Cake Balls For Me?

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.

A "Snappy" Valentine

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.

Felt Fortune Cookies

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

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.

For Kids: A Unique and Personal Candy Valentine

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.

Free Disneyland Tickets?

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

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!

Heart Wax Paper

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

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

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

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

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

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!

or

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.

Movie Baskets

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.

Candy Bouquets

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.

Customized Coloring Book

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.

Homemade Puzzle

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!

Top 10 Teacher Gift Ideas

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.

Memo Paper Art

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.

Tissue Paper Flowers

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.