Fobbie Gift Wrapping

Banana Bread never looked so good gift wrapped with the Fobbie!

2010-12-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when we start looking through our recipe books to find the perfect banana bread, fruit cake or Christmas cookie recipe. We often show our love and caring for our family and co-workers with bringing them baked goods. My heritage is Czech, so at the holidays we always made big batches of kolochky, which are basically a cookie with various fruit toppings.

In Chicago, where I hail from, it was easy to get a can of fruit filling, not as easy in Colorado. When I find it I stock up.

Now you have these beautiful baked goods, how do you dress them up to give them the same flare that your delicious baking has? I like to go to one of the dollar stores and pick up a nice bread tin, attractive plate, or holiday themed platter. I bake the bread in the tin, but then when cooled take out and wrap it in cellophane. I pick the perfect Fobbie, get some ribbon and voila! A wrapping deserving of it's contents.

I have also popped popcorn and flavored it, or used everyone's favorite—caramel corn. A nice big decorative tin Fobbie wrapped is so festive. Or perhaps flavored or coated nuts in a tin.

I would think that if you do any type of "roll" that wrapping it in some colorful cellophane and finishing it off with the Fobbie would look nice. You could even do a three tiered grouping and hold them all together that way. You may consider using a piece of cardboard on the bottom for extra security.

If you are doing any fundraiser bake sales for the holidays it would be a nice touch, that way if folks are buying it for gifting to someone else, it already has a beautiful presentation.

You could then add some edible embellishments like candy canes, or aromatic ones like cinnamon sticks.

There are so many possibilities, so get creative this year, and gift your baked goods some extra flare!

Go Green with Your Gift Wrapping this Christmas

2010-11-28T16:25:00.000-08:00

Going green with your gift wrapping this Christmas is easier than you think. One of the things that was important to me when I invented the Fobbie was that I wanted it to fit the reduce, reuse and recycle criteria. Even if you don't use a Fobbie in your gift wrapping, a lot of the ways I wrap with it can be used in your wrapping too.

So many of the gifts we give are beautiful just the way there are. They also present a challenge at times by being irregularly shaped, making it hard to fit in a box or get paper around neatly.

I keep all the ribbons used from previous years. If they aren't long enough to go around my gift I can use them as additional accent ribbons.

I enjoy going to garage sales, and especially estate sales. When reading the sales listings I always look for ones that include sewing and craft supplies. I have acquired quite a collection of material, lace and cloth ribbons. One of the pictures shown here is of a stack of towels I wrapped with cotton lace and accented with shiny ribbon.

Living in the mountains in a cabin I tend to be partial to an earthy look. When I had the idea for the Fobbie, it was due to me trying to figure out how to attach the ornaments I was making from my pine beetle killed trees. It was my way of recycling them. I'd cut a slice of log, sand it, and stamp it with a moose or bear.

The scrapbook I wrapped shown here had a "lodge" look, so I thought raffia and pinecones as an accent would be the perfect.

I also enjoy using tulle instead of ribbon. It's easy to work with, comes in several colors and gives a nice, full, fluffy look. In this example I used shiny accent ribbons too.

I have also gone to thrift stores and bought men's ties, and ladies scarves to use. How cute would a tie wrapped gift look and then use an old alligator type tie clip to attach a gift tag in place. These can then be used by the recipient when they come off their gift, or be reused in their gift wrapping.

If you have someone who likes to sew in your life, it's fun to use material instead of paper and then use a soft measuring tape instead of, or in addition to ribbon as I did in this example.

There are so many possibilities to reuse materials you can find around the house, or purposefully search out at sales or stores. If you are wrapping to someone's interests or hobbies, it's easy to use things related to them.

So be creative and resourceful this year and add some new flare to your gift wrapping!

Gift Wrapping a Fishing or Tool box for Christmas is easier than you think!

2010-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

I can't help but look at an item and think how I could creatively wrap it with a Fobbie. I love being able to purchase gifts for friends and family that relate to their interests.

A friend of mine never seems to have any tools when she needs one and is always borrowing something from me. Being a woodworker and antique fanatic I collect all kinds of tools, old and new. I decorate my cabin with what I call "studies." I have several areas on the walls of my cabin that showcase nothing but antique tools such as wrenches, levels, rakes and saws. They are so unique and interesting to look at.

I figured for Christmas I would get my friend a toolbox and fill it with the essential new tools we use most often. I got a screwdriver and wrench set, some shop rags, various sizes of nuts and washers, a claw hammer, and of course duct tape.

To gift wrap it, I used a vintage holiday designed Fobbie and ribbon, but to give it more flair I threaded small nuts on to the ribbon to add interest. I also echoed what was inside by attaching a small wrench, screwdriver and shop rag with decorative holiday wire.

Additionally if you where going to give other tools like a belt sander, a drill or some type of saw that comes in those nice plastic cases, you could easily Fobbie wrap it. Again, you could attach accent items like a flexible measuring tape—I would get one from the sewing department, and use that as an accent on top of the ribbon. I have also taken long strips of duct tape and folded it in half and used it in place of ribbon.

If you used one of our D0-it-Yourself Fobbies, you could color, collage, decorate or leave it white and then attach a retractable measuring tape to the top or perhaps a small box of nails, nuts or drill bits. Anything that will attach on top will work.

Perhaps you have a fishing enthusiast in your life. I think you could easily do the same idea with a fishing tackle box. They are about the same size and have a of variety styles. Filling it with fishing tackle would be fun. Fishing hooks, line, bobbers, reels, spinners, etc. There are so many colorful lures you could use to hang on the outside of the box. Perhaps a colorful stringer could be threaded through as an accent on top of the ribbon. Some wooden carved fish hanging like a "catch" could be fun.

Maybe you have a picture of a "big fish catch." You could put that in a picture frame Fobbie, that way when it came off the package they could keep it and make it into an ornament to hang, or attach a magnet on the back and put it on the fridge.

I can't tell you how many hours I spend walking through various departments in stores and do nothing but think about all the creative ways everything I'm looking at could be turned into creative wrapping. The possibilities are endless!

Fobbie to Debut on QVC's Christmas Shop

2010-10-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

An exclusive Fobbie holiday wrap pack will debut on QVC's Christmas Shop show, Wednesday, October 27th, at 8 a.m. eastern time. If you miss the show check out fobbie.com to view creative ways to wrap with the Fobbie for the holidays.

Use knitted strips in place of ribbons with the Fobbie

2009-12-19T17:13:00.000-08:00

My friend Lori knitted these beautiful strips to wrap a Christmas gift. It just goes to show you there are a lot of great materials you can use to create a lovely package.

Fobbie to appear on the Today Show

2009-11-28T22:18:00.001-08:00

If all goes well the Fobbie will be featured on the Today Show on December 2, 2009, during a Holiday Gadget segment with Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. So tune in!

Gift Bag Wrapping with the Fobbie

2009-11-28T22:11:00.000-08:00

People were always asking me how they could use a Fobbie with a gift bag. As with all Fobbie wrapping it's easy! Just pack your bag with your gift, add your tissue paper then then "seal" it with a Fobbie on top. Thread your ribbons like you would around a box, but thread them through the handles. Here is an example.

Creative Holiday Wrapping with the Fobbie

2009-11-01T15:55:00.001-08:00

Halloween is over and it's time to start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. Many of us are invited to attend gift exchanges, or parties and want to bring a small gift. Here is one solution. Pick up some nice festive kitchen towels. They look good just as they are and wrapped with a Fobbie gives them some extra flare.

Fobbie is featured in Cloth, Paper, Scissors e-newletter

2009-05-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed by Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine for their e-newsletter. This magazine is full of inspiring projects and techniques in a variety of mediums. Not only is it eye candy, it also gets those creative juices flowing. Visit their website and check it out.

DIY Fobbie for Knitter's Gift

2009-02-27T13:06:00.000-08:00

This Fobbie® was created for a knitter. I took a DIY Fobbie® and then some of the wrapping paper I used on the package. I decided where the fobbie would go on the package and made the paper match up with the pattern on the Fobbie®. I used some spray mount to attach it and then trimmed off the excess and slot holes. I got some pretty purple circular knitting needles, to be an extra gift. I punched a couple of holes in the Fobbie® so I could thread some of the same accent ribbon I used on the package, to attach the needles with a bow. DIY Fobbies® are great for customizing and adding an extra gift.

Fobbie's Coming to a Michael's Craft Store Near You

2008-12-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Good news! Starting next March you'll be able to purchase Happy Birthday Fobbies at 1010 Michael's Craft Stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. I'll keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Snowman Fobbies

2008-12-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

These snowman Fobbies were sent to us from Patti Skoviak of Fort Collins, Colorado. She used some snowman stickers to decorate a do-it-yourself Fobbie. Thanks Patti!

Holiday Fobbie Idea

2008-12-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

I saw these holiday stickers and thought they would make great decor for a Fobbie. I used Adirondack alcohol inks to create the marbled effect. On one I used a sponge and some metallic stamp pad ink to give it some sparkle, and then put the sticker on. I think they will make for some elegant wrapping.

Send Us Your Fobbie Joke

2008-06-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

While I was attending the National Stationary Show my friends back home decided to entertain me through text messaging.
They had me in stitches coming up with Fobbie jokes. Other friends said I should post them, and encourage others to submit their own. Here's what they came up with: What did one Fobbie say to the other Fobbie at the bar? Let's tie one on! What's the Fobbie's favorite movie? A ribbon runs through it!

So the challenge is on! Send us your Fobbie joke.

Ways to Use the Fobbie® as Wedding Decor

2008-06-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

When I was at the National Stationary Show a great website called GetMarried.com came to visit. Get Married is on Lifetime television, Monday through Friday. We discussed ways you could use the Fobbie® to decorate your wedding. I had so many ideas that I had to create a bunch of alternative uses. I came up with using them as napkin wraps, table numbers, chair and favor wraps, centerpieces and of course gift wrapping. Check out the Fobbie® inspiration page for more pictures.

Fobbie Wins Best New Product Award

2008-05-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

When I decided to have a booth at the National Stationary Show, I had no idea what an amazing time I would have. I entered the Fobbie® into the Best New Product competition in the Party category and won! We were located way in the back of the show and I worried we wouldn't get much traffic. Visitors seeing us in the Winner's Circle helped get people to the booth to see the Fobbie® in action. I met so many great shop owners, press people, exhibitors and supply folks. Everyone was enthusiastic and helpful, which made our time there great fun. So if anyone who came by the booth reads this, thank you for your support and good wishes!

My happiest moment of the day. . .

2007-10-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

If any of you have read, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, you know what a great and inspirational writer she is. I recently watched her on the Oprah show. One of things she had to say that touched and inspired me, was about keeping a journal of your "happiest moment of the day". Every day at the end of the day you write down what your happiest moment was, and it can be the simplest thing.

Today for me, was being able to contribute to an entrepreneur on www.kiva.org. The site helps entrepreneurs in developing countries secure micro-loans. Anyone can contribute. It was the first contribution from the "fobbie fund". Even though it was small, I look forward to being able to contribute on a regular basis.

The entrepreneur we're helping is Soliev Solijon from Khujand, Tajikistan.

Beautiful Beaded Pin on a Fobbie

2007-10-07T16:52:00.001-07:00

My friend Amy Clarke Moore is an incredible bead artist. She has the most amazing process of taking a picture and using it as a pattern and beading it. It's a spiral beading process and looks so much like picture it's hard to believe she can really do it. She sent me this picture of a heart pin she did as a gift for a friend. You can check out her website at: www.amyclarkemoore.com or visit her blog at: sixswansflying.blogspot.com to look at more of her great artwork.

The Fobbie in PieceWork Magazine

2007-10-07T16:35:00.002-07:00

I had the good fortune to have the fobbie be included in the November/ December 2007 issue of PieceWork magazine, and they were nice enough to let me use the image they took.

In their "Findings" department, Mary Polityka Bush used picture frame fobbies with an embroidered handkerchief, a sachet, a doily and some crocheted lace she found in antique stores. I think they came out really nice. I guess I'll be scouring the antique stores a little more closely now to find my own "found" objects to use. For more information about PieceWork magazine, you can visit their website at: www.pieceworkmagazine.com

DIY Fobbie Using Fiber and Rubberstamp

2007-09-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

My friend Barbara just gave me some beautiful do-it-yourself fobbies she did using Angelina fibers and some rubberstamps. These are her comments:

Working with Angelina Fibers and Fobbies is so easy and fast. Over the Labor Day weekend I had a whole day to myself and set up to enjoy the day and create my first Fobbies. I sponged stamped the Fobbies typically mixing a few colors to match the fibers I was going to use. First you take a rubber stamp and stamp in on a Brilliance ink pad (this is the ink recommended by the Angelina Fiber folks). Then you put the stamp with the ink side up. Take your Angelina Fiber and tear it gently a few times. At this point I was mixing colors and so you tear them together and get them to mix in with each other. Place that on the rubber stamp and then place cooking parchment paper over the fiber and stamp. Move a hot iron over it until you can kind of see the pattern through the parchment paper. It's very fast! Take of the paper and you will find the fibers have fused and the ink is dried. I then used my double sided tape to place the design on the Fobbie. The sky is the limit on design and it's so fast and easy. I made about 15 Fobbies while playing. I kept thinking of different combinations of color and designs. Now I have a bunch of Fobbies ready for any package I need. They tuck away nicely and don't get smashed like bows do. What I really love is that they can just keep being reused to whomever they are given to. Isn't recycling a beautiful thing? I also made some that went nicely with the frame Fobbies. I sponged stamped them as well to add some more color variation. Now I want to try out some holiday themed Fobbies that can wrap a package but then be turned into an ornament as well. I'd love to see what other folks come up with. Anyone else use Angelina Fibers? Liz, thanks for making such an addicting and fun item. I have gotten so many compliments on the Fobbies I have made.
Cheers everyone! Barbara Jean

Rubberstamp and Scrapbook Show

2007-09-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

The rubberstamp and scrapbook shows in Loveland and Colorado Springs, Colorado were great fun! It was the first time the fobbie appeared in this venue. I loved watching everyone's wheels turning as they looked at all the examples of fobbie wrapped packages. I appreciated everyone's excitment and enthusiasm about the product. I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you and your experiences with wrapping with the fobbie as well as all the creative ways you'll decorate the do-it-yourself version.