite pictures of the earthquake/tsunami impacted areas into a format that allows you to really grasp the destruction.

Throwing money at the problem

Hog tying I can handle, but bow tying is another matter...they go wonky on me several times before I can make them passable. One way around this is to secure the ribbon with something other than a bow. In this case I used an asian coin (origins unknown)


Here's how the full package looked.

Scrappy Ribbon

Because of my organizing challenges, I often have the chance to get creative. I'll have a lovely piece of ribbon that's just the right shade and texture, but a bit too short to wrap and tie a bow for my package. Here's a sneaky trick...just do a partial ribbon wrap. For this package I tied it in back and pulled the ribbon length to the front and affixed it with a glue dot. I finished the front with a Jolee's Boutique snowflake sticker. I then trimmed any excess ribbon off the knot in the back.

Scrappy Wrap

Seems like I always have loads of lovely scraps of paper left over from wrapping other presents. Purty as they are, they just aren't big enough to wrap a whole gift. So I do what any self-repectin' scrappy lady would...I cheat. I find 2 (or more) papers that look good together and work with it. In this package I only had enough of the gingko leaf paper to cover the ends and only enough of the green paper to cover the middle.

This time next year?

More evidence that gift-wrapping can be profitable. The person won $10,000 in the Scotch 3M gift wrapping contest.

More photos from the 3M "America's Most Gited Wrapper Contest"

Gift Wrapping as a Career?

This firm in the Czech republic wraps gifts. They also offer gift wrapping courses. Here's one of their more tasteful packages.

Dot 2 Dot

Another variation on the dot wrap. This time the package includes ribbon and a little copper monogram purchased at a scrapbooking store.

Dot to dot - another ribbonless wrap

Grab yourself some cheap wrapping paper (the stuff I used is from Ikea) and a 3/4-inch Marvy hole punch (or whatever punch you have) and save the ribbon for your hair. Here's how to wrap this...

And here's another variation on this wrap