The answer came to me in a flash: embroidery!
Taking yet another antitquated handicraft and turning it on it's head in my own unique way.
Just in time for the swine flu brew-ha-ha, my pandemic-chic tissue box cozie! (Also, experimenting with taking pictures on my porch)

And, a close up on the embroidery:

To be honest, this embroidery began after a viewing of "28 Days Later", but it's as topical as I've ever been, so I'm running with it.