Pretty Packages
Scrap-metal dealer or recycler Recycle copper pipes and other metal items, such as heating ducts. In some cases, you can sell scrap metal--including hot-water heaters, furnaces, and appliances more than five years old--to dealers (some cities will pick up old clunker appliances).Double-face tape and regular adhesive tapeHere are some final tips before you finish up.Make a point of checking on your garage door weather stripping in a few days after installation.You want to make sure that nothing is getting in the way of the garage door opening or closing.It is not that weather stripping is so expensive you cannot just replace a piece if you have a problem,but you need to look out for the motor so that you are not putting too much stress on it every time you leave your home.Done correctly,good garage door weather stripping can save you considerable cash on your next heating bill.Fuzzy wool for a cozy warm feeling: Super easy yet stylish. Once a gift is wrapped, affix one or two ribbons around the box and then wrap a few lengths of fuzzy wool as decorative trim around the package. Assorted fancy yarns provide an inexpensive and chic way to dress up bonbon or cracker-shaped gifts.Glue gun and sticksHang-tags embellished with rub-on decal lettering, clip art, micro beads and photos of the gift recipient also make fantastic gift trimmings.Ribbons in assorted colours, widths and stylesGet wrapping and happy trimmings!ARCADIA MAXIMO :: certified green builder and contractor, SAN FRANCISCO
maddy@maddylane.comDump Check local guidelines, but you'll likely need to trash vinyl flooring. TIP Don't mix construction debris with household garbage, which often goes to a separate processing center.Handle with care Follow local guidelines for disposing of paint, chemicals, fluorescent light-bulbs, and anything containing asbestos or lead paint.Don�t be bashful to use colours such as lime green, hot pink, bright orange, mauves, vibrant turquoise and blue; They are very �in� and trendy colours this season.Punched snowflakes: Paper punches with holiday designs are wonderful to use and incorporate into gift trimming. Using a snowflake design punch and assorted papers, from velum to silver, punch out snowflake shapes and glue them onto gifts, ribbons and cards, in a row or randomly. I even used the punched out negative to make decorative bands around gift boxes, and trimmed the edges with decorative scissors.Skill: Easy.Pretty packages can be integrated into your table decorations, to grace a mantel, or even used outdoors. Double them up and use as name card holders.Assorted findings: custom jewellery, belt buckles, quilling paper strips, feathers, sequins, tinsel garland, wire, beads etc.Fabric remnants: Excellent for wrapping larger gifts, and to use up fabrics that you know you won�t use within the next year or so. I utilized fun-fur remnants to make a snowman decoration onto a larger gift box.Materials & tools:Bejewel using recycled jewellery and belt buckles: Recycle odds and ends jewellery pieces, earrings, and charms. Glue these onto a ribbon to create an elegant centre ornament. Paint plain or wooden buckles silver or gold (or any colour) and fasten a length of ribbon around a fabric-wrapped gift. Top it all off with a single feather.Before you attach the stripping to the sides,you need to be very careful and measure out how much space you have.The last thing you want is to nail in all of this weather stripping only to find out you cannot even close your door any longer.Once you have everything measured out,use roofing nails or the nails that came with your kit to fit everything into place.Make sure you test the door several times during this process to ensure that you do not have to do everything over.Gifts trimmed with flair by: Maddylane DesignsFirst off,you will have to choose the right weather stripping for your particular garage door.The average hardware store has a stunning number of choices,but the two that you want to pick are the bottom door gasket and a flange style stripping that goes around the outside of the door.The flange style stripping is fairly easy to find.It often comes in two varieties one with dual flexible sides and one that has a hard side and a flexible side that looks a lot like wood molding.My favourite part of the holidays is wrapping the gifts. It is the perfect occasion to use up many remnants from various projects and to let my creativity run loose, just for fun. Since my wrapping room is shared with the laundry room, it is a sure place to find some peace of mind during all the craziness of the holidays.Tips: For all gifts wrapped using fabrics, make sure to iron out any creases out first and wrap the gifts as you would with paper wrapping. Use hot glue to secure the folds instead of tape.Assorted paper remnants, rice paper, plain coloured papersAlso see each gift wrapping description."Start by reusing anything that's in good condition and free of asbestos and lead paint," she says. (Have a professional assessment done if you're unsure.) "Install your old kitchen cabinets in the laundry room or garage, or frame a new closet with reclaimed lumber." Ceramic and stone tile, too, can often be reused. See below for where to dispose of some other common items.Quilling for snowman: Quilling, also known as paper filigree, is the art of rolling thin strips of paper into different shapes and using the shapes to form designs. Quilling papers comes in packages of assorted colours. Creative accents, such as plain snowman shapes or monograms, can be crafted to garnish plainly wrapped boxes. Affix designs to gifts using double-face tape. You can even apply the papers in flat strips or fashion a checked pattern. Simple swirls make wonderful gift garnishes.Variations: Other creative gift wrappings include holiday dishtowels, table cloths, fabrics, and wallpaper. Or, you can opt to make the wrapping part of the gifts using a variety of household and clothing items.Fabric remnants, fun fur, taffeta, fuzzy wool, scrapbooking tools, snowflake punch, decorative edge scissors, hang tags, rub-on lettering
Copyright MaddyLane Designs © 2006
Author: Madeleine Langlois