Beyond All Tied Up With A Bow - Great Tips for Creating Beautifully Wrapped Holiday Gifts

Home
>
Holiday
>
Beyond All Tied Up With A Bow - Great Tips for Creating Beautifully Wrapped Holiday Gifts

Beyond All Tied Up With A Bow - Great Tips for Creating Beautifully Wrapped Holiday Gifts

No matter what the season, packages make a statement even before they're opened. Whether it's a hostess gift for that perfect holiday party, the perfect something for your loved one, or Secret Santa at the office, you want your packages to reflect the thought put into the purchase. Visit Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine's Holiday House Tour held each year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, where among other ideas, you'll learn first hand from Package Creator Extraordinaire and Captain Lindsey House owner, Ken Barnes how to create gifts that are bound to impress everyone from the boss to your loved ones. The Holiday House Tour is part of Rockland, Maine's Festival of Lights, and Historic Inns of Rockland will feature workshops including Gingerbread House Making, Victorian Customs for Christmas, and Packages that POP, along with tours of lovely historic inns during this event, held from noon to 4pm on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Tickets and information are available at www.HistoricInnsofRockland.com.

Captain Lindsey House Innkeeper, Ken Barnes spends the year foraging for the perfect additions for his gifts. Recipients-in-the-know look forward to Captain Barnes' gifts, not so much to see what's on the inside, but to learn what kind of statement he makes with the package's wrapping. Captain Barnes' "wrapping closet" is a sight to behold, revealing spools of ribbon, wrappings of all colors and textures, along with trinkets for just about any theme.

Ken Barnes' Six Secrets for Successful Packages:

? Start on Christmas Day collecting left over ribbon and package accessories, and then continue to save potential package accoutrements throughout the year.

? Designate a special box or closet for package wrapping materials, organizing by paper, trimmings and accessories.

? Think out of the box ? literally ? wrap gifts in the gift itself including jewelry in jewelry boxes or toys in a fun toy box. If space allows, save every box that comes in the mail for wrapping in the future.

? On your travels, stop by ribbon factories or craft shops. Buy odd lots or ribbon ends cheaply to save for a later occasion.

? Visit church rummage sales or flea markets to pick up small pieces of jewelry, small toys or collectors items that fit your loved ones personalities. Save those to tie onto packages later.

? Save wallpaper ends, contact paper, cellophane, even scrap paper for wrapping gifts later. Newspaper articles or photos depicting those to whom you plan to give gifts are great additions too.

When asked for some creative ideas for gift-wrapping this holiday season, Ken Barnes offered these ideas where the wrapping doubles as the gift.

? Tie heirloom jewelry found on your trips to antique stores or church fairs then wrap with Victorian-style wallpaper left over from store-remnants. Wrap a deep colored velvet bow or tassles around the gift for a rich look. Better yet, create your own jewelry, hair barettes, or bookmarks out of beads or beaded ribbon collected throughout the year.

? Wrap cookbooks or kitchen items in pages from old cookbooks or the newspaper food section. Add a small set of measuring cups or spoons tied on with kitchen string for your favorite cook. For the hiker in the family, tie on a small compass or water bottle.

? Save newspaper articles announcing those recently married and wrap their holiday gift in the wedding announcement. Tie on small framed photos taken at the wedding.

? Visit the local craft or floral shop and pick up bunches of dried or silk flowers, then fill a terra-cotta pot with packages of seeds, potting soil and wrap with ribbon, attaching dried or silk flowers. Tie on flower ornaments as an accessory.

? Dress up wine bottles in doll clothes, creating a personality for that bottle of wine you bring to the holiday party.

? For the nature-lovers, wrap your present in florist's paper, then tie on pine cones and berries found in local fields, or create a small decorated natural grapevine wreath.

Come see Captain Barnes at work during the Holiday House Tour presented by Historic Inns of Rockland, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Demonstrations including Packages that Pop at Captain Lindsey House, Gingerbread Houses & More at LimeRock Inn and Victorian Customs for the Holidays at Berry Manor Inn will take place throughout the day. Tours of the inns, decked in all their holiday finery will be ongoing from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. See www.historicinnsofrockland.com for information about the Festival of Lights package offered by Historic Inns of Rockland, and for more information on the member inns. For more information, call 1-877-ROC-INNS (877-762-4667).

BEAUTIFULLY PROFESSIONALLY SHOT PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

The Captain Lindsey House is a premier inn on Maine's Midcoast. Filled with beautiful works of art and artifacts from travels throughout the world, the inn reflects the nautical nature of its owners, both accomplished sea capatains and windjammer owners. Visit http://www.lindseyhouse.com for more information

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

UN Security Council calls for Gaza cease-fire (AP)

AP - The U.N. Security Council has approved a resolution calling for an immediate and durable cease-fire between Hamas militants and Israeli forces now fighting in the Gaza Strip. Thursday night's vote was 14-0 with the United States abstaining.

Cheney: CIA did nothing illegal in interrogations (AP)

AP - Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday that he sees no reason for President George W. Bush to pre-emptively pardon anyone at the CIA involved in harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists. "I don't have any reason to believe that anybody in the agency did anything illegal," he said. In an interview with The Associated Press, Cheney also said that Bush has no need to apologize for not foreseeing the economic crisis.

Key panel recommends impeaching Ill. governor (AP)

AP - A key panel unanimously recommended impeachment for Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday, setting up a vote that could make him the first governor to face such fate in Illinois' sordid political history. Blagojevich should lose his job for abusing power, mismanaging government and committing possible criminal acts, including federal allegations he tried to sell off a U.S. Senate seat, the special committee concluded.

Democrats criticize Obama's proposed tax cuts (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama's proposed tax cuts ran into opposition Thursday from senators in his own party who said they wouldn't do much to stimulate the economy or create jobs. Senators from both parties agreed that Congress should do something to stimulate the economy. But Democratic senators emerging from a private meeting of the Senate Finance Committee criticized business and individual tax cuts in Obama's stimulus plan.

Madoff 'victims' do math, realize they profited (AP)

AP - The many Bernard Madoff investors who withdrew money from their accounts over the years are now wrestling with an ethical and legal quandary. What they thought were profits was likely money stolen from other clients in what prosecutors are calling the largest Ponzi scheme in history. Now, they are confronting the possibility they may have to pay some of it back.

Fatal police shooting sparks violent protests (AP)

AP - In grainy cell-phone videos played over and over on the Internet, police officers force an unarmed black man to the ground and hold him face-down on a crowded train platform. Suddenly one of the officers draws his gun and fatally shoots the man in the back then looks up.

Petraeus: Afghan, Pakistan problems are really one (AP)

AP - U.S. policy to win in Afghanistan must recognize the poor nation's limitations and its neighborhood, especially its intertwined relationship with U.S. terrorism-fighting ally Pakistan, the top U.S. military commander in the region said Thursday.

Catholics targeted by NY man in $17M Ponzi scheme (AP)

AP - An 82-year-old businessman was charged Thursday with running a Ponzi scheme that took in at least $17 million from a clientele gleaned largely through ads in Catholic newspapers.

Man accused of building meth lab in funeral home (AP)

AP - A funeral home might be a place for eternal rest, but police say an Arkansas man saw an opportunity to build a methamphetamine lab undisturbed by the living. There was just one problem the funeral home was across the street from the sheriff's office.

Florida, Oklahoma stalled 0-0 after 1 qtr. in BCS (AP)

AP - Two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks couldn't produce a point in the first quarter of the BCS championship game. Tim Tebow and No. 1 Florida and Sam Bradford and No. 2 Oklahoma were scoreless after the first 15 minutes at Dolphin Stadium on Thursday night.

Israel faces criticism as Gaza toll hits 765 (Reuters)

Reuters - Recovery teams ventured into battlegrounds of the Gaza Strip on Thursday to gather bodies from the rubble, and Hamas officials said the Palestinian death toll in Israel's 13-day-old offensive had risen to 765.

Obama pushes stimulus, warns on recession (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama warned on Thursday the U.S. economy could stay mired in recession for years without bold action and he urged lawmakers to work day and night to pass a massive stimulus plan.

Citi backs measure to help avoid foreclosures (Reuters)

Reuters - Financial giant Citigroup Inc will support a proposal in Congress to rewrite U.S. bankruptcy law to help troubled mortgage borrowers avoid foreclosure, Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said on Thursday.

Illinois panel recommends governor's impeachment (Reuters)

Reuters - A legislative committee on Thursday recommended the impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, citing widespread abuse of power including allegations he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

U.S., Iran share interests in Afghanistan: Petraeus (Reuters)

Reuters - The United States and its allies share some interests with Iran when it comes to stabilizing Afghanistan, Army Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. military's Central Command, said on Thursday.

Madoff had $173 million in checks ready, U.S. says (Reuters)

Reuters - Accused swindler Bernard Madoff had signed checks totaling more than $173 million in his office desk ready to be sent out before his arrest, U.S. prosecutors said in court papers on Thursday asking a judge to jail him.

Obama names Virginia gov as Democratic Party head (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama named Tim Kaine as head of the Democratic Party on Thursday, rewarding an early supporter with a high-profile political post even as he continues to serve as Virginia governor.

Wal-Mart and other U.S. retailers warn after dismal holiday (Reuters)

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc and other top U.S. retailers delivered disappointing December same-store sales and profit warnings on Thursday, sparking fresh recession concerns that hit stock and currency markets.

Security Council calls for immediate truce in Gaza (AFP)

AFP - The UN Security Council voted to call for an "immediate, durable" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip leading to the "full withdrawal" of Israeli forces, but the United States abstained.

Progress in resolving gas row as Russia agrees to monitors (AFP)

AFP - Hopes for a quick resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe were rising Friday after Russia agreed on the terms for the deployment of monitors in Ukraine.

Beyond All Tied Up With A Bow - Great Tips for Creating Beautifully Wrapped Holiday Gifts

Holiday Holiday