DIY - Fairy themed gift wrapping

For this gift wrapping tutorial I wanted to create something really pretty and ethereal for Milly's first birthday. Following a subtle fairy theme (see her wall hanging) I hand painted wrapping paper and used up all my leather supplies. It's occurred to me over the past few months just how much I've spent on craft supplies over the years, whilst I love everything I've bought, I'm not in a position to buy any more. Instead I've started to challenge myself to use up what I've got - I have to say it's fun to revisit old supplies to come up with new projects. I really hope you enjoy this one...

To start use (my favourite) Ikea drawing paper as a base to paint different designs. Mix blue, red and white acrylic paint to come up with a lovely lilac colour and then keep it simple with spots, stripes and the birthday girls name - I painted about one and a half metres of each design. I really like using acrylic paint as it dries quickly and doesn't absorb into the paper. Leave to dry completely before wrapping all the presents. 

For the Milly paper I wanted to keep the focus on the name so used one leather star and a natural coloured chiffon (ribbon would also work). First cut out a star shape in the metallic mauve leather (this is similar to mine and actually a faux leather), punch four holes in the very centre. After wrapping the present in the paper, tear two 3cm wide strips of chiffon and wrap around the present threading the ends through the holes in the star. Work out where on the present you want the star to sit and knot the chiffon to secure. To finish tie a bow with both pieces of chiffon. 

For this wrapping the spots and mix of metallic and natural leather works really well. First cut 9 star shapes - 3 natural leather, 3 silver leather, 3 mauve leather and punch a singular hole in the centre of each. Tear three strips of chiffon 3cm wide and long enough to wrap around each present. Starting with the central strip, thread three stars in the following order - natural, silver and mauve - wrap around the present keeping the stars in the front centre, knotting at the back (out of sight) to secure. For the left and right strip, thread mauve, natural and silver stars and secure as before. Cut off any excess chiffon and fix the stars so they cluster together. 

This one is so simple, I used a left over tassel from my wall hanging and I couldn't resist this little gold crown which was part of Milly's birthday present (she's going to have to wear it every birthday until she's at least 16 so I don't feel so bad about buying!). If you don't want to buy any extra supplies,  add more stars in place of the tassel and crown.

Tear a piece of chiffon 3cm wide and long enough to wrap around the box (front to back and securing in the centre. Cut two star shapes from mauve leather and punch a hole in the top. Tear another piece of 3cm wide chiffon and thread under the knot of the chiffon that is around the present. If using a tassel remove the orange thread and thread onto one side of the chiffon length tie another knot to secure. Thread a star to either lengths of chiffon, tie a knot to secure and cut off any extra length  - you want these stars to fall off the side of the present but not get lost. To finish, clip the crown over the knots.