Sewing For The Holidays - Show & Tell, Packaging, & A Giveaway!

Hi Everyone! This week we wrap up the topic (literally!) with a look at packaging and presenting the gift or product in special and unique ways. We began this month with setting a goal, then gathering ideas to personalize the project, and last week finding tiny treasures to accessorize and complete the look, Now we get to bring it all together and think through how to present it to the recipient, or even to a customer if you plan to sell the items too! 

Before we get started - let's do this week's giveaway!

But first... The winner of last week's giveaway (the Tiny Treasures) is Sue Z. Congrats!! You have been contacted by email and your prize will be on its way shortly! Thank you to everyone who entered! The feedback you've provided is amazing and super helpful as we plan for 2020!

This week the giveaway if for a $50 gift card from one of my most favorite places to shop for paper, trinkets, office supplies, and more - Paper Source! I have the store available to me locally, but they also have an online site, so you can shop from them from anywhere. Maybe you've wondered where I've found the background papers that we use for our Instagram flat lay outfit pics - it's Paper Source. They have a full wall if single sheet papers, heavy weight, in darling prints, solids, seasonal and more. They also have trinkets like the "Worlds Smallest" items, tiny books, party hats, and so much more!

How To Enter:

I love to gather up all my gifts and have a "wrapping party", which is just me by myself, with a pile of gifts, a frothy latte, and the holiday music playing in the background to set the mood! How about you? Comment below by answering this question - "What is your favorite Holiday song or album?"

The giveaway will close on Saturday, November 30th. I'll announce the winner on Monday, December 2nd in this post! The winner will be chosen at random from the comments posted under this blog post. One entry per person.

Good luck!

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Ok, now let's talk about packaging, adding labels, branding, and presentation!

You've worked hard to make your items, now let's talk about the finishing touches! Packaging and branding are so important as you think through how to pass along your hand made items. Whether you sell them or plan to give them as gifts, you should plan to "Wow!" the recipient with beautiful packaging! Including things like a handwritten notecard, logo stickers, boxes or bags; logo tags sewn into your items, and a few added ribbons or hanging tags are all great ideas. Remember that you only get one chance to make an unforgettable first impression and if you do it well, they will be coming back for more (and possibly tell their friends!)

Resources For Packaging Supplies:

• Paper Source and Papyrus - online and/or retail, great for gift wrap and tiny treasures!
• Uline - packaging and shipping supplies (in bulk)
• Papermart - packaging supplies, boxes, tissue, fun stuff!
• Sticker Giant (great for rolls of custom stickers)
• Custom Couture label Co (Etsy Shop)
• Iron-On Transfer paper
• Twill Tape Rolls
• Tag Punch
• Letter Punch
• GWD Shoe Pattern with Shoe Box Printable Template
• The tiny white bags are wedding favor packaging. I found them at Micheals in the Wedding section and added the LJ logo stickers.
• Marshall's, Home Goods, Ross, or Tuesday Morning are great places to find pretty boxes for just a few dollars! Sometimes you can find things like wooden trunks or wagons that double as doll-size props!
• Check the SWC Bonus section for a printable set of Liberty Jane shopping bags. If you're computer savvy, feel free to use them as template shapes to make your own. Or cut one out and use it as a template to cut the heavy-weight wrapping paper to make tiny bags in different colors or prints.

Tutorials for making your own sew-in labels:

• Patchwork Pottery Blog - Iron on transfer on twill tape
• Stamped Twill Tape by Crafty Blossom Blog
• Fabric Printed Labels by See Kate Sew Blog
• Silk Screen Labels by Lilblueboo Blog
• Personalized Label Ink Stamp 

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Packaging images are sourced from Pinterest. The shoe box images are from the Genniwren Braided Sandals Pattern (comes with a shoebox template).

Shop The Liberty Jane Pattern Collection Today!

Week Four Task:

• Do you have your gifts made and ready to go? Share them with the group and show us pictures of your accessories paired with your projects! 
• Jump over the SWC Facebook Group here.