Here are the things I've done to avoid writing this post today.
1. Rearranged all the accessories in my living room.
2. Cleaned out the kitty litter box.
3. Checked the chickens to see how far along in their moulting they were.
4. Painted my nails.
5. Went for a 2 k.m. walk on the coldest day of the season so far.
6. Winked at myself in the mirror for a period of 15 minutes.
7. Sanded my heels with the Emjoi.
8. Chopped some firewood.
9. Watched Dr. Oz. (clearly I'm in deep trouble because by the sounds of it every single thing I eat will soon kill me. Even rice.)
10. Rearranged all the accessories in my living room. Again.
Now, it's not that I didn't want to write this post because I'm not happy with it. On the contrary. I didn't want to write this post because I'm SO happy with it. I pretty much just want to forget the words and get on with the pictures.
So let's put me out of my misery and just do that shall we?
I've done every kind of bow that can be accomplished by someone with opposable thumbs and a fairly flexible foot. I've done standard bows, paper bows, light up bows, neck tie bows. I've done them all and I've loved them all, but this year I didn't want to just do bows.
Enough with the bows.
Bring on the Diorama present toppers.
I have no clue how this idea came to me but it did and I'm thankful because it's the best thing anyone has ever done. Ever. In the entire world. Me. I did it.
And now you can do it too.
I had the idea to create a scene on top of a present instead of a bow because I plain old thought it would look great and would be REALLY fun to do. It does and it is.
You know how people get a runner's high? I got a crafting high after creating this.
It took a while to figure out exactly how to do this so that it looked elegant and not "KrAFtsY!". You know. The dreaded crafting with a "k". Krafting. Uch.
Rule #1. Don't use store bought miniatures props (trees excluded). And DEFINITELY don't use store bought figurines (people). The scene will be more realistic and more "humanized" as my friend Jamieson calls it, when you don't actually see people at all. You just need evidence of people. Like these ski poles leaning against a snow covered tree. Or the skis in the photo above.
Footprints through the snow help you create a scene. I made the footprints by making a stamp out of a potato.
Wanna go with a little more kitsch? You can do that too.
Want a great tip for wrapping paper? Go to your local kids toy store or craft store and buy a roll of artist paper. I've spent the past billion years looking for plain white wrapping paper. It's not easy to find. It always has slight stripes, or a tone on tone pattern or whatever. A roll of white artists paper, the kind that goes on a rod on top of an easel is pure white, heavy, opaque and when you tape it … it stays TAPED! And the best part? It's $8 for a 75 foot roll. That's a lotta wrapping.
For me, half the fun of getting a present is the wrapping. Ditto for giving a present. It isn't ALL about what's inside the box. It's about how it's presented too.
Once I've done my Christmas decorating and present wrapping you'll see all of the diorama present toppers in their spectacular glory. Until then, these two should give you some inspiration to you know … think outside the box.
Love how the car contrasts (trying to avoid "pops") against the stark white. How fun if you could do a post with photos of present dioramas that readers sent in! Yes?
Shit...I need to quit my full time job, get divorced and kick out my kid so I can truly give my full attention to my blog. I suck! You so rock...I bow to your no bow toppers. Bow and bow pronounced two ways..hmmmmm will you look at that!
Shhh! Once the paper idea gets around the price will double (or maybe even triple ) - just kidding.
Karen, they are so attractive and I am sure your giftees will appreciate your effort to make the presents special. I agree with your theory Karen, that there is just something about getting a beautifully wrapped gift! ....can't wait to see more. Happy Holidays!
I use butcher paper, it's $40 bucks for a really heavy roll. I have no idea about much paper it is but it be a lot. That would go with your cleaver motif as well.
Holy Hannah, that is the cutest, bestest idea I have ever seen!! You floor me....
i love the nature's poop bow! i think i'll start with that and work my way up to diorama!
Oh man I did a diorama on my Christmas presents about 20 yrs ago; I so though I was the shit and now you are Karen!! I used just plain white garment boxes and drew with silver and shiny purple pens, dragonflies on the box then added green big cut up cheapy bows and pink middles for lily pad ( that I saw Martha Stewart make some similar but I made mine better) then made sweet little twists with cheap silver ribbon connecting the multi sized lily pads like vines; it was beautiful. I wish I had taken a picture of it
You never fail to think up something that will amaze me..this is truly one of your best!!
So beautiful, and creative! I love it! And thanks for the tip on the wrapping paper rolls, that is so sensible! I think Ikea sells those rolls too. Had a thought for everyone worrying about destroying the lovely scenes, maybe wrap the boxes like they do in the commercials, where you wrap the top separately from the bottom, so the lid just lifts off. Diorama preserved! Hope we get to see more, it would be cool if your readers could send in pictures (maybe to your facebook page?) so we can glimpse everyone's creative genius! Thanks Karen!
so clever! You never fail to amaze us. My Dollar store has a pack of two trees for ......$1. On my way over there today.
And you are right, the dioramas are more realistic without the little krafty figurines
All of the presents I'm giving this year are too small for something like this, unless I go super-miniature. That said, I do a little scene on the mantle every year, with little white felt houses, and that will be expanded now, with white trees, footsteps in the snow, a wood pile, and maybe some skis and poles! You do come up with some great crafts, Karen! This is wonderful!
You could always put the smaller present in a bigger box! ~ karen
These look wonderful for display and will be a blast of fun for whomever the gifts are for...BUT - are they really going to want to ruin that beauty and your labours of love ? Hope the gifts can slide out the side. :)
Brilliant decor for presents Karen! Children of all ages will be positively fascinated.
In years past I saved the comics section every weekend throughout the year so that I could use those pages at Christmas time to wrap gifts. One year I made enclosure cards from pictures I printed on my copier.
I agree that white wrapping is difficult to locate. If you are unable to obtain artist paper on a roll but are close to a medical supply store then the paper that is used to cover examining tables is just the ticket.
I would NEVER want to open the present! These are precious! LOVE. Just love.
Funny! It looks like your skier had two left feet.
Picky, picky
You got me at the first pic of potato prints - this IS the best ever and you are genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be doing this for the faux presents under my tree. (The real ones are at my daughter's house.) My genius part will be wrapping all the junk I don't have room to hide.
I love that you always manage to show us something creative and crafty while avoiding the ever-dreaded crafting with a K look. Every now I then, I know I've messed up when something I've done takes on that appearance and instantly becomes a don't-it-yourself.
I think the footprints are my favorite part. Although I love it all. I have 2 ceramic Victorian houses I picked up at an estate sale that are going to go monochromatic white and become part of a scene in my Christmas décor along with some faux snow and stamped footprints now. Thank you for making your fabulous ideas available for all to steal.
they are pretty cool
Love it! you are starting a new trend. One ball of fluff looks like a little chicken in the snow.
Absolutely brilliant. But you already knew that. :)