Saturday, December 24, 2016

FAUX Second Thursday Tutorial on Christmas Eve


Not only am I late with my Second Thursday Tutorial, it isn't even a real tutorial!  It's late at night, cold both outside and in, and I'm in my nightgown.  I need to wrap a few gifts, so I'm going to give you some ideas for last minute gift wrapping.

I had looked at that ugly once-red rosin paper that protects my work surface long enough. So I removed everything from the table

and set it on my chair I use when I sew.

My brain was obviously frozen, so I wasn't thinking about the order of things, as I usually do before I start a tutorial.  Thankfully, this is not one of those "real" tutorials.

I've had this red rosin paper since 2010 or 2011, and I've used it for everything, from covering my table when it gets too ugly for even me to stand it, to making a rosin altered book.   I'll have plenty more for future use, too.  You get this at your local big box hardware store, your local building supply store, or online.  I would NEVER order it online unless shipping was free, because this weighs a ton and it's about 1/2 used. 

For those of you unfamiliar with red rosin paper, it is used in a wide variety of construction applications, including roofing, flooring, and as a protective covering at work sites. When used on walls, it acts as a separation barrier, protecting against wind and dust entering the home, while minimizing squeaks on floors and stairs.

My friend Sally often gives me weird and totally UNUSEFUL gifts.  But, one gift she gave me many years ago are these electric scissors.  They make cutting the length of red rosin paper faster than I can take a photo of them.  

I never measure but cut what I think I will need.

This time I got the paper a bit short, but if it covers the table, that's all I care about.  That's when I realized I should NOT have cut this paper yet.

Instead, it was time to decorate the old paper that set on my desk for longer than it should have.  Of course, I STILL can't stamp, even though I have a stamping aid gifted me by a dear friend.

Next, it was time to measure the gift I wanted to wrap, and cut the red rosin paper to "size."  Size is a relative term, since I hurriedly eyeballed the amount I would need in the cold of the craft room.

Then it was time to decorate the rest of the paper, or at least enough that would cover

more gifts.  Note my heater is running full blast, and I still can't stamp, although I think the ink in the pad is nearly gone.  That's my excuse, anyway.

Now it was time to place everything back on the table, including the newly cut red rosin paper.  Had I created a proper tutorial, I would have worked through it in my head that I needed to decorate and cut the old rosin paper before cutting the new.

It took even longer to place items back on the table, and I didn't have time or bother to straighten my messy catch all that Wendy is photobombing.

Once I placed my ugly mat back on the table, it made the table look bad again.  BTW, while teaching my altered book class several years ago, I laid the mat on my guillotine cutter, then proceeded to cut some paper, as well as accidentally cutting the mat.

This is what you normally see when I create a tutorial.

I normally never show this side of my table, although you often see the many glue options I have sitting nearby.

But now it was time to assemble the packages so I could add the gifts.  Although I never sit to create art, I always sit to sew.  I can't figure out how others can stand and sew anything.  It boggles my mind.

All finished and all designated and labeled, too.  It's obvious, these are going with me to Scott's family in the morning.  Of course, it's a bit hard to tell the packages from the table

so maybe this is a better view.

Thanks for joining me for this faux tutorial that just might give you some last minute ideas if you have one or two final gifts to wrap and there are no more gift bags or wrapping paper in the house.

19 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Your gifts are uniquely wrapped. Sorry it's so cold there in your house. Hve a great Christmas with your friends, hugs, Valerie

Helen said...

Happy Christmas Elizabeth,hope you have a wonderful time

chrissie said...

Great idea with the unique paper Elizabeth.

Have a very happy Christmas whatever you are doing

Love Chrissie xx

Rike said...

It was very amusing to read your post - except the coldness in your room! I now can imagine how much work it was to change the papers for the table.
Happy Holidays!
Rike x

froebelsternchen said...

Amazing wrappings! Keep warm Elizabeth!
oxo Susi

Pen Sunshinepen said...

Hi just love all your posts and thank you for your steps on how to make your projects today and through out the year. Also a big thanks for your support and comments over on my blog this year.

And on that note would like to wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas

Crafty hugs x

CJ Kennedy said...

What a great waste not, want not idea. Enjoy all your festivities. And only 178 days until Summer and warm!

Meggymay said...

Amazing wrapping paper, more thoughtful I think than the bought papers that are for sale.
Have a happy festive Weekend.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

I love red rosin paper. I have a roll that's been around for awhile that I use too. I never thought of turning it into gift wrap. :) Good idea. I sent you a little package which if it doesn't arrive by today, should be there Tuesday. Have a fabulous Christmas. Hugs-Erika

Krisha said...

LOL! Enjoyed your FAUX tutorial this morning.
Clever idea to use you table protection to wrap special gifts. It would have to be a super special gift for me to take the time to clear off my desk to get to the paper......LOL!
I love the cold weather, but DO NOT like being cold, kind of like love looking at the snow,but through a window of a warm house.
Hope you have the most joyful Christmas!!!

sheila 77 said...

This was a fascinating journey through your "faux" tutorial although I didn't quite see what was "faux" about it. Of course as usual I loved all your comments and photos on the way, loved that you had cut your mat (who hasn't done that along with the carpet and the table), love that you think you can't stamp (I'm always amazed by those who make the perfect stamp image every time, how do they do that?) and was interested in this rosin paper, of which I have not heard or knowingly seen.
The wrapped packages at the end look really good, very pretty, and I see you have closed them with stitching, that's an idea!
Thanks for the great tutorial and fun description of the making of it.
Happy Christmas to you, Bleubeard and Squiggles.
love from Sheila

Karla B said...

Merry Christmas my friend!Thanks for being part of my life this year.
_________________°Paz°
________________°União°
_______________°Alegrias°
______________°Esperanças°
_____________°Amor°Sucesso°
____________°Realizações°Luz°
___________°Respeito°harmonia°
__________°Saúde°solidariedade°
_________°Felicidade°-°Humildade°
________°Confraternização-°Pureza°
_______°Amizade° Sabedoria ° Perdão°
______°Igualdade° Liberdade° Boasorte°
_____°Sinceridade-°Estima-°Fraternidade°
____°Equilíbrio- °Dignidade-Benevolência°
___°Fé°Bondade°Paciência°Brandura°Força°
__°Tenacidade°Prosperidade°Reconhecimento°
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
________________♥JESUS♥_________________

Gibby Frogett said...

Fabulous post.
Hope you have a wonderful (and warm) Christmas Elizabeth.
Gill x

Unknown said...

Have a wonderful christmas and a creatively exciting 2017
Hugs Monica

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Elizabeth! What a brilliant idea! Don't get too cold! Hugs, Chrisx

Rita said...

Great recylcing idea!!
Merry Christmas!! :)

~*~Patty S said...

Deary me
my long comment just disappeared
long story short
have a very Merry Christmas celebration E
I have missed you while I was unplugged
Red Rosin paper IS a great ingredient and your pressies look extra special too
oxo

Cindy McMath said...

Wonderful decorative wrapping Elizabeth! I wanted to drop by and wish you a very Merry Christmas. I also loved the story about your friend's key-mo journal. What a wonderful gift. Regarding the number on the packing slip - you are correct, the number that starts with 2 is a phone number as Canada Post requires it for international packages. Hope you have a wonderful day my friend!

Jeanie said...

What a wonderful way to share your art in your wrapping! Beautiful!