Home Tour Tuesday---All Wrapped Up

I'm not sure where December went, but here we are the week of Christmas and the final Holiday Home Tour Tuesday post. What a whirlwind! 

To be honest, as of eight o'clock yesterday evening, I had not a single present wrapped. Luckily, thanks to my ever-helpful hubby, we were able to pull off a Christmas miracle of our own, and complete most of the wrapping before calling it a night.

In our home, wrapping is a two person job---Bret is the wrapper, and I'm the bow maker. We've had this particular system since we were first married, and it just seems to work for us. {Or should I say works for "me", I'm sure Bret has a million other things he'd rather be doing that playing Elf to my Santa!}

Over the years, I've learned to be patient with Bret's wrapping, but it's probably not for the reason you think. You see, Hubs is an engineer by trade and is quite meticulous about most things, including his gift wrapping technique. His presents are always impeccable, so much so that the edges where the paper has been cut align seamlessly with no visible signs of tape, leaving you questioning if perhaps the Hubs has magical powers.

And though it takes us a while to get through our mountain of gifts, I've learned to bite my tongue and never rush perfection! So don't be mad friends if your hubby isn't quite as willing to chip in, Bret is one of a kind. And as I've told you before---I'm quite lucky!

And that my friends, is how we roll!

Bow How-To
Thanks to so many wonderful comments and emails about the bows on my trees in a previous Home Tour Tuesday post, I wanted to include a quick bow-making tutorial. And once you know how to make them, you'll find yourself placing your signature bows on all your gifts, not only at Christmas time, but throughout the year!

Oh and I can't begin without a quick shoutout to my mom, the reigning bow-making queen. She's responsible for teaching me all the tricks for making a present look like something out of a magazine.

What you'll need:

• scissors
• wired ribbon
• curly ribbon

{one} Purchase ribbon in a large roll. I bought mine from Hobby Lobby, but Sam's also carries a large assortment of wired ribbon at the Holidays. Decide how wide you'd like your bow to be by looping the ribbon over on itself until you've reached your desired width.

{two and three} Loop ribbon over on itself at least 16 times. The more loops, the fuller the ribbon will be. Smaller bows are an exception. Because the bow is small (in width), you will not need nearly as many loops to achieve a full look.

{four} As you loop, be sure to keep the ribbon lined up as best as possible. This will help when cutting the ribbon.

 

{five and six} Fold ribbon in half to determine the center.

{seven} Cut a small slit in one side of the ribbon. Be careful not to cut to the center of the ribbon. Repeat same process on the opposite side, again being very careful not to cut to the center of the ribbon. 

{eight} Check your slits. If your slits are cut properly, the ribbon should twist in your hands without breaking apart. If the slits have been cut too close to the center, the ribbon will pull apart. If this happens, (and Lawdy knows it's happened plenty of times to me)  remove loose loops or, in a worst case scenario, simply start over.

{nine and ten} Cut a long strand of curly ribbon. Use matching curly ribbon to anchor ribbon by threading it through the two side slits. Tie the curly ribbon in a knot on the underside of the bow.

{eleven and twelve} Starting with the bottom (inner) loops, alternate sides, pulling the ribbon apart. I like to twist as I pull each loop. Continue until all loops have been separated.

{thirteen} As an optional finishing touch cut small inverted v's at the bottom of any remaining unlooped strand of ribbon.

{fourteen} Congratulations, you're almost done!

Securing Bow

{fifteen} Cut another strand of ribbon from your original roll long enough to tie around your package.

{sixteen} Use the curly ribbon hanging from the underside of your bow to secure the bow to the ribbon on your package. (Be sure to tie a knot.)

{seventeen} Viola! Now you're done!

*Note-If using the bow for another decorative purpose other than gift wrapping, use the long curly ribbon strands the same way you did on your package to secure bow in place. 

Special thanks to my lil' stinker helper! Don't know what I'd do without Sweet Bean to show me how it's done!

With all the holiday festivities, HTT will not be posted next week, but Daphne and I look forward to seeing you back for the link up on January 4th for the first Home Tour Tuesday post of the New Year.

January 4th theme: Out with the Old, In with the New---Show us your one room remodel, reno, or makeover!

Now as always, Daphne and I hope that you'll join us in a little Home Tour Tuesday fun.  Link up, don't wait! Grab our badge and show us how you wrap!

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{Congratulations to all three giveaway winners!

Stella & Dot: Joni

Friedasophie: Mama K (That makes 2 giveaway wins in one week! Girl go to Vegas!)

LOL Designs: Laura S

Yay, y'all! Email me as soon as you can!}