Make your holidays unique!
Every year you wander the stores looking for that extra special wrapping paper, gift box, gift cards, tree ornament, decorated jewelry box, or hand painted glassware. You would like to give your loved ones something extra special and make every present look its best. Don't panic! This year, plan ahead and make your own special gifts and gift wrap. Call up some friends and make a night of it, or get your children involved and plan an afternoon of creativity.
Below are a few hints and suggestions to start your custom made presents.
Which papers to use?
Anything and everything goes! This is where your imagination can go overboard. Making your own unique gifts can be rewarding and fun at the same time.
• Aquabee, Pro Art and Brown Kraft Paper come in rolls for working on a large area. Use Speedball Speedcut Blocks to create stamps or relief blocks or try the new Iwata flame templates and some paint to create patterns on your wrapping paper.
• Decorol Paper rolls come in a variety of vivid colours. Cut out shapes from the other colours and layer them onto your wrapping paper to create a design.
• The Tru Brite roll is smooth black. Add your favourite Sakura Gelly Pens in either fluorescent or metallic and make your own stars or grab your template and your favourite pearlescent gouache to add dimension and some sparkle.
• Rice Paper is another great paper to use for its absorbancy. Try using your bamboo brush with black or coloured ink and create some leaves or snowflakes. You can also add gold leafing to your designs to make them really sparkle.
• Try our wide variety of decorative art papers such as Lotus Print and Bodhi Print. They can be used by themselves as wrapping paper, or try covering a blank cardboard gift box with these papers and add some ribbons and a bow.
• Opus also stocks a variety of decorative wrapping paper, which was made especially for Opus. The sheets are 18.5" x 27" with a variety of nature themes such as leaves and ferns. Most stores will be selling this unique gift wrap with the proceeds of each sheet sold going towards each store's chosen holiday charity. Help brighten someone else's Christmas!
How to decorate a blank surface
• Safety-Kut Blocks and Speedball Speedy-Cut are rubber blocks, which are soft and easy to cut using a lino cutter and lino blades. Great for making stamps or relief blocks! Use your favourite image and photocopy it, then transfer your laser copied image using heat from an iron onto your block. Once cut out, use these stamps to create patterns on your wrapping paper.
• Use your Iwata flame template or your own templates using Grafix Stencil Film by simply drawing or tracing a design with a pen, then cutting out your design using scissors or a utility knife. Add some acrylic paint to your templates to produce a whimsical pattern.
• Great Hostess Gift Ideas ~ Clear Glass tree ornaments or a set of wine or martini glasses can easily be decorated using Pebeo Vitrea 160 glass paints and liners to create unique images directly onto the glass.
• T-shirt too boring? Vita carries t-shirt transfer paper in packs of 5 for dark fabric and 10 for light fabric. Simply print out that favourite image on your inkjet printer and with your iron you will have an image in minutes. If you are craving even more colour, try adding some designs with Pentel Fabricfun pastels. The heat from your iron sets your design.
• Blank Calendars ~ You have 12 empty pages to add your favourite images to. Create a collage, or print out some digital images using our great selection of digital papers including Lumijet, Hahnemuhle and Vita.
• Know someone who loves to draw? Opus' Essential Hardbound Sketchbook, provides a terrific blank surface to add some collaged images or beautify with your favourite decorative paper.
• Mini Canvas anyone? Make fridge magnets, gift tags, or even mini works of art. These 2" x 2", 2" x 3" or 3" x 3" canvases are only available in-store or by calling our Mail Order department at 1-800-663-6953.
• Want to get children involved? Some simple, yet eye-catching ideas are hand imprints using Speedy Kids Fingerpaint, or painting the backs of leaves and imprinting these onto your paper. Patterns can be made from just about anything!
Tis' the season to create!
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