Handmade Packaging 101: Let’s talk ‘paper’

Garland & Packaging – By Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry

When I first started crafting, I noticed a lot of blogs were into either scrap-booking or paper crafts. At first I thought to myself, “what a waste of time.” I was, of course, looking for “durable” crafts, which led me later on to jewelry-making, here at Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry. What I didn’t realize back then was that paper was an essential part of an artisan’s journey. Packaging without paper, paper bling, and inspiration, simply could not be done!

In general, I’m the recycled paper, rustic-looking packaging, kinda gal. I love re-using cardboard, and all kinds of paper packaging that comes from gifts, things we buy, and unwanted wrapping.

In my recent packaging & display attempts, I attached the earrings below to some recycled paper that I hot-glued onto a mini-wire clothes hanger that I made using regular pliers. This way I went a long way in cutting expenses, while displaying my goods in an attractive and innovative way. I am grateful everyone who has seen these little mini-hanger tags thought they were cute, or “carina,” in Italian.

Packaging my handmade holiday ornaments (and magnets) took a brighter twist. The only reason for this is that I had brighter paper available at hand. I learned to create something from things I already had, or from everyday trash, or things that people usually put in the trash. The handmade garland in the picture below is wrapped around a white piece of cardboard that came from… a Kiri cheese box . That’s right.

In the picture below, I am using pastel-colored paper and bright matching ribbons. I am mostly with the brown recycled paper and the twine wrapping option… much more than the brighter blingy ribbon-centric packaging ideas. But I don’t mind giving the latter a go every now and then!

Paper Inspiration

Who doesn’t love Pinterest?! I have a pin-board over there, where I store & share some handmade packaging ideas. Here are a few paper ideas that I love.

This one is about recycling an old book, or plain newspaper pages, into really attractive wrapping. The buttons look cool too.

Source: flickr.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

Here is another one. Using plain recycled paper and cotton thread; the artist added a dab of color by hand-painting some cute shapes using acrylic or water color. This way these tags look personalized, simple, and utterly eco-chic.

Source: etsy.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I have posted the photo of the reindeer tags, above, from Pinterest, where it had the wrong source {This wrong source}.

The right source for these lovely tags is via this link, and they are called {Gift Tags – Reinbirds}, and many people have pinned them on Pinterest under the title, Reindeer Tags (while I have pinned them with this comment: “Handpainted tags: using recycled paper and a bit of acrylic or water color, and a pen”).

The tags are handmade and are by Etsy maker, LilaRubyKingShop. The creator’s website is called Lila Ruby King on www.lilarubyking.eu. I am happy to have finally found the source,  and I do urge people on Pinterest to Pin this from its original source and not from my blog or any other source, with the right credit. It’s a big shame that these tags are very popular on Pinterest, and no one seems to know who made them. Now we do, I hope!

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And in this one here, a little bit of turquoise stencil adds a touch of elegance to these Eco-beautiful packaging envelopes.

Source: flickr.com via Karboojeh on Pinterest

DIY: Paper Garland

If after reading this post you are feeling excited to try your hand at some paper crafts, here is a DIY idea that you might really like. Enjoy!

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Related Articles:

• Packaging & Paper DIY: Make your own handmade envelope
• Packaging Ideas: A simple touch to transform Kraft paper

Handmade jewelry display 101: Karboojeh’s journey in the world of craft shows

To see mini tutorial for making this chalkboard sign go to: "Chalkboard DIY: Display sign from an artists palette" - on karboojeh.tumblr.com

I am grateful! Yesterday (Dec 4, 2011) was a special day. I took part in my first-ever bazaar experience. The display design I made was totally DIY, and a lot of recycling, up-cycling, and improvising went in there.

Start-up logo among the grands!

Karboojeh as Sponsor: Karboojeh was a sponsor among well known brands – at the Italian Charity event… with brands like Benetton, DHL, Lavazza, Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Paris Hilton, Hyundai, The Four Seasons Hotel, and other Italian & international trademarks… which is quite funny. Seeing Karboojeh’s logo in the middle of it all made me smile.

It is the day. Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry made its first-ever bazaar appearance on a completely DIY-ed table set – that I created using different materials, like cardboard, burlap, a hot-glued rope basket and handmade chicken-wire baskets. I also made two chalkboard announcement boards using recycled materials (one of them was actually a cardboard cake plate that came from a patisserie store; I used chalkboard spray paint and rope to create a rustic look – after prepping with primer & sanding the clean surface).

The look I was going for was a mix of rustic, French romance & shabby chic, interrupted by a sharp contrast of eye-grabbing fun colors. I didn’t want a too serious French romance look, so I used small touches of lace and whites just for fun. Burlap and earth hues took the backdrop of the display work, while colorful packaging and jewelry rested on two burlap-covered cardboard planks, cork, and similar-colored props.

Karboojeh: Recycle, DIY & create!

In the pictures above, some of the Karboojeh DIY things  you see are:

• Chalkboard: This used to be a bamboo painter’s palette, which I spray-painted with chalkboard paint without priming it, since it looked it had a good amount of sealing varnish on it. See mini tutorial here.
• Redecorated Samples Tree: This used to be a stainless steel mug holder for the kitchen, which I dressed up with white shimmery sequins, while not forgetting to add a handmade sign made out of feather trim, cardboard, rhinestones, and other embellishments.
• Beaded Christmas ornaments: There is a post about those, here.
  
• Beaded Napkin Rings: The fork & spoon… Aren’t they cute? … I sketched those on cardboard and cut them to size to display the handmade napkin rings.
• Handmade Heart Magnets: I hand-stitched those using linen and stuffing, then hot-glued a piece of magnet to the back.

Technically this is my first-ever craft show, since the British School Bazaar, mentioned in a previous post, is in a different country, where only jewelry items are participating, inshAllah.

Piece of advice?

Quit your day job and start learning crochet, or invest in the talent you already have (which means also investing time, money and effort in developing it). Craft shows are the best kind of work you will ever have. I had a career in media and a parallel one in music, and one was more hectic than the other. I found complete sweetness in indulging in craft-time, and creating things with love!

Packaging 101: Handmade jewelry getting ready for a British school bazaar

These guys are going on a trip to a school bazaar in the region.

And I’m so excited for them…

These are all Karboojeh Handmade Jewelry creations, and tags.

After much research & brainstorming, and many many trials, I came up with these ideas to brand my handmade jewelry. Economical, personalized & relatively quick to whip up.

I didn’t want the look to sound too “finished,” I wanted something handmade-ish, and reflective of the fact all jewelry items are handcrafted.

I didn’t use my official logo for this bazaar on tags… to “un-complicate” things. I just used straightforward business-card-like tags with the URL of this blog and my email address on them.

And this is the outcome. I’m happy!

I will post more details about the bazaar, and the lovely lady (my aunt) who came up with the idea of selling there, as soon as it starts – inshAllah.

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Related Articles

• Packaging & Paper DIY: Make your own handmade paper envelope
• Handmade Packaging 101: Let’s talk ‘paper’