my petite purse

Tootsie Pop Valentines

2011-02-14T06:39:00.002-05:00

Remember this post?? Well, I finally have a school-aged child and was able to try it out for myself! It was lots of fun and pretty easy. My son loved them too. Click here for the how-to.

What did you hand out for Valentine's Day? I'd love to hear about it.

Fruity Love

2011-02-07T16:26:00.001-05:00

I love all the lovely sugary treats that I am seeing on blogs lately for Valentine's. The trouble is I couldn't possibly make them because then I would eat them. So these little cuties are a great alternative for me. They are the cutest little stickers to put on various fruits (apples, pears, bananas, etc) for the ones you love. So SWEET yet simple. You can click HERE to download these and print them out on sticker paper.

Do you have any other low-fat ways to show your love?? Please share in the comments if you do!

Pillowcase Dress

2010-04-21T10:43:00.000-04:00

I really really really like this cute little dress and the fact that it is made from a pillowcase. If you want to make your own pillowcase dress go here for the details. You could make a little girl verrrry happy with this gift.

Lunch Box Love

2010-04-20T10:22:00.000-04:00

Want to give a little surprise gift? How about a lunch box love note? Click here to get the free printables to make somebody's day. Simple little surprises can mean the most!

Special Day Chair Cover

2010-04-19T22:34:00.003-04:00

Click here to get the instructions for how to make a Special Day chair cover. A simple sewing project that will make someone feel extra special for birthdays, graduations, or achievements.

Wood Salad Plate Makeover!

2010-04-19T09:57:00.000-04:00

I love the idea behind this old garage sale find. This is an old wood salad plate (the back side) turned into art. Tricia created a design by cutting out pieces of contact paper and sticking them to the wood. Then she spray painted the plate. Once it was dry she pulled off the contact paper and hung it on her wall. Keep your eyes peeled for the treasures at garage sales.

And just think of all things you could do with this! Anybody want to share what they decided to do? I'd love to see it!

DIY Light Saber

2010-04-17T09:23:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love the idea of a homemade light saber! Maybe because Star Wars is all my preschool-aged son talks about (and my husband!). I think this is at the top of our list for my son's birthday this year. I am pretty sure I could make all of his dreams come true with this one.

You only need a swim noodle, pvc, pipe, a 1/2 inch pvc end cap, electrical tape, and a saw or knife to cut the noodle and pipe. The complete details for making this can be found here.

Polka Dot Plates

2010-04-16T13:59:00.004-04:00

You have to check out these cute polka dots. This plate was made with circle office label stickers and a clearance plate. You can find the link here.

Zipper Flowers

2010-04-06T11:28:00.000-04:00

I'll never look at zippers the same. Check this out! And this! And here is another. These are really simple and can accent tons of things.

Cupcake Stand

2010-04-05T14:16:00.003-04:00

I hope you had a great Easter! It was so nice to be together as a family. If you haven't seen this cupcake stand already I wanted to share it with you. Three sundae/parfait cups, 1 dessert plate, 1 dinner plate, and 1 serving plate can make a simple and cute cupcake stand! I love this idea. Glue it together or skip the glue to make it easy to store. Watch out for dish sets that are on clearance (especially if it isn't a full set) to get a great deal on some dishes. I think this would be a great wedding/wedding shower gift, don't you? This idea comes from here.

Baby on the Brain...

2010-03-22T21:38:00.004-04:00

Nope I am not pregnant! Just loving lots of little baby things lately. Maybe it's because it's SPRING! I love this little framed fabric hand print display, don't you? Trace those little hands so that you can keep them forever. This would be great to give grandparents too! Especially if they are too far away to enjoy those little hands before they grow up.

Use scraps of fabric and a thrift store frame to make this project easy on the budget.

I am sorry, but this is too irresistible!

2010-03-22T21:22:00.005-04:00

Spring means baby showers galore! Go here to get the scoop on the cutest baby blanket I have ever seen! I love those words! What a simple way to bring a smile to any new mom! These letter were cut out by hand - so even if you aren't the proud owner of a cricut you can do this project.

In A Pinch?

2010-03-16T22:23:00.005-04:00

St. Patrick's Day is almost here! If you are in a 'pinch' (get it?) and need some holiday decor then you are in LUCK! Check out what Heather at Lulu's Tiles has been up to. Thanks to her you can whip out some last minute stuff for St. Patrick's Day!

Lucky Banner made with circles, letter stamps, and ribbon.

This Shamrock Frame is a five minute project using stamps and paper! Heather traced a shamrock shape onto the paper with pencil, stamped the word "lucky" around the line, erased the line, and popped it in a frame. You could do this with so many themes too!

These lucky clothespins make a last minute gift super easy to put together. And all you need are clothespins (I found some at the dollar store - 30 for a $1!), magnets, and stamps to do this project.

Go on over to Lulu's Tiles for the full story. She's got a lot of other great ideas you won't want to miss.

Caterpillar Onesie (no sew!)

2010-03-15T12:37:00.004-04:00

Look at this cute gift idea! If you want to make your own you don't even need to be on good terms with your sewing machine to make this little number! Go on over here to check out how.

Love These Baby Burp Cloths

2010-03-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

I fell in love with these baby burp cloths because they look so classy, but even better than that I could make these! If you can sew straight lines then this is a great homemade gift idea for you to try. Check out the the link for a great tutorial and more pictures.

Spring Wreath

2010-03-04T13:07:00.005-05:00

Here is a clever idea using plastic bottles to make flowers. Isn't this a cute spring wreath? You can get the tutorial over at tatertots and jello. This could be a great gift idea for anyone that needs a little bit of Spring in their life right about now.

T-Shirt Fabric Flowers

2010-02-22T15:13:00.000-05:00

I was inspired by this in making these fabric roses out of an old t-shirt. Check out the link for a great tutorial. They were easy to make even for me - just a little hand-sewing is all you need!

8 Steps to make your own Origami Treat Box

2010-02-17T09:26:00.001-05:00

Remember these yummy little things? And the box that they were wrapped in? With permission from Liz I am posting her fabulous tutorial on making a little paper treat box.

What you will need:

One square piece of paper. This is a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper (recommended).

Step 1: Find the center of the paper and fold all corners into the center. (If you fold the paper in half each direction and make a small crease in the center you will find the center pretty easily, as pictured).

Step 2: Fold two opposite sides into the center.

Step 3: Unfold the folds you make in step 2 and repeat with the two remaining sides.

Step 4: Unfold recent folds and unfold two opposite corners.

(and just to make it easier, refold the sides in)

Step 5: Fold corner (arrow #1) to center (arrow #2). Then repeat with other corner on the same side.

Step 6: Bring flap inside to create box side.

Step 7: Repeat with other side of the box.

Step 8: Fill up with goodies and share!

Cake Balls For Me?

2010-02-16T09:26:00.011-05:00

I am the proud recipient of these delicious cake balls (or was - they are long gone by now). And what a great gift it was. My friend showed up on my porch unexpectedly with these little balls of joy a few days ago and it made my day. She even made the box. Do you like it? It's made with scrapbook paper.

She made three different kinds. There are red velvet cake balls with cream cheese frosting dipped in white chocolate and milk chocolate. And there are devils food cake balls and milk chocolate frosting flavored with 1 Tbsp. orange extract and then dipped in milk chocolate. And I can't tell you which was my favorite because they were all so good.

Sack Lunch

2010-02-15T09:23:00.000-05:00

Inspired by this I decided to make my own version of a felt lunch sack set for a little girl's birthday party last weekend. I made a bologna sandwich with tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce along with a bag of ruffle chips and a chocolate chip cookie. This was my first "on my own" sewing project ever. I borrowed my friend's sewing machine (after she showed me how to thread it and wind the bobbin - sad, but true), crossed my fingers and went to work making templates and putting it all together. And it turned out to being a lot of fun. Felt food is a great way to begin sewing I think. So if you are looking for a fun little sewing project there are tons of tutorials out there for all kinds of food.

Shower Notes

2010-02-12T10:22:00.001-05:00

Crayola Bathtub Markers sound fun for a children's birthday gift. But I would never think to give this to a spouse for Valentine's Day so that you can leave love notes in the shower. Kind of a fun idea don't you think? You can check it out here or order them here. Apparently they are hard to find in stores. But I haven't checked myself.

This would also be a very cute gift for a wedding shower.

XOXO Letters

2010-02-11T10:11:00.002-05:00

My grandma made this cute Valentine set for her mantle. She bought the wood letters (aren't they cute with the hearts in the O's) at the craft store and painted them pink. Then she traced each wood piece onto some scrapbook paper and cut it out slightly inside the traced line (so that the paper didn't totally cover the painted wood. She used mod podge to seal the paper on the wood. Then used embellishments like buttons, flowers, and ribbons to dress up each letter. I love her paper choices and embellishments. So cute.

Don't know how to mod podge? Go here.

Valentine Paint Sample Cards

2010-02-10T10:03:00.001-05:00

photo credit

Have you seen these cards made out of paint swatch samples yet? So you can get those free paint sample cards from Home Depot or Lowes and turn them into beautiful Valentine cards. And these samples would be great for any holiday card. We're talking lots of possibilities here. Check it out here and here.

Free Giveaway

2010-02-09T22:12:00.002-05:00

Do you want to enter a free sewing machine or embroidery machine giveaway? Click here.

And check out this video:

Valentine Pillow Notes

2010-02-09T09:42:00.002-05:00

Cute little Valentine pillows. Made from dish towels (simple sewing so even I could handle this one). With little pockets for "Why I love you" notes to your kids (or anyone special to you) for the 14 days leading up to Valentine's Day. I'll be starting this tradition next year for sure.

So click here for the details and the tutorial. And watch for the after holiday sales for those Valentine dish towels (these were 50 cents each). Aren't they cute?

A "Snappy" Valentine

2010-02-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

You can print this cute little alligator out and put him together in a 'snap'! Then you can fill him with a fun Valentine treat. Just go here for the free download. And to think I grew up handing out boxed valentine cards. What was I thinking? These are so cool.

Love You Banner

2010-02-05T16:07:00.001-05:00

How could you not love this banner? Banners are another one of my new loves these days and I would be so happy to get one as a gift. If you have the storybook cricut cartridge then you are set. The black background shape was made using this cartridge (set at 5.5"). The patterned paper is cut to 4x6 and the letters were made from the same cartridge (set at 4"). Add a little ribbon and stuff here and there to add to each letter. I also like that she used eyelets to thread the ribbon through the top of the paper to prevent it from tearing.

If you love banners too then you should check out more: simple magazine Valentine Garland, a glittery Thankful Banner, Holiday Bunting made with Christmas paper and recycled Christmas cards, Trick or Treat banner using freezer paper, mini Easter bunting...

Don't you think it would be fun to show up on someone's doorstep with a happy little banner for any occasion? I know it would cheer me up!

Send a link of your banner or one that you love. I would love to see it!

Felt Fortune Cookies

2010-02-04T15:43:00.000-05:00

I like this idea for packaging a little treat found here. You can make fortune cookies out of felt and put little treats and notes inside.

Here are the easy peasy instructions (slightly modified from website)...

1. Cut a 4 1/2" diameter circle out of felt

2. Cut a piece of matching ribbon slightly shorter than 4 1/2" and cut a piece of wire slightly shorter than 4 1/2" with wire cutters

3. With a hot glue gun, glue the wire across the diameter of the circle and then glue the ribbon over the top of the wire (as pictured in the second picture above).

note: you can also use matching pipe cleaner in place of the ribbon and wire and glue it down with hot glue

4. Fold the circle in half with the wire/ribbon going along the inside of the fold.

5. Take the two ends of the fold and pull them back towards eachother (but not touching), bending the wire in half, to form a fortune cookie shape

6. Carefully fold up the top flap of the fortune cookie and insert small treats and fortunes.

Variations: For Valentine's Day include a scripture reference about love or a quote about love instead of a fortune. But, this isn't just a Valentine idea. You could make the fortune cookies any color for any holiday or theme. Even a Christmas neighbor gift idea: "We are 'fortunate' to have you as a neighbor!" could be inserted into red and green fortune cookies.

Cream Soda Bottle Valentines

2010-02-03T15:16:00.002-05:00

These empty cream soda bottles created a sweet valentine jack pot. Check it out here if you want the how-to. This was made as a gift for a husband but it could easily work for anybody on your list (minus the lovey tags on the bottles, of course). I love how the cardboard case has been recovered and used as packaging.

Valentine Wreath

2010-02-02T15:01:00.000-05:00

A little piece of holiday decor is always a nice gift. At least I think so. I think it's fun to have something new and exciting to brighten up my house. I found this valentine wreath here with a tutorial. It's made out of cupcake liners along with a little hot glue, a wreath form, and some ribbon. I loved the idea and hope you will too.

For Kids: A Unique and Personal Candy Valentine

2010-02-01T13:01:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for a unique valentine candy and card combo for your children's school classmates look no further! This idea was found here. A picture was taken of her child holding her fist out. A "Happy Valentine's Day" was added to the picture in Photoshop. Then once the picture was printed out (4x6") she cut a slit just above and below the child's fist and inserted the sucker. She added a little glue to the back of the picture where the stick came through to keep it from falling out.

This is a fast and easy Valentine idea, but still so cool! I absolutely love it.

Don't have Photoshop? Download Gimp for free here.

Fabric Flowers

2010-01-29T11:52:00.002-05:00

I am in love with fabric flowers these days. There are so many cute ones that I have seen around the blogging world. And they are good for so many things: pin them on sweaters, headbands, purses, cards, or pillows. Or ALL of the above. I found the one pictured above here (via here) along with a really great tutorial. The great news is that it takes very little fabric and an even smaller amount of sewing skills (only a needle and thread and a simple stitch or two).

Here are some other links you should check out to fall in love like I did. Here is one with lovely polka dots and a tutorial. Here is a cute idea for using fabric flowers on cards that I love. And here is a totally unique version I haven't seen anywhere else with a template included.

If you make one, please send me a picture. I'd love to see how it turned out.

XOXO Valentine Frame

2010-01-28T10:46:00.000-05:00

I made this a few years ago. It was my mother-in-law's idea for a craft group she was doing. She found these little white shadow box frames on sale at a craft store for 99 cents. First, we chose a Valentine themed paper as our background. We removed the back panel of the frame, traced it on the back side of the paper, cut it out, and glued the paper to the front of the back panel. Then I took the "X" and "O" which she also got from the craft store as is and glued pre-painted hearts (from the craft store) on them. I also wrapped some wire around each letter. Then the letters were glued to the paper with heavy duty glue (E6000). I also added a piece of wire and a heart to the outside bottom corner of the frame with some hot glue.

Variations: some of the other crafters painted their frame red, covered their letters with paper, and/or painted their letters.

A simple gift to put together that is great for the person that appreciates a "low calorie" Valentine.

Nursing Bracelet

2010-01-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

I got a nursing bracelet from my sister. It's a bracelet that you wear when you are nursing so that you can keep track of the last time you fed your baby. You just clip the charm in between the numbers that correspond with the time. If you last fed your baby at 1:30 then you would clip the charm next to the middle bead in between the 1 and 2 (as pictured in the second picture above). She made it with memory wire, beads, and a clasp with a charm attached. I kind of like the bracelet in itself, nursing or not. I think the numbered beads are a fun look.

Free Disneyland Tickets?

2010-01-26T13:40:00.000-05:00

Free Disneyland Tickets for Service:

If you like Disneyland and you might be planning a trip in 2010 take a look at this cool service promotion Disneyland is sponsoring. Ages 6 and older can spend a day of local service and earn a free day pass to a Disney theme park. You must preregister so click on the link below. Type in your zip code and find out what you can do. What a great gift idea!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day

52 Week Books

2010-01-25T13:49:00.005-05:00

This gift idea is great for the new year, but any time is a good time to start. These are called 52 week books. Each book has a theme (such as Gratitude, Service, or Friendship) and has a page for each week of the year (52 weeks). Every week each family member shares an experience that happened that week that is related to the theme. Then the family picks one to record in the book (or you can record all if you want). It is a great tradition to begin and creates an easy and fun way to look back on your memories and teach children valuable lessons.

There's even more good news. These books are really easy to make. All you need is a notebook from the dollar store and some scrapbooking paper. Each purchased notebook makes two 52 week books by taking off the binding and cutting the pages in half horizontally. Then decorate the cover however you want. Then, cut the binding in half and re-bind each book. If you want, you can also put a number on each page (1-52). Each year your family can pick a different theme to focus on. This would also be a great journaling idea for an individual, a child, teacher, or a couple too!

Thanks for sharing this great idea Gwen!

Birthday/Anniversary Calendar Magnet Board

2010-01-22T13:49:00.000-05:00

My sister made this cute magnet board to keep track of birthdays and anniversaries. She used vinyl to separate the magnet sheet into months and then printed out a piece of paper for each member of the family with their name and date of birth on it. She also included anniversaries. Then she backed the paper with magnet strip tape. There are a ton of possibilities for how you do the magnets. Check out this, this, and this for more great ideas on magnets.

I love this idea because it is a great way to make room for more birthdays and anniversaries as new additions join the family.

Baby Boy Ties

2010-01-21T13:49:00.002-05:00

My friend, Liz, helped me make these cute little baby boy ties for my sister's little one on the way. I don't really sew unless you count Home Ec. so this was quite an accomplishment for me. If I can do it so can you!

This was a pattern for 6 month to 1 year size ties and they use less than a 1/4 of a yard of fabric. Very affordable, creative, and fun to make and give!

Update 01/23/10: I found the tie pattern online. It can be purchased here.

The Best QUICK Neighbor Gift

2010-01-20T15:03:00.000-05:00

I know that Christmas is over for now, but I couldn't resist sharing this great idea for a neighbor gift found here. You can always use it next year, right? It is a simple and inexpensive way to give to everybody that you WANT to, but sometimes can't because of all the other things that take up your time during the holidays.

Plus, I personally haven't tasted a homemade brownie that was better than a good old boxed brownie mix. You can't beat that fudgey goodness.

Raggedy Ann Doll

2010-01-19T13:48:00.001-05:00

My sister found a great site called ohsewdollin where she got a free pattern for this darling raggedy doll that she made for my daughter. There are tons of cute patterns to choose from that can be purchased as well. My sister estimates that the materials for this doll cost her about $5 (although she had to spend more than that on the materials, but she can make multiple dolls with the leftovers). Don't you just love it?

Keep your eye out for those limited time only free patterns on the website. Or purchase a pattern and put it to good use.

Pretend Make-Up

2010-01-18T13:48:00.001-05:00

Here is a great gift idea even for the littlest of girls. My 18 month-old got this little make-up set from her aunt. But don't worry. That isn't real make-up - it's dried nail polish poured into old, empty make-up cases. And the little nail polish bottle is a fake too. The inside of the bottle is coated in nail polish so that it looks full, but really it is empty. My daughter loves feeling so big with her little purse full of make-up and it's great for moms too because there isn't any messes to clean up!

Save those make-up cases or ask your friends to save theirs. They would be great to have on hand for a great gift.

Heart Shaped Bouquet

2010-01-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

Using two colors of carnations you can make a heart shaped bouquet found here. Click on the link for simple instructions.

Heart Wax Paper

2010-01-11T13:02:00.000-05:00

A simple idea to dress up your baked goods found here. Just cut hearts out of tissue paper. On an ironing board lay down a layer of paper towels, then wax paper, tissue paper hearts, another layer of wax paper, and another layer of paper towels. Set an iron to medium heat and lightly iron over the layers to set the hearts onto the wax paper.

Consider all of the different shapes you could use to dress up your wax paper for baked goods. This could be great for any holiday or occasion.

Plant Gift Bag

2010-01-10T12:55:00.001-05:00

Add this to the countless things you can do with a brown paper lunch sack. I found this cute Valentine gift bag for a potted plant here. I love getting potted flowers because they last a lot longer than cut flowers and this is a great way to dress up a planter. I especially like the bag with the ribbon weaved around it on the right.

Fudge Hearts

2010-01-09T12:43:00.002-05:00

Maybe this looks so good to me because I didn't get enough homemade fudge over the holidays. I found this idea here for some heart-shaped fudgey Valentine treat. I need to get me a candy thermometer and try this out! Let me know how it goes if you decide to do this.

Here is the recipe and instructions:

(Makes about 4 dozen 1-inch hearts)

Ingredients

Canola oil for the pan and cutters

1 1/4 cups milk

3 1/2 cups sugar

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut in small pieces

Pink gel food coloring, (optional)

Directions

Lightly oil a 9-inch-square pan. (A smaller pan will make the fudge thicker and more difficult to cut.) Place milk in a heavy 12-quart saucepan. Stir in sugar; add butter. Over medium heat, stir constantly, until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Increase heat to medium high, bring to a boil, and cover with lid. Let boil for 2 minutes, and uncover. Do not stir; clip a candy thermometer on side of pan, and let mixture boil, over medium-low heat, until it reaches 240 degrees (the soft-ball stage), 15 to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice water bath.

Immediately remove pan from heat, and dip the base of the pan in the ice water for 5 seconds. Let the fudge sit at room temperature without stirring, with the thermometer attached, until the thermometer reads 122 degrees and mixture is lukewarm, about 40 minutes. If using food coloring, add 1 drop. Stir the fudge with a wooden spoon until it changes from glossy to opaque and is thick and creamy, 2 to 5 minutes. Quickly pour into prepared pan. Use piece of plastic wrap to smooth fudge into the pan, creating an even surface. Let cool completely, 2 to 3 hours, and cut with 1/2- to 1 1/2-inch heart cookie cutters. (Oil the cutters with the canola oil inside and out before using.) Fudge will keep, well wrapped in plastic or in an airtight container, up to 1 week.

Treat Cups

2010-01-08T12:23:00.008-05:00

I know it's really early to be thinking about Valentine's Day but sometimes I find really cute ideas a little too late and I always wish I would have started earlier. So here I go. This is one of my favorite packaging ideas because it is simple - found here. These are made with clear plastic cups with a piece of cardstock wrapped around it. And I love the heart cut-out window, don't you? Then you glue a piece of double-sided crepe paper around the top of the cup and fill it with treats or gifts and tie a ribbon around it. Click here to get a free template for the paper that fits around the clear cup.

Fruit Bouquet

2010-01-06T10:40:00.004-05:00

Gwen and her daughter Nikki made this fruit bouquet for Nikki's teacher. They found a flower pot at Michael's and cut a head of iceberg lettuce to fit inside the pot. The greenery they used as filler here is kale. Then they used skewers to stick the fruit into the iceberg lettuce: grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, and pineapple. So cute. And something that kids can be involved with.

LOTS of Simple Neighbor Gift Ideas

2009-11-28T23:03:00.005-05:00

I found some more ideas for neighbor gifts here that don't take much to put together...

M&M's:

"Have a Merry and Most wonderful Holiday Season!"

Soup or soup mix:

"Wishing you a souper Holiday Season!!"

Frozen or ready to bake pizza:

"Warm up to a wonderful Holiday Season topped with Christmas cheer!"

Popcorn Balls:

"Hoping you have a ball this Holiday Season!"

Loaf of Bread:

For being there when you were kneaded,

for rising to the occasion, large or small,

for never loafing on the job,

no matter how you slice it,

you do a terrific job of loving others

Merry Christmas!!

Jolly Ranchers:

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!!

Rootbeer:

We're rooting for you to have a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year!

Chex Party Mix:

Remember Santa chex his list twice to see who's been naughty or nice,

so be good for goodness sake!! Merry Christmas!!

Box of Hostess Ho-Ho's:

Ho - Ho - Hoping your Christmas is Heavenly

Wire Wisk (Filled with Chocolate kisses):

We WHISK you a Merry KISSmas!

Christmas Tray:

We tray-sure your friendship! Merry Christmas!!

Potpourri:

May this sweet scent bring back thoughts of warm Christmases long ago! Merry Christmas!

Household Cleaners:

You add sparkle and make our life brighter! Merry Christmas!

Broom:

You're dust the finest neighbors we know! Merry Christmas!

Paper Towels:

Absorb the Christmas Spirit!

Measuring Cup or Glass Measure:

Wishing you Joy Beyond Measure!

Chocolate Mousse Mix:

Merry Christmousse

Cinnamon Sprinkles (Cinnamon & Sugar, or cookie sprinkles):

May your Christmas be sprinkled with laughter and love! Merry Christmas!

Salsa:

Add a little spice to your Holidays! Merry Christmas!

Holly:

Happy Hollydays!

Calendar:

Keep Christmas in your heart the whole year through!

Sparkling Cider:

Wishing you a sparkling Holiday Season!

Popcorn or Carmel Corn:

Just popping by with a Holiday Hi!

Fruit Basket:

May your New Year be Festive and Fruitful!

Any Sweet Treat:

Wishing you a season filled with sweetness!

Oranges:

Orange you glad we're Friends? Merry Christmas!

Chocolate Orange:

Orange you glad it's Christmas? Hope your Christmas is a sweet one!

Sprite:

May your Christmas be Merry and Sprite!

Snicker Bar:

Don't Snicker, just be glad you got something!

Matches:

No one matches you as neighbors! Merry Christmas!

Strainer:

We couldn't restrain ourselves from wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Box of Light Bulbs:

Have a bright and radiant Christmas

Bubble Gum or Bubble Bath:

May your holidays bubble over with fun!

Pencil and Notepad:

Merry Christmas from our pad to yours!

Merry Christmas to a noteworthy friend!

Grater and Cheese:

To a grate Neighbor! Merry Christmas!"

Ice Cream:

Have a cool Yule!

Eggnog:

Have an udderly moovalous Christmas!

Muffins or Muffin mix:

We wanted to give you something so you weren't getting muffin for Christmas!

Christmas Shaped pasta (Or any Pasta and a bottle of Sauce):

Have a Pasta-tively Happy Holiday!

Brownie Mix (Or any Mix):

Whip up this mix for a wonderful holiday fix!

Pie:

Just a Holiday Hi and a tasty Pie! Happy Holidays!

Fudge:

Fudge a little on the calories and enjoy the Holiday Season!

Banana Bread:

Banana Bread just for you, because you have so much to do.

We love you a whole bunch! Merry Christmas!"

Cinnamon Rolls:

Here's a sweet treat rolled up with warm Holiday Wishes! Merry Christmas!

Recipe:

Just like you, friend it's tried and true, just for you! Happy Holiday Baking or Merry Christmas Cooking!

Pizza:

Hope your Holiday has a touch of Pizza - z! Merry Christmas!

P.S. Don't forget that you can add a personal note to make it meaningful.

Rustic Wood Sign

2009-11-22T22:09:00.004-05:00

This is a fun idea with endless possibilities. You can turn a piece of scrap wood into a fun, rustic sign. Paint the sign, trace some printed letters (or fins letters at Michael's), paint the letters with an angled paint brush (to get a nice edge on your letters), and then use a power sander to distress some parts more than others. Keep your eye out for some wood!

Oilcloth Bibs (for the non-sewer!)

2009-11-22T13:41:00.004-05:00

If you don't sew than this great gift idea is for you! These cute bibs are made out of oilcloth. Just trace the shape of a bib that you like on the back of the oilcloth and cut it out. Then holes were punched out on both pieces that go around the neck and a piece of ribbon tied to each hole. There are some really cute prints that I have seen. Oilcloth is waterproof so it would be great for a tablecloth too.

Pearl Ribbon Bracelet

2009-11-21T19:40:00.004-05:00

You can easily make this fun bracelet with this great tutorial here. Or you could buy it for $890.00. I love this! All you need is fake pearls (these are from an old necklace), embroidery thread, a needle, and some ribbon.

cake stand

2009-11-21T19:32:00.005-05:00

You can make a one-of-a-kind cake stand...

with this. I found this great idea here. This cake stand is made with thrift store items: a candlestick spray painted and a plate. Put some E6000 glue or silicone sealer around the top of the candlestick and then glue it to the center of the bottom of the plate.

Movie Baskets

2009-11-21T19:14:00.002-05:00

Give the gift of a fun family movie night or date night with this movie gift basket found here. I have seen movie popcorn boxes at the dollar store. Use floral foam or Styrofoam to stick your skewers into and then attach the items to your skewers (she used hot glue) and stick in the foam. Items to include could be: popcorn, movie candy, and hot chocolate.

S'mores Kits

2009-11-21T14:05:00.005-05:00

I absolutely love this cute gift idea: s'more kits found here. You could do these any way you like. These particular clear boxes can be found at any packaging store or site and you can buy in bulk and save big (either go in on a bunch with some friends or save them for your own gifts). Here is a sight I found that seemed pretty reasonable to me. You don't have to package it this way though. You could come up with your own fun way to present a s'mores kit (and then share it with me!) What a fun gift for a family to get! I always love gifts that give us something fun to do together. Or what about a miniature s'more kit for an individual? oooh.

Candy Bouquets

2009-11-19T11:20:00.005-05:00

These cute candy bouquets were found here. Make sure you have a heavy base that won't tip, something to put the sticks into (like Styrofoam or floral foam), shredded paper or moss to cover the foam, bamboo sticks or skewers, and something sturdy to attach the candy to the sticks (like heavy duty tape or hot glue). This is a great gift for anyone who loves candy.

Grass Baskets

2009-11-18T22:48:00.005-05:00

All you need is potting soil, a container, and some wheat grass seeds to give the gift of SpRinG. Just fill your container 3/4 full with potting soil, then sprinkle a thin layer of seeds, and add a thin layer (1/4"-1/2") of soil. Then water it! The picture above came from here.

I have done this for my Visiting Teaching ladies before for Easter. I grew the grass in a spring basket a few weeks before Easter and then delivered their basket with some Easter eggs filled with treats set in the grass.

This would be a fun way to deliver any Spring/Easter treat or gift. Kids would love it too!

Bow Bouquet

2009-11-18T14:29:00.006-05:00

Hair bows are a great gift for any girl. If you want a unique way to package it try a bow bouquet. Get a basket or other container and put a Styrofoam block or a green floral foam block then cover with Spanish moss. Then cover wood skewers (or some other kind of stick) with floral tape and clip the bows to the skewer. Then stick your skewers into the block at varying heights. This idea was found here along with tutorials on how to make bows here and here.

And if you are looking for a GREAT price on alligator clips, bows, flowers, and other accessories then go to haloheaven (as long as you don't mind buying in bulk - I went in on an order with some friends and it ended up being 50 cents per flower/clip including shipping).

Japanese Newspaper

2009-11-18T14:14:00.002-05:00

These packages were wrapped in Japanese newspaper. Then wrapped with a strip of Japanese paper and tied with string. Next time you are looking for a new way to wrap a gift (especially if the gift isn't from the U.S.) try buying a newspaper in a different language. This idea was found here.

Customized Coloring Book

2009-11-18T08:51:00.005-05:00

This is a doodle book. A coloring book where you get to complete the pictures.

Check it out here to find out how to get your own. OR make your own coloring book. Make your own simple doodles and leave a little room for a child's imagination to finish it.

Create Your Own Pop Top Treat!

2009-11-17T21:37:00.004-05:00

Save your pop top cans! These cute little treat cans were found here with a great tutorial here. Don't pop the top on your grocery cans. Instead, use a can opener to open the BOTTOM of the can and empty the contents and clean out the inside (make sure the bottom of the can is flat and not rounded so that you can actually open it with a can opener). Then, fill it with a treat and glue the bottom back on with hot glue or E6000. The lucky recipient gets to pop the top to find your special treat. Totally cool!

Fun Clothespins

2009-11-17T20:49:00.004-05:00

Clothespins are a cheap and easy thing to dress up. You can find a package of 30 at the dollar store. These cute clothespins were found here with a tutorial too. They are just mod podged with some scrapbook paper. Use these to dress up any gift wrap job and add a magnet on the back to make it even more useful to your recipient (great addition to a magnet board gift!). Consider adding other things to the clip like ribbon, buttons, or flowers too.

More Cute Coasters

2009-11-14T21:09:00.005-05:00

These coasters from here are made with printed paper and napkins! She gives a great tutorial too. I would never think to use Santa napkins or print something from my printer and mod podge it onto a coaster. And the tiles are so cheap too. She used white tiles for these. Just make sure you spray the top of the tile with acrylic sealer after the mod podge is totally dry to protect your design.

You could also try using gift wrap too!

Necklace/Bracelet Holder

2009-11-12T11:23:00.004-05:00

All you need for this project is a frame (this one came from the dollar store), some knobs (these came from an old dresser), some scrapbook paper, and E-6000 glue. I found this idea here.

This would also be a great idea for stretchy or crochet headbands. This would also be a great addition to a gift of homemade jewelry.

Window Art

2009-11-11T12:57:00.004-05:00

This could easily be a free gift. Here is a great alternative to vinyl if you are looking for a nice, clean look. I found the idea here (great tutorial) via here. Basically you type out anything you want and then open your image in Sumo Paint (a free download) and flip the image and print it out. Then tape the image face down on the front of the window or glass exactly where you want it. Flip the glass over and paint the letters with acrylic paint.

In the free section of Craigslist and also on freecycle you can look for vintage windows and glass pieces that won't cost you anything!

I would love to see what you come up with. Email me your pictures if you do this gift idea.

Homemade Puzzle

2009-11-10T19:37:00.007-05:00

There is a great tutorial here for how to make a puzzle out of a photo or your own art. The picture was sized and printed in a Word document and mod podged to a piece of cereal box cardboard. Then add a layer of mod podge on top of the picture. A piece of patterned paper was mod podged to the back of the cardboard. After it is dry, trace puzzle pieces with a fine tip sharpie marker and then cut them out with an x-acto knife.

You could personalize this for any child, any age. It would be great to give a set of personalized puzzles as a classroom set for a teacher too (maybe with scenes of the city or state).

Also, consider putting another picture on the back of the puzzle instead of scrapbook paper. Then you have 2 puzzles in one!

Bath Salts

2009-11-09T19:54:00.007-05:00

Put a few tablespoons of this in your bath to make your skin soft and yummy smelling. I also used a little to wash my hands and it was wonderful. Here's how to make this gift.

Bath Salt Ingredients:

Epsom salt

Sunflower or Vitamin E oil

A tube of your favorite scent (found in the candle-making aisle of the craft store)

A glass container with a lid (check the dollar store)

food coloring

Before mixing, pour the salt into the container that is going to be used and then dump it into the mixing bowl. This helps with not getting too much or too little salt to fill up the container. Remember to leave space to close the lid.

Once you have the right amount of salt measure it and then add half of that measurement of Sunflower or Vitamin E oil. Example: 2 cups of salt and 1 cup of oil. Then mix the salt with the oil for a few minutes in a bowl.

Add the scent. For this cucumber melon jar pictured above 8 drops were put in to start, but then 6 more drops were added to give it a stronger smell. It really depends on your taste and the intensity of the scent you are using. Mix for a few minutes.

Then add food coloring. Since a light green color was desired for the cucumber melon about a 1/2 of a drop was used. (A whole drop was put in and then half of it was scooped out with a spoon). If you want to make a color by mixing the food coloring try mixing it first and then add it to the salt. The colors didn't seem to blend well with the salt and oil, maybe because the coloring is water based.

You could try printing your own design label with the name of the scent and directions for use. and attach it to the container. Bath salt are not recommended for pregnant women or children.

Thanks to Ali for the picture and Hollie for the idea.

Reusable Grocery Bags

2009-11-09T19:39:00.007-05:00

Ali suggested buying reusable grocery bags for $1 each and giving them as a gift. She has been collecting these cute patterned bags to give a bundle to her sister-in-law for Christmas.

A reusable grocery bag would also be a practical and useful substitute for a gift bag (and their cute too!)

FHE Lesson Ideas

2009-11-08T21:10:00.004-05:00

If you want to do the FHE Lesson gift idea and are looking for some ideas for FHE lessons go here for a whole bunch of links to sites where you can get materials and ideas.

Family Tree

2009-11-08T20:26:00.005-05:00

I found a beautiful family tree template here. Go here to get this template and take it to a copy store to get it enlarged. Fill out as many names as you can and give it to a family member to display in their home. Family names can be added to it through the years.

Join Freecycle

2009-11-06T14:04:00.007-05:00

Have you heard about freecycle?? A friend introduced me to it. It is a Yahoo! group you can join for free and it is all about getting and giving stuff for free wherever you live.

It is amazing sometimes the things that people give. This little 18-month girl Gap coat was found through freecycle and it is like new. If you are willing to be patient and keep your eye out you could find a lot of treasures. Also, consider keeping your eye out for the materials you need for the gifts you are wanting to make and give (like fabric and scrap wood).

Note: You can request "porch pick-ups" whether you are giving or getting items to avoid going into or inviting strangers into your home.

Small Joy Block (so easy!)

2009-11-06T13:50:00.003-05:00

I printed out these JOY letters on holly paper. Then I used a red plaid paper to frame the holly. The paper was glue-sticked onto a piece of scrap wood I painted white.

Here are the JOY letters you can print and here is a Joy tag to print if you want to make this a gift.

Painted Letters

2009-11-06T13:41:00.004-05:00

Wood and cardboard letters can be painted or mod podged for a simple gift.

Here are some wood letters that were painted. Wood letters can be found in various sizes and styles.

Here is a cardboard letter that was painted on the sides and back and mod podged with patterned paper on the front.

These wood letters were mod podged.

Try doing just an initial (or all of their initials) instead of a full name to slim down the price. Letters are so versatile. They can be used for anything.

Nursery Canvas Pictures

2009-11-06T13:32:00.004-05:00

Martina made these nursery pictures out of canvas and paper. She painted the canvases and then layered patterned paper to make the animal shapes. The layers of paper are glued together with a glue stick and then the entire paper animal were glued on the canvas with a hot glue gun. Hot glue a ribbon to the top back edge of the canvas for hanging.

FHE Lessons

2009-11-05T21:54:00.010-05:00

I have an accordion file folder with enough Family Home Evening lessons for one year. Some lessons are detailed and some are brief.

Each of the manilla folders has a detailed lesson inside.

A detailed lesson includes: an attention getter, songs, scriptures, quotes, various activities to choose from depending on the age of your children, a story, visual aids and a recipe for a themed treat.

Here are 9 brief lesson plans. They have an opening statement or question, a song, a few scripture references, and an activity suggestion.

This could be a great gift! You don't have to do lessons for a whole year. Try a month. Or put together 1 lesson, make copies, and give it as a gift to all the families that you know.

You can get all kinds of material here and here.

You could also do a similar gift for families who don't do FHE. Find a craft that is great for the whole family and include instructions and materials to make it.

Top 10 Teacher Gift Ideas

2009-11-05T20:56:00.007-05:00

Teachers aren't in it for extravagant gifts and most likely they may not even care for apple-themed gifts. What you already have might be what they need/want. The age of the students and personality of the teacher will determine which ideas are right for you. When planning gifts for teachers consider these ideas:

1. Volunteer in the classroom: decorate/set up for a class party, read to students, make copies, return books to the library, design a bulletin board, share a talent like playing a musical instrument for the class

2. Volunteer outside the classroom: correct papers, plan a class party/run errands,

3. Donate old books/magazines/bookcase. Or order a subscription to an age-appropriate magazine.

4. Give something from your garden

5. Write a personal thank you note (tell the teacher something specific you are grateful for) or, better still, have your child write a thank you note if they can.

6. School supplies: this may seem lame, but if they are needed then it makes the gift meaningful

7. Donate a book to the teacher's classroom library or the school library. Even if the teacher already has a copy of a book they may appreciate additional copies of the book so that more than 1 child can check it out.

8. Classroom activities for indoor days or free time: file folder games, memory game, board games, flash cards ($ store).

9. Homemade goodies: especially something your child can help you with like chocolate dipped pretzels or a cookie bouquet.

10. Gift Cards/Cash. Even a $5 gift card to Wal-Mart is appreciated.

If you do want to do something else for the teacher, try to involve your child as much as you can. The more it is from them the more meaningful it will be.

Give Thanks

2009-11-05T20:32:00.007-05:00

More glorious vinyl lettering. I love the way vinyl looks so nice and perfect. This is one of the few Thanksgiving decorations I own.

P.S. Although I love antique spray I did not use any on this.

Vinyl Merry Christmas

2009-11-05T20:18:00.006-05:00

Here is an easy item to make. I used vinyl lettering on a red and green distressed slab of wood. After the vinyl was applied I sprayed antique spray (spray paint) over the wood and vinyl to give it a vintage look. My mother-in-law has taught me well the power of antique spray.

St. Patrick's Day Blocks

2009-11-05T15:49:00.008-05:00

I made these really quick one year because I didn't have anything to put up for St. Patty's Day. They are just wood blocks cut from a 2x4 (scrap wood) painted green and white. Then I cut out a clover from a piece of junk mail (cardstock) and used it as a stencil. After the paint was dry I got a little bit of white paint on my brush and waited until it was slightly tacky and then brushed over the green paint.

Memo Paper Art

2009-11-04T22:13:00.004-05:00

This is a great gift for a child to make. All you need is a stack of memo paper. Let the kids go free (with a lot of supervision, of course) decorating the sides with markers.

Shirt & Tie Card

2009-11-04T22:02:00.002-05:00

I like these shirt and tie cards. You can find the step-by-step here.

Tissue Paper Flowers

2009-11-04T21:56:00.003-05:00

You can make tissue paper flowers with your kids for their teacher or for a grandparent for Mother's Day. You can find the step-by-step here.

Printable Favor Boxes

2009-11-04T21:43:00.003-05:00

These are the cutest little boxes. They are actually meant for wedding favors, but I think they would be fun for any occasion. If you have a color printer then you are set. Print some of these out and get them ready for a quick gift wrap solution.

Origami Cubes

2009-11-04T21:34:00.004-05:00

When I first saw these here (via here) I thought this little cube would be a fun way to wrap a tiny present. Click the link for a great step-by-step.

Dishtowel Bib

2009-11-04T21:23:00.005-05:00

I really like these bibs. One day when I get brave enough to sew I am going to do one of these (or many). These are by far the best kind of bibs and once you try them you'll never go back to anything with less coverage. It seems like my kids always get food on the shoulder of their shirt if they don't wear a bib like this.

Washer Necklaces

2009-11-04T20:49:00.005-05:00

Don't these look fun? You can get all the info on these washer necklaces here.

More Printable Packages

2009-11-04T20:39:00.003-05:00

These look so fun to print and make into templates too. Can't wait to try them out!

Printable Packaging

2009-11-03T21:31:00.006-05:00

Go to this website to print out unique packaging templates. There are 36 to choose from. Just print them out on cardstock and cut them out to make your template. Then you can make patterned paper designer packaging. I'm excited to try these out.

What a great way to make your gift more extraordinary.

Mini I-Spy Quilts

2009-11-03T21:22:00.005-05:00

Take on a mini project and try this out. Here are some fun mini i-spy quilts I found here. If you have your own scraps from other projects this could be very easy on the wallet.

File Folder Games

2009-11-03T21:05:00.013-05:00

I love this preschool printables website. They have pages you can print out (for free!) to make file folder activities. And you can print them out in black and white and color them yourself or print them in color. Once you have the pieces cut out and the page glued on the folder you can take it to a copy store to get it laminated. I think I paid $7 to laminate 6 different folders. I also opted to laminate the folder in a soft laminate and the individual pieces were done with the hard laminate. The hard laminate is slightly more expensive but it makes the pieces a little more sturdy. After I laminated them I used sticky-backed velcro discs for the individual pieces to stick on to the page and not get lost.

Sweet Diaper Cakes

2009-11-03T20:28:00.008-05:00

This diaper cake by Martina is gorgeous with it's 3 tiers and elegant ribbon.

She started with a 90 count package of Size 1 diapers.

She rolled the diapers and secured them each with rubber bands

The top layer has one rolled diaper with six rolled diapers around it. The second layer has one more go around of diapers. Then the third layer has one more than the second.

Then a flat layer of diapers around the edge of each tier is secured with a large rubber band around each tier.

Ribbon is tied around each tier (covering up the rubber band) and a bow in the front

Topped with booties.

Beautiful!

Chunky $1 Wood Frames

2009-11-03T20:18:00.013-05:00

Martina made these great frames with paper, mod podge, and ribbon. For $1 you can get the cute chunky wood frame from Michael's. It would be fun to print out a letter for a family initial or spell a child/baby's name with one letter per frame. Or give a teacher a picture of her with your student.

Recovered Baby Buggy

2009-11-03T20:11:00.008-05:00

My friend, Martina, found this cute baby buggy at a second hand kids store. The fabric pattern that was actually on the buggy originally wasn't the greatest. She removed the old fabric and used it as a template for her new fabric. She hand-sewed her new cut fabric around the frame. For the visor she just left the original fabric on it (so that she wouldn't have to mess with the ribbing and put the new fabric over it. Pretty good for her first sewing project don't you think?

I am learning not to rule out second hand items. There are a lot of treasures so keep your eye out!

Cookie Flowers

2009-11-03T13:39:00.008-05:00

I love this cookie bouquet because it has mini cookies! I LoVe mini! I found this bouquet here. I like this for teachers or mother's day gifts for the kids to make. Or maybe for a new mother in the hospital or a get well gift. But really any day is a good day to get flowers.

Hint: To add some variety add some Oreo Fudge Rings (dark brown with white stripes).

Towel Hoody

2009-11-03T13:28:00.002-05:00

A towel hoody is a great idea for babies and kids. You can find this one here. With or without the embellishing it is a useful gift. Look for towels on clearance for your next baby shower (and put it in a crate!) or give them to the grandkids for Christmas. You could even add a fun bath toy for older kids.

Homemade Activity Books

2009-11-03T12:30:00.007-05:00

My son has really enjoyed doing worksheets. Since he's not in school yet so he thinks they are fun. Little does he know that it's homework.

Why not put together a fun activity book of your own? What about a binder of worksheets that you can keep in the car or take on an airplane? Decorate the binder and make it personalized and it is easy to refill once the activities are finished.

Here are a few websites that I've found that have TONS of activities for ALL ages for free. Puzzles, Sudoku, matching, spelling, coloring pages, tracing, math, and dot-to-dots.

www.printactivities.com

www.tlsbooks.com

I also found this great idea here for a Sunday activity book to take to church to keep the kids busy. She printed the Funstuff pages out of the Friend Magazine found here.

JOY Magnets

2009-11-03T12:22:00.007-05:00

These are ceramic tiles with printed paper mod podged on and magnets glued to the back. I found these here.

I really like using the word JOY for gifts because it helps us keep our priorities in order. Remember, Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. (You can get my Joy tag here.)

You could also stamp the letters or use vinyl lettering.

Mini Muffin Tin Magic

2009-11-03T12:12:00.005-05:00

If you like the Pie in the Jar idea then you'll LOVE this! These mini pumpkin pies and mini cherry pies are the coolest. All you need to do is buy a mini muffin tin!

Giving someone a pie would be a great present. But make mini pies and it becomes extraordinary. (And it makes the ingredients go further too!)

At the Store By Myself

2009-11-03T11:52:00.008-05:00

The other day I needed to run some errands. My husband was home for the morning and said he would stay with the kids and I could run out by myself. The entire time I was shopping I was so happy to be on my own and getting everything I needed to done without interruption for 2 hours. I was thinking, "this is all I want for Christmas!"

Do you know anyone you could watch kids for? Need a gift for a baby shower? You could even create little cards with increments of times or blocks of time on certain days that you are available to be cashed in whenever needed (with a little bit of notice). Maybe something like this:

Get "Something" Done
Need a morning shower?
To run some errands?
Do your Visiting Teaching?
Make phone calls and pay bills?
This coupon is good for 2 hours on a
weekday morning to get "something" done.

Date Night Out
Want to go out?
This coupon is good for an evening with free babysitting.
Available Wednesday through Friday 7-10pm

Stacked Blocks

2009-11-03T11:27:00.005-05:00

These photo blocks are nice. These are different sizes of wood blocks painted black with pictures printed and mod podged around the sides of the cube. I really like the patterned paper covered blocks also. You could do them for any holiday or motif.

Gift of Organization

2009-11-03T09:05:00.007-05:00

If you need a gift for someone who enjoys being organized or would appreciate help being more organized (or in my case, BOTH) then check out houseoforder. Marie Ricks of House of Order is a professional organizer and has some great tips and products. Some of her products include books on organization, meal planning guides, family/personal information organization, and cleaning house organizers for all ages. And they are all very affordable. She also has organizing helps for getting out of debt, moving, keeping track of the best grocery prices, planning weddings, and planning for the holidays.

She has some free downloads available on her site as well as her products. Some of my favorite products are the Stay-At-Home Housecleaning Plan cards and dividers, the Teaching Children to Work Packet, and the Fast/Deep Clean cards.