Simple Pleasures

Sometimes.....

I find that a simple arrangement....

A candle with a few embellishments...

A jar of buttons tied with hemp twine and a label from a french menu...

And a side table dressed up with a bit of  Belgium lace suits me just fine.

Sometimes...Less is more.

For all of you who haven't entered my giveaway on Tuesday you can do that (HERE).

It's All In The Details

Who doesn't like receiving a beautifully wrapped gift?  It really doesn't matter the size of the gift or what it is that makes me want to open it.  It is the attention given to the wrappings...The bells and whistles if you please.  It's all in the details for me, the love and effort to select just the right paper, trimmings and tags that makes it for me.  I have a collection of unique French inspired paper that I purchased over time that makes wrapping an act of pleasure instead of a chore and sometimes I find plain brown wrapping or tissue paper holds as much appeal as the more elaborate.  I thought I might share with you some of the paper I use when wrapping gifts to give.

A gift of seashells wrapped in this would be beautiful.

Lovely for a feminine gift of perfume soap or jewelry.  Oui?

A Book perhaps?

These are two versions of the same paper.  Watercolors?

A Lovely Sealing set/with Wax

A beautiful set of initialed guest towels gift wrapped in this blue and white toile.

This paper is a gorgeous pink color (which doesn't show up very well) and would look nice gift wrapped  on a small item for the home.

Perhaps something musical?

Children's gift paper for toys.

I have also used this paper to create beautifully wrapped covered boxes in various sizes that could be used for hiding items i.e. key's, wallets, etc. that could be displayed openly and to give hardback books a new "jacket" so to speak.

If the paper is important so then is the ribbons and small decorative items like buttons, pins, and charms tied in with the ribbon to make it all the sweeter.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Hemp twine(2 ply)

Crinkled Seam Binding

Gorgeous silk ribbons

French Peel and Stick Ribbon via
Image via Eleanorbrownboutique.com
Etsy.com

Vintage Mother of Pearl Buttons

French Religious Medals

Oui?

St. Joan Of Arc

Fleur De Lis

A Beautiful Brooch

Whatever gift wrap and embellishments you choose for your gift should reflect your love of not only the person for whom the gift is given but to the presentation and the time you spend making it the very best you can.

I just love giving gifts AND wrapping them is especially fun trying to decide what paper, ribbon and embellishments to add.  So, I thought it would be fun to GIVEAWAY a lovely set of gift tags for the first winner and a burlap drawstring bag filled with lavender scented pine cones for the second winner chosen AND you get to select one of the gift wrap papers for the wrapping.  Both gifts are handmade and will be available for purchase when I open my new Etsy shop.  All you have to do is leave a comment under this post AND for a second chance become a follower of my blog.  If you are already a follower I'll count that as a second entry.

Five Handmade French Inspired Gift Tags
 with Creamy White Seam Binding
for tying.

Hand Stenciled Burlap Drawstring Bag Filled With
Lavender Scented Pinecones

This should be fun! Good luck and don't forget to leave your comments under this post.  Contest ends August 22 at 12:00 a.m. central time.