Vintage-inspired Kissing Couple Box Wrapping
DIY Gift Ideas, Free Printable, Paper Crafts, Under $10, Under 1 Hour, Valentine's Day, Vintage Inspired, Weddings
Years ago I bought a vintage kissing couple pendant at a Manhattan summertime flea market. I wore the sweet thing ad nauseum, which you can see here in this summer cider and berry smoothie post that includes this photo of me fawning over Stephanie and Dale at the Green City Market. But then the clasp on my kissing couple pendant broke …and I was heartbroken. Since then I’ve kept my broken pendant in a ceramic bowl on my dresser. Then it occurred to me to give it a new life by scanning and enlarging it to make this romantic gift wrapping package decoration.
My friend Amy and I met in the second grade on the DeVaney school playground. She was the new kid and I asked if she wanted to jump rope. We’ve been friends ever since. Last weekend I was giddy to stand up as a bridesmaid in Amy’s Greenwich Village wedding to Jeff Hock. I needed to gift wrap a USB drive filled with music that I bought them to enjoy on their honeymoon flight to South Africa. And I needed to take the wrapped box through airport scanners.
WANNA MAKE IT? Get the full supplies list and step-by-step tutorial for the kissing couple >>>
Supplies:
- Kathy’s free kissing couple template with inside lid message (PDF) – includes message that fits the lid of a 3.5″ x 3.5″ size (TIP: Download a trial version of Adobe Illustrator or rent computer time at FedEx Office to customize the inside box message for your recipient). If you have a larger box use this template that contains three different sizes of the kissing couple (PDF).
- Eggshell blue wrapping paper
- Empty recycled jewelry box – mine was an old 3.5″ x 3.5″ Banana Republic box
- 1 sheet white card stock
- USB 20 Flash Drive
- Digital music or Amazon.com MP3 downloads
(keepin’ it legal)
- Xacto knife, Self-healing mat and Metal ruler OR Good paper scissors
- Foam mounting squares (I used gray because I had it in the house but recommend white
- Scotch tape
- Paper-friendly glue
- Tissue paper
- Computer and printer
—
Do you like it?
Be a peach and Tweet about it, Pin it, share it on Facebook and/or comment below. And I love seeing your own finished project photos so do share!
—
How to make kissing couple gift wrapping paper:
Make your mix on a USB (burning a CD-ROM is so 2000)
Purchase MP3s and move to your recipient’s USB drive. I included a couple old romantic favorites: “This Old Love” by Lior and “Reminiscing” by The Little River Band.”
Wrap your box TV-style Ever notice how on TV gift boxes are never wrapped closed? Well, that’s kind of what I needed to take on the flight just in case TSA needed to search my carry-on baggage. And as a side-bonus it keeps the presentation intact after unwrapping. Wrap the lid and the base of your box separately, ensuring that the blue wrapping paper fully covers the inside sides.
Download and print my free template of the inside box message. I have included a blank version on the template that you can use as is, or if you’d like to customize it, just download a free trial version of Adobe Illustrator or rent time at your local FedEx Office.
Affix your heartfelt message on the inside lid of the box using rubber cement.
Add the kissing couple
Print my free kissing couple template on white card stock and carefully cut out the shape using an Xacto knife and self-healing mat.
Cut foam mounting squares into smaller squares. I used gray removable squares that I already had but I recommend buying white for this project.
Peel off the backing and stick on the back of the kissing couple and heart.
Affix to the box for a slight 3D effect. Put the USB drive in the box and close. Forever kisses, forever bliss to Amy and Jeff!
Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign. Craft and pass it on!
COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.
March 19th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
nice and great
February 13th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
good job. thanks
February 13th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
very nice invitation. thank you.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
very nice invitation. thank you very much.
January 29th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
I love this! The links are not working for me either?
November 21st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
this is sooo, cute, thx!
November 9th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Thanks! This design really makes me smile.
November 9th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
I ADORE THIS. Thanks for sharing and keep the inspiration coming
October 4th, 2011 at 6:10 am
Hi Kathy! I love this package! It’s really creative and simple. I also want to let you know that I’ve included your idea in an article about interesting gift wrapping ideas – http://izeko.hubpages.com/hub/Gift-Wrapping-Ideas
Thanks for sharing!
May 9th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Hey Charis! That’s great! Glad to hear that it will help with your favor boxes. Would love to see your pics up on our Merriment “I made it!” flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/merrimentdesign/
You could also use it on your Save The Date cards – I hire out for custom design work if you are unable or don’t feel like designing that yourself.
May 8th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Can’t believe i found this. The kissing couple is my wedding theme. My sister bought me the necklace for my christma/engagement gift and i’ve fallen in love with it. ive even gone as far as getting my fiance and my name engraved on it with the date of our engagement. I decided only today that i wanted this as my thieme and so glad t have come across this site. I will be definately be using this in my wedding next year as favour boxes.
Thank you for this.
Charis xxx
February 9th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
This gift packaging is so darling!
June 25th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Hi Jessica, try it now …the link was broken. Would love to hear if it works for you and what you make with it!
June 25th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
hi, Im having the same problem as the other women was. I click on the link for the 3 bigger sizes and it directs me to a totally different page. on my tab at the top of the screen it says page not found and directs me to a page about how to make refrigerator magnets from bottle caps. I would really love to be able to use the larger ones, this template is very cute. Please help!
Thank You.
March 20th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
thank you wery much
February 12th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
This is an adorable idea! I might have to put it to use in some wedding projects. Except I’ll have to get a new drawing for the girl — one of our quirks is that my fiance is 15 inches taller than me! :)
February 10th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Hi Kathy, I just tried the link again and it still takes me to the first post :(
February 5th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Hi Jaki, would you try it now? I think I fixed the link. Glad that you’ll be using on the anniversary cards! Cute way to make the project your own :)
February 5th, 2010 at 5:14 am
This is a gorgeous gift and I love the packaging!
I would love to use the kissing couple on some anniversary cards…when I click on the link for the three different size kissing couple though it takes me to the first post for the felt heart bracelet.
February 5th, 2010 at 5:11 am
What a gorgeous present!!
I’d love to use the kissing couple on some anniversary cards…when I click on the second link for the 3 different sized kissing couples it take me to the first post on your blog though.
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
love the box and the colors
January 28th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Cute AND totally practical…another great gift wrapping tutorial!
The fact that the USB drive matches the box is too much. : ) Didn’t realize they sold such cute ones!
I recently wrapped a present for our friends w/ a USB drive on top. It worked with the color scheme, but it was just a freebie from my husband’s school…http://www.thegiftedblog.com.
Thanks for sharing!
January 21st, 2010 at 2:08 pm
What an adorable idea in time for Valentine’s Day, too! Precious!
January 21st, 2010 at 12:16 pm
This is so C – U – T – E!
I have just the box for you if you would like to make your own…(http://shewearsflowers.blogspot.com/2010/01/this-red-box-is-green.html) AND, may I use your silhouette on my blog/link to you for a Valentine’s craft?
Thanks!
shewearsflowers@gmail.com
January 20th, 2010 at 9:10 am
AWW! You are so thoughtful- I love this! Thanks tons for sharing with us.
January 17th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
This is so adorable! I love it– thanks for sharing.