Surprise your “Mr. or Mrs. Special” with a simple yet beautifully wrapped present. The décor is natural, simplistic and understatedly elegant. Enjoy!

you’ll need:
dried hydrangeas (see note below on drying instructions/tips)
thin white ribbon (I got mine at Michaels)
simple wrapping paper (You can always find some at Cost Plus, Michaels, or even Costco)

directions: Simply wrap your present nicely, wrap your ribbon around both sides, and tie off on the front with either a nice bow or a knot (I usually prefer). Next slip the dried hydrangea (either one or two, depending on the size) under the bow and there you have completed your simply beautiful package…

drying hydrangea tips: The secret to perfectly dried hydrangeas is very simple. Wait until they are ready before picking them. The timing is much more important than the method one uses to dry them. While it is tempting to cut the hydrangea blossoms for drying at the height of their color, this doesn’t work. Fresh, recently opened blooms, rarely dry well in the open air. Hydrangeas do best when allowed to dry on the plant before picking them. Experiment with harvesting from August through October. One can cut the blooms, strip off the leaves, arrange them in a vase, with or without water, and leave them to dry. It is not necessary to hang hydrangeas up side down to dry unless the stems are very thin and weak.