My very first lifehack.
I’m going to my cousin Jason’s third birthday party tonight. I decided that as a newly appointed librarian-in-training, I should get him a book. I’m actually giving him my copy of Harold and the Big Purple Crayon. Plus I think this kid will get enough toys as it is.
I brought it with me to work, but realized (I think I’m rusty at giving gifts) that I should wrap it. He may very well enjoy unwrapping the gift than the gift itself. The Corporate Shill suggested using the comics page from Sunday’s Trib, but someone had already ganked the Public Affairs copy. (Archives, people!)
Then, I was struck by inspiration. Where else can you find paper products that are easily modified in an office setting? Yes, the easy answer would be to print out a image of something using the color printer, but I feel that my solution is much more personal, and much more “hands on”. (No pun achieved.)
I made two copies, using two sizes of paper - 8.5″x14″ and 8.5″x11″.
I taped them together long-ways, and wrapped the book thusly.
Update action: Cheers to Lifehacker, who picked up this little piece of craft happiness and posted it on their website.
March 30th, 2005 at 7:44 am
Oh man, I can’t believe you gave people my first name. The jig is up! (Is that the correct spelling? I’ve never actually said that before, much less written it.)
And don’t forget the related Best Idea Ever which was to photocopy your hand(s) signing three since it was his third birthday. But the hand on the left in the image looks like you meant three…
March 30th, 2005 at 8:26 am
Harold and the Purple Crayon = my favorite children’s book. For my AP English class in high school we had to do final projects on children’s books and that’s the one I chose. I read it aloud to the class, and then bought a bunch of boxes of crayons, stole all the purples, and passed them out to everyone so that they could draw while I read the book. Good times.
March 30th, 2005 at 10:47 am
I fixed the name thing.
March 30th, 2005 at 11:21 am
If you haven’t before, try taking various pictures from magazines that appeal to you in some way then moving them around on the copier glass surface while it is scanning the page. It’s a fun hands-on way to make interesting/crazy copier “art”. I used to do with this with BMX/freestyle magazines a long long long time ago and use the results as school folder covers
March 30th, 2005 at 12:47 pm
I’ve done something like this before by doing screen caps with iTunes visualizer on full screen then printing them out. Everyone always asks where I found such cool wrapping paper.
March 30th, 2005 at 2:35 pm
wait, you put your hands On the copier? :o)
March 30th, 2005 at 2:40 pm
Fair enough - I put my hands IN the copier. I’m not sure of the correct nomenclature for copier art.
I did hit the copy button with my right hand, and then slide it under the lid real quick. Maybe next time I should use my elbow, nose, foot, or a small stick gripped in my teeth.
March 30th, 2005 at 2:50 pm
That’s nice, but did you check the antifreeze level in your car.
March 30th, 2005 at 2:53 pm
Daaaaad.
March 31st, 2005 at 1:27 pm
it is worth noting that, as i discovered a few years ago, a single sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper is just about the perfect size fro wrapping a standard CD jewelcase.
April 11th, 2005 at 3:40 am
Thanks!!
what a creative idea! i wrapped a gift for my girlfriend using your idea!! it looks so cool. awesome idea.