Blog - Cotton & Flax

holiday gifts

Furoshiki Gift Wrapping

I have been looking for gifts to bring to holiday parties this year, and after reading a little about furoshiki, or fabric gift wrapping, I had to try it with one of the Cotton & Flax tea towels. I think it turned out nicely (it kind of looks like a person wrapped in a cozy blanket!), and gives that gift for the host or hostess a little extra oompf.

You could also really easily wrap a cookbook in a tea towel, another great gift combination for the cook or foodie in your life. There are lots of guides to furoshiki on YouTube, definitely worth checking out!

Find Cotton & Flax tea towels here.

Creative Yarn Wrapping

Did you happen to see this great pom-pom wrapping DIY project floating around Pinterest? Shauna and Stephen from Something’s Hiding in Here had a similar idea a while back too. I was inspired to combine the festive pom pom decorations with my own hand stamped gift wrap as a different take on this fun wrapping paper that has been making the blog rounds lately.

I started by making some simple polka dot wrapping paper using just a new pencil eraser, and a standard stamp pad. You could even do something more intricate, by following my DIY hand stamped gift wrap tutorial.

Then I created a few pom-poms (you can find lots of tutorials online, Martha Stewart has a good overview here.) After wrapping string around the package a couple times like a ribbon, I tied the pom-poms to the top of the package to complete this dotty package.

This is an easy way to wrap larger gifts, and an affordable alternative to some of the fancier gift wraps out there. It’s easy to customize with your loved one’s favorite color, too!

Wrapping Up an Order

Have I ever shown you how I package up my online orders? With the holiday season approaching, I’ve been looking for simple ways to make sure my items arrive at their destination safely, but also retain a special quality that will make you feel like you’re opening a gift. Obviously packaging things safely and securely is my number one concern (no one likes to receive a damaged item), but I also want my customers to enjoy the process of unwrapping their new item.

I’ve been guilty of leaving gift buying to the last minute, which is why I offer lots of different options for shipping. If you need something in a rush, just send me a message on Etsy, and I’ll get you upgraded to Priority Mail or Express Mail (and I can often send your items out just a few hours after you buy!)

There’s nothing worse than receiving something in the mail, and then having to discard a million packing peanuts, or those weird plastic air packets. I strive to use beautiful recyclable or reusable materials, and to be conscientious in how much material I am using to ship an item. I love to offer free gift wrapping to my customers, too! Upon request, I generally wrap all of my items in 100% recycled tissue paper, and then secure it with a patterned sticker (my own design!), a cute piece of washi tape, or cotton twine (see the first photo above). I can also include a thank you note, which is also made from recycled paper and decorated with my original designs.

Gift Wrapping with Cotton & Flax

The holiday season is fast approaching, and I have been searching for ways to personalize my holiday gifts this year. This week, I’ll be featuring five posts about how to make your gifts look pretty and polished, and sure to bring a smile to your loved one’s face.

First, did you know that Cotton & Flax offers free gift wrapping both online, and in person (at Unique LA, Renegade LA and SF)? Well, it’s true! I am always happy to wrap up gifts with a little tissue paper and beautiful ribbon or cotton twine, and I’ll even include a handwritten note so you can send items directly to the intended recipient. I’ll be posting photos of standard Cotton & Flax gift wrap tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Gift Guide for the Baker

My sister is the big baker in the family. I’ll make cookies or banana bread from time to time, but that’s nothing compared to what my sister can whip up. I love picking out gifts for her, so I’ve put together another gift guide, based on some things I think any baking aficionado would love to add to their kitchen.

1. Cupcake liners from Sweetest Elle (they come in tons of colors)
2. Yum recipe cards from Egg Press
3. Handmade maple measuring spoons from Schoolhouse Electric
4. Brushstroke Tea Towel from Cotton & Flax