With Valentine’s Day just around the corner (not to mention birthdays all year round), here’s an idea for gift wrapping that’s economical, eco-friendly, easy, and most of all, unique and gorgeous! Make the presentation of your gift as artistic and as extraordinary (or more than!) as the gift itself!

 

By learning three basic knots, in minutes you can transform a square piece of fabric into any number of decorative forms, ranging from “Falling Cherry Blossoms”, to “Long-Tailed Pheasant”, to “Double Rose”, and even “Perky Puppy Dog” wrap.

With easy to follow directions and corresponding illustrations, you will learn how to make a distinctive and elegant wrap for anything from bottles of wine, to cds, and boxes of candy—even learn how to decoratively wrap balls and posters. Almost any shape or item can be enhanced in this unique way. Bringing a bouquet of flowers as a hostess gift or to a friend in the hospital? Make it really elegant or cheerful merely by wrapping it in a stunning piece of cloth. Use fabric left-over from other craft projects, bought as a remnant on the sale table at your neighborhood fabric store, or order specially designed Japanese furoshiki—an elegant cloth traditionally used for wrapping and carrying bundles.

 

But don’t limit yourself to using this technique for just wrapping gifts, make gorgeous adornments for your home, too! Why not wrap that ugly tissue box in the bathroom with a piece of fabric that compliments your décor? Or cover a potted plant with material that accentuates your living room colors? Transform any spare basket or container into an artistic centerpiece for your dining room table or kitchen counter. Periodically change fabrics to match the season, a holiday, or even the objects contained within. Give an old cushion a new lease on life by wrapping it in a colorful textile or two. Even fashion a stylish bag to drape over a chair back that can hold newspapers, magazines, or bills you’re too busy “crafting” to get to. You can even use this simple method to spruce up your wastepaper can!

 

Once you’ve learned how to make a few of these wrappings, you’ll be on your way to creating your own exclusives designs.