The Perfect DIY Present for a Star Wars Fan – Advertisement Feature
A few days ago, Hubby declared he did not want a single present for Christmas. Why does he do this? This announcement meant one thing, really: no surprise for you either, Honey! Yuck, yuck, yuck! I love presents! By that, I am not saying I expect to be showered with expensive gifts, leather handbags, designer shoes or diamond necklaces.
You know those little presents, those attentions that show you have been listening after all? A favourite chocolate bar, a framed drawing by the children or that small notebook you spotted a few months ago: they are the presents that matter.
I know, I know, he said: “I don’t want any presents this year.” What he really meant was: “You’d better not spend a penny, lady!” With that in mind, I decided to make him a present with what I had at home. I had just been sent a couple of packs of collectible Royal Mail Star Wars stamps. Ideal, I would turn the presentation packs into Star Wars memorabilia for Hubby.
The Man is a bit of a Star Wars fan, I am pretty sure I mentioned it before. Whenever I ask my little ones to choose a present for their Daddy, they invariably opt for something to do with Star Wars.
Have I mentioned that one before? Whenever we go to a wedding, my other half starts humming (very quietly) the Imperial March as the bride walks up the aisle. The children are as keen as their dad when it comes to Sci-Fi. Crevette even had a Star Wars birthday party last year.
Although I am not remotely interested in all things Jedi or spacecrafts (understatement of the century!), I got rather enthusiastic and bought newborn Wriggly a knitted Yoda hat for the occasion.
Sorry, I digress. I love quick crafts that can be turned into a present for loved ones. They are pretty special and if they can be put together in no time with few materials, it is always a bonus in my books!
With a colour scheme and a Star Wars theme in mind, I started gathering a few things I had at home to showcase the special edition stamps. I found frames we no longer needed, card, ribbon, and all it took to complete our project was a quick trip to town for a couple of small cans of spray paint.
Spray painting is by far the quickest way to get a frame in the exact colour you want, but if you are a novice like me: beware! The first time I spray painted frames, I thought I would be clever and do it outside. What a mistake! It was windy and lots of fluff, leaves and insects kept getting into the paint. I then moved indoors but although I had carefully protected (or so I thought) the area in which I was working, my washing machine still has tiny specks of paint on… two years on!
What you need:
Royal Mail Star Wars Presentation Pack which includes the Star Wars Miniature Sheet.
A couple of frames (30x21cm, 25x20cm)
Sandpaper
Old cardboard boxes, newspaper or paper you were going to recycle
Dark blue card (night sky colour)
Gold card and ribbon
Scissors
Double sided tape
Gold and dark blue tissue paper
Optional: a few extra frames and Star Wars themed photos or prints
What to Do:
Sand the frames quickly (a couple of minutes per frame). This stage is important as it will enable the paint to adhere better and last longer. Wipe clean to remove all dust particles. Place each frame in a cardboard box lined with old newspapers.
Trick: Place toothpicks or kebab picks under the frames to make spray painting easier and avoid the frames getting stuck to the paper.
Spray paint the frames in a well-ventilated room. Spray the paint evenly, taking care to reach the sides of the frames. Leave to dry overnight and spray again, making sure the finish is even.
In the meantime, you can work on embellishing the stamp presentation packs and cutting photos. Dark blue and gold is a perfect combination for the stamp sets. I always find that whatever you are trying to display looks a lot more striking when backing (approximately 0.5cm on all sides) on a lighter colour (gold in this case). A little gold ribbon adds some more texture and allows you to compose your display the way you want without distracting the eye away from the stamp set.
For the Star Wars Miniature Sheet Stamp Set, I only wanted to display the stamps, so I used ‘Star Wars‘ from the background to add to my set of photos, for consistency and to make sure the four frames really looked like a set.
Here you go: the perfect handmade gift for Star Wars fans and collectors! What do you think?
Which item from the The Star Wars™ Stamp Collection do you like most?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions and photos are my own.
This is genius! We are completely Star Wars mad in our house and as part of his Christmas present we giving our son a Star Wars themed bedroom. I love the portrait of Darth Vader in the frame and may just have to do one for the bedroom! Xxx
Thanks Catherine! I’m sure your little man will love having a Star Wars themed bedroom. That’s such a great Christmas present!
Wow! You clever lady. I am Star Wars mad and I would be very happy if I received something like this. I bet he will love it. Love those yoda ears too! xx
Thanks honey! I do love the Yoda ears. I was so pleased with myself when I found them!
Ok, that is very creative and I know a couple of people who would love that. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Karen!
Star Wars stamps! How awesome! I really love this idea. I am struggling with gifts for my other half and he is a Star Wars fan too so I might steal this idea x
If you decide to do it, I’d love it if you could tag me on Instagram!
My hubby is a big Star Wars fan too, he’s definitely looking forward to seeing the new film! We’re still in the what order to show the boys the films dilemma – 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 4,5,6,1,2,3 what do you think?
P.S. That Yoda hat is adorable!
I have no idea! They all love Star Wars, but I don’t get it. I think watching them in chronological order would help. That’s probably why I don’t get it, really. Who’s whose mother and who had twins with who? I think Hubby must explain it all again, or maybe show me the films in the order the story unfolds. Do I even make sense?
What a great idea – I am sure he will love your gifts. I do hope he gets you something! LOVE the yoda hat – how cute. Kaz x
I’m sure he will! He’s not allowed to look at this post, but hopefully a friend or two will hint that he’s better get my favourite chocolates, he he!
Brilliant, I love this! Absolute genius. I hope he likes it after all the effort you’ve gone through! My other half is the same when it comes to Christmas and birthday, I always ask what he’d like but it always says nothing, I don’t need anything. Nightmare!!!!
Laura x
It’s annoying, isn’t it? I tend to tell him what I want but he ignores it…
This is a great idea, it makes it so much more personal too! I’m sure he will get you something, he’s probably trying to make you think you’re not getting anything so you’ll be extra surprised christmas day! I love the Yoda hat, so cute! xx
Ha ha, as if!
Oh what a fab idea I have 4 brothers, hubby and son who are all Star Wars mad so this is fab inspiration!
Thanks lovely!
So clever, I love your creativity! I do think that gifts made by hand are so much nicer than bought presents. And omg, the yoda hat! It has to be the cutest thing ever 🙂
I know, that Yoda hat is one of my favourite hats of all times!
This is brilliant! He’ll love it, I really hope he gets you something now too though! x
We’ll see, we’ll see!
Fab!! We’ve bought two sets of these stamps for the twins and have had them framed!! Shame — they’re only 2 at the moment but am thinking for the future!! 😉 We are HUGE Star Wars nuts in our house — we’ve got our tickets for the showing of the new film on December 17th!!! I cannot WAIT!! 🙂 xx
Great minds think alike!
This is brilliant. I have a brother-in-law that is a big star wars fan, he’d love it!
🙂
Omg that little Yoda hat is the utest thing I have ever seen. ANY Star Wars fan would really appreciate that!!
I know, it’s cute, isn’t it? I lost it on the day I took the photo though…
That’s amazing! I much prefer gifts with effort and thought as opposed to something the TV has brainwashed them into thinking I want! x
Exactly!
It looks even better than I thought when you explained it to me!!you a craft genius!!!
… and you are way too kind. Love you!
My little girl loves light sabres because of a tv advert that has been on recently, those little figures are so cute! x
They are, aren’t they? I’m thinking of getting a few extra Star Wars things for my little man.
Ahhh these are so amazing and completely brilliant, well done!
We would love these in our house 🙂
I love that your husband hums the Imperial March at weddings, classic!
X X
I know, it gives weddings a whole new dimension!
fab gift idea! my husband and son are obsessed with Star wars and already have tickets for next week!