MAKING PRESENTS AT HOME

Press, 3 May 1977, Page 14

MAKING PRESENTS AT HOME

Mothers, grandparents and friends are often short of useful boxes and other sorts of containers for holding odds and ends. Make some pretty ones and give them as presents. A STRING TIN This is a handy way of keeping string and prevents nasty tangles. You need:— A golden syrup tin with its lid or a tin similar in size; a ball of string; glue; cut-out pictures or paper and paints. Ask someone to punch a hole in the lid. Next, place your ball of string inside and thread an end of the string through the hole. Replace the lid. Decorate the tin. You could, for example, paint a design on some paper and glue it on or you could glue cut-out pictures on to the tin. A SHOPPING BAG You need an ordinary brown paper carrier-bag; old magazines; glue. Cut out colourful pictures from the magazines. Arrange them in an attractive way on the bag and then paste them on to it. You could choose pictures on a special subject or use colours that lock interesting together. A USEFUL BOX You need: An empty matchbox; felt or paint; strong glue; decorations such as tiny shells, bits of coloured paper or material: little seeds or leaves. Paint the box in one colour and leave to dry, or use felt and glue it on the top. Glue on decorations. A BUNCH OF FLOWERS Some people’s favourite present is a bunch of flowers. Mothers and grandmothers like receiving these, particularly if you yourself have picked and arranged them. Small wild flowers, leaves, and grasses are pretty. Look for them in a tangly part of the garden or on the side of the road. Keep them in water until you are ready to wrap them in paper. If you have silver paper, wrap it neatly around the stems, or use

greaseproof paper and then wrap coloured paper round the outside. (White paper which you have painted or decorated looks attractive). Fold the silver or coloured paner twice round

the flower stems to form a pocket-and then roll the paper tightly round again and tie it with thread. The bunch of flowers can then be fastened with a pin to your mother’s or grandmother’s coat.