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.
See also: ‘Make Valentines using recycled magazines’ »
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 for my good friend’s bridal shower.
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.
Supplies for making vintage kissing couple gift wrap:
- 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
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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!
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Be sure to pin this project for later:
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Be sure to see more free printables and easy Valentine’s Day DIYs.
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Copyright stuff: You’re more than welcome to use this free project and tutorial for personal use. Contact me for commercial use and etsy sales.
Sonia says
January 17, 2010 at 7:43 pmThis is so adorable! I love it– thanks for sharing.
Rachel says
January 20, 2010 at 9:10 amAWW! You are so thoughtful- I love this! Thanks tons for sharing with us.
Tammy @she wears flowers says
January 21, 2010 at 12:16 pmThis 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!
[email protected]
Kelley says
January 21, 2010 at 2:08 pmWhat an adorable idea in time for Valentine’s Day, too! Precious!
Charissa says
January 28, 2010 at 3:56 pmCute 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.
Thanks for sharing!
shery says
February 2, 2010 at 2:12 pmlove the box and the colors
Jaki says
February 5, 2010 at 5:11 amWhat 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.
Jaki says
February 5, 2010 at 5:14 amThis 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.
Kathy Beymer says
February 5, 2010 at 8:19 pmHi 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 🙂
Jaki says
February 10, 2010 at 10:09 pmHi Kathy, I just tried the link again and it still takes me to the first post 🙁
Sharon says
February 12, 2010 at 1:13 pmThis 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! 🙂
davetiye says
March 20, 2010 at 3:48 pmthank you wery much
jessica says
June 25, 2010 at 3:01 pmhi, 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.
Kathy Beymer says
June 25, 2010 at 7:06 pmHi Jessica, try it now …the link was broken. Would love to hear if it works for you and what you make with it!
Dina says
February 9, 2011 at 4:29 pmThis gift packaging is so darling!
Charis says
May 8, 2011 at 6:29 pmCan’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
Kathy Beymer says
May 9, 2011 at 3:57 pmHey 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.
Zeko says
October 4, 2011 at 6:10 amHi 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!
srey savann says
November 9, 2011 at 1:05 pmI ADORE THIS. Thanks for sharing and keep the inspiration coming
Kathy Beymer says
November 9, 2011 at 1:11 pmThanks! This design really makes me smile.
lizbeth says
November 21, 2011 at 8:06 pmthis is sooo, cute, thx!
ej says
January 29, 2012 at 6:55 pmI love this! The links are not working for me either?
davetiye says
February 29, 2012 at 3:29 pmvery nice invitation. thank you very much.
davetiye says
February 13, 2013 at 4:15 pmvery nice invitation. thank you.
davetiye says
February 13, 2013 at 4:17 pmgood job. thanks
davetiye says
March 19, 2013 at 3:26 pmnice and great
Benjamin says
September 2, 2014 at 3:50 pmCute AND totally practical… a great gift wrapping tutorial!
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