Category Archives: Gift Ideas

The Cutest Way To Give A Gift Card

10th December 2015

Some people don’t like giving gift cards because they think they are impersonal. I’m definitely not in that category because nothing gets me going like guilt free money to burn in a store I love!

If you want to add a creative touch or personalize a gift card, why not package it in a really cute way? Enter mason jars for gift card packaging! I used the same materials to make my DIY Mason Jar Snow Globes but instead, ditched the glitter and water and affixed a gift card inside. Using a little hot glue, I lined the bottom edge of a gift card and snuggled it in between craft pine trees. I put both of the teacher gift-gift card jars side-by-side in a wire basket and personalized each card with a chip board letter that I painted red to match. My little girl dictated the message inside to her teachers with awesome things like, “Merry Christmas. I love you. You look like a candy cane.”

The gift cards were small, but cute and practical and who wouldn’t love to get a gift in something like this? The crafter in me would re-use all of the components if I were to get this gift. Actually, I think I’ll keep it because I love it. Just kidding… Or….Okay, I’ll give it to them.

If you are really fun, you can actually make the jars into the snow globe with the gift card inside. Snow globe gift card packaging? I might choke on a candy cane I’m so excited about that idea.

Put anything you want in a mason jar to make this packaging party, season, or person specific. The possibilities are endless! Here’s to hoping that two pre-school teachers like this gift as much as I do!

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In my dreams, I have that pillow-y fake snow in the bottom of this basket. In my dreams I also don’t take blog images with my cell phone so I guess, we can’t all be winners.

Alone, it’s simple and may need a little pizazz but when packaged with the wire basket and cards, it’s ballin’ out of control. If only the fake snow…..

Race Track Tape For Boys

4th December 2015

Boys, I have none…but I LOVE these rolls of race track tape that come with little cars! With these guys, you can build little roads where ever you please! You can get them in different styles and colors, too. I snagged 2 of these at Cracker Barrel this week for under 6 bucks a piece and many brands are 15 per roll. Score! This a perfect little gift for your car lovin’ little boy.

Do you want one of these? I have three daughters so I will mail them out to any 2 readers who have boys or knows one who would love them! Just follow me on Instagram and comment on the post or if you already follow me, tag a friend on the Instagram post and I will pick someone.

Unique & Sentimental Gift Idea

3rd December 2015

Honk, honk…I’m about to toot my own horn so I went ahead and gave a honking before I began.

I have the most awesome gift idea lists on my blogs with lots of really creative, sentimental, and personal gift choices. You can search gift ideas in the search box to find my 3 posts of gifts.

I came up with this gift idea on one of my lists and decided to do it for my mom for Mother’s Day. All four of my siblings went in on it together.

I found a picture of my mother’s childhood home and had an artist, my friend Blake Parsons, to draw it for her. This is an 8 x 10 inking on high quality paper. He did all of this by making dots with the ink. NO LINES, free hand dots to build each and every line and image. UNBELIEVABLE! It turned out perfect.

My mom adopted four children when we were all older so they never got to meet and spend time with my mom’s parent’s or have the memories from their home like we did. This gift doubles as a house warming gift since they recently moved but even more so, it’s a little piece of her life that can be handed down to my youngest siblings so that they will have a piece of my mom’s childhood with them always.

You could have an artist copy a photo or image of ANY special person, pet, place, or object. I’m in LOVE with all of the things that make a present like this special. We are giving this to her this week (yes, really late) and she will be so surprised. Who would expect a gift like this?

Can you imagine how many dots this took?!!!!!

He added the address to the bottom and the flowers on either side are significant. They are tulip magnolias which are the blooms from the large tree in the front of the house. It’s sort of an inseparable memory of that house and since the house was sold and her parents died, I’ve been back and cut blooms and surprised her with them.

An up-close detail shot. Did I say already that I can’t believe a human being can make this entirely with DOTS!!!!!! So proud of my talented friend. Click his name on the link above if you are interested in giving or receiving a one of kind gift done by an artist.

Gifts in Jars: DIY Mixes and Seasonings

24th November 2015

Do you know someone who is a mom, loves to cook, likes to eat more naturally, loves creativity, likes practical gifts, and loves to save money? Me too, sister. Enter this gift idea that I can’t wait to give and would love to receive.

Make knock off baking mixes/seasonings and put them packaged in cute jars. Above I made onion soup mix in the large jar which is great for roasts. In the smaller jar, I made Rachel Ray’s homemade taco seasoning. It’s all of the yummy with none of the junk and preservatives that come in the pre-made packs.

I embellished the jars with washi tape a.k.a my new addiction, twine, craft paper, a chip board letter colored with a metallic pen, dye cut doilies and gift tags tucked in mini craft bags. The recipes were written on the tags inside the bags with a gold pen.

The full recipe for the onion soup mix is shown. 5 tablespoons = 1 packet. I tripled it for this jar. The full taco seasoning mix is not shown on the card because it’s two sided so don’t make it how you see it here. You’ll be bummed. See that recipe here.

Follow me, Pin, Try & Enjoy! Search “gift ideas” on my site for more inspiration.

Where To Find Affordable Toys

13th November 2015

These are the HUGE bottles of bubbles and the sand art kit and glowing bouncing ball making kits are large sets as well. In the very front is a sidewalk chalk set with brushes and stamp set. ALL of that was for 10 dollars! You can’t even buy two jars of colored sand at Hobby Lobby for that price, much less the funnels and containers to fill with sand and this kit comes with 6 or 7 containers to fill and design. Not only are these great gifts, they are affordable but still substantial in size and go a long way. It’s a 10-12 dollar gift with a 3 dollar price tag. Boom-badda-bing!

Talk about crazy.

And where is this jewel of a place where you can find toys and groceries? Aldi! A diamond in the rough! Those who Aldi, swear by Aldi, and I am one of those gals. The prices can’t be beat and you never know what you will find in the aisle that carries a range of seasonal, toy buys, etc.

You can buy name brand toys as well and I have seen everything from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Minnie Mouse, and Disney princesses. They have also Fisher Price toys as well. You truly never know what you will find but what you do find will GURANTEED be the best price you could find anywhere.

I buy a huge chunk of my monthly groceries there and snag little nuggets of greatness like these all the time. Buy them for gifts or just as things to tuck away for a raining day. Aldi, Aldi, he’s our man, if he can’t do it….

then I’m sad. And broke.

Great Practical Baby Shower Gift Idea

10th November 2015

When a mom-to-be goes to register for her baby, they tend to get all the cutesy stuff and may forget the practical things. I gave this to a girl this weekend and I think it’s a GREAT gift. It’s very practical and really helpful when you need it the most. Baby medicines are pricey for what they are and the bottles are so tiny, you can burn through them easily. Just like diapers, you always need them and once your baby is sick, who the heck wants to go shopping for them?! You need them now! You don’t need them until you do and when you do, it’s sooo nice to have them there!

I piled in all the essential things you need for when a baby is uncomfortable or sick. What’s even better? I put them all in a cute plastic storage box that she can keep all of her baby meds in separately. It’s not just a “gift box”. Here’s what’s inside:

Gas drops

Infant Tylenol

Baby Vapor Rub

Saline Nose Drops/Sprays

Orajel

Pedialyte

Diaper Rash Cream

It’s a good idea (and cute) to put little kraft paper tags with tips on the backs of the boxes for the first time mom like: “You can’t use Ibuprofen until 6 months or older. Once they can, you can alternate between Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 4 hours to treat a fever.” Or, “An infant isn’t considered to be “having a fever” until 100.9.”

I like a gift that is helpful and helps them save money on things they HAVE to have. You don’t have to go out and buy 40 pairs of cute footed jammies, but you will need these things as you raise your babies. Works for me! Pin, share, and enjoy!

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Love A Mom-To-Be From Afar: Baby Shower In A Box

26th October 2015

If my love for creative gift ideas and my love for my friends had a baby, it would be this idea: Baby Shower In A Box. As you get older and your friends scatter, it’s hard to get to them for all of the big events in life. I recently had a friend who was adopting a baby girl and the problem was, she lived in a different city but I still wanted to do something special for her. My idea for a baby shower in a box was born when I thought, “How neat would it be to send to her what I can’t do in person? I’ll send her a party to her door! Her own baby shower!”

Thus, I present to you the idea of planning and creating a party for someone that you pack and ship right to your loved one’s door! You can make it any theme and in any price range. I promise that you will be the only one giving them this gift. It’s sort of a double gift: a party and the gifts for the party.

Special thanks to Joel Ham Photography for making my idea come to life in these beautiful photos. Check them out on Facebook and on their personal site.

Here’s a look at what I created:

This is a baby I borrowed, along with a box I bought and embellished. Using scrapbook paper, chalkboard stickers, and an oil-based Sharpie, I made this “Baby Shower In A Box” label. I will wrap the front in packing tape when it’s shipped so it will be delivered with this on the front!

When she opens the box, the first thing she will see is this handmade invitation I made to match the decor for the front of the box.

What’s in the box? Well, a whole shower so…

An invitation
Cake mix and icing to make the shower treat with her son
Paper goods: napkins and plates
A helium balloon that will pop-up when the box is opened
Gifts: a dress for later, a onesie for now, and a headband to grow with her
Party Game with a game prize AKA a treat just for the mom
Big Bro Bag because you can’t forget the older sibling(s) while showering the new little squirt
Something for the nursery. I ordered the print shown from Mandipity on Etsy.

What’s in the bag? For the sibling bag I just put in a bunch of cheap thrills: bath bombs, Ninja Turtle cup, Ninja Turtle bubble wand, M & M tube, and a party of pack of glow stick glasses and wands. If the bag is for a little girl you could include: nail polish, pink cookies, glitter pens, plastic tiara, or one of the many paperbooks about being a big sister. Lots of popular characters that both boys and girls love have cute books on becoming a big sister/brother.

If you want to go all Martha on the bags, check out my post on Big Sister Bags and Busy Bags for Toddlers for more specific bags that will really make a mom cry tears of jubilee. You can do these for yourself pre-baby to build in a little sanity for after the baby comes. Hey, if no one sends you a bag to busy your kids, by all means, be your own hero.

How did I make the box that holds the prize? I took a plain white gift card box from Hobby Lobby and embellished it to match my party theme. Using washi tape, a doily die cut and a chalkboard sticker, this little box became my favorite party detail. And just for all you curious cats, the prize was a gift card to Starbucks for the mom because EVERY mom needs a little Star-cation.

One small detail you might have overlooked is the doily banner strung on twine across the backdrop. That actually coordinates with the whole theme and will be sent in the box as more of the “party decorations”. A banner can be personalized and used in the nursery or can be pulled back out and used it at their first birthday party. It’s a sentimental touch and I’m a sucker for that.

If you want to add a few pieces that are personal to your special celebration, yet doesn’t require a crafty hand, the home decor space within Shutterfly has everything from custom art, plates, and pillows. I love the chalkboard pillow or woodgrain monogram pillow print for a nursery I also adore the personalized placemats for kids as a big sibling gift.

This gift is creative, personal, thoughtful, and has more possibilities than the Powerball. It’s for any person, for any party, for any celebration! Now that’s versatile! You don’t have to be close to a friend to be a part of the experience. Pin, share and enjoy!

Cute Gift Packing With Spice Tea

27th October 2014

I’m sure other people on planet earth drink spice tea, but I never hear anyone talk about it. It’s a long stand by at Christmas in our family and it’s yummy in my tummy.

Right now at Target in the one spot aisle, you can get a two pack of these awesome glass milk bottles for 3 dollars. You can also get mason jars which you saw me use in the DIY snow globe tutorial and for this gift idea here. I wanted to stray a bit from the jars and use these bottles because they steal my heartstrings. Milk bottles are used less than the ever popular mason jars these days.

I made the tags and embellishments using washi tape, bakers twine, scrapbook sticker letters and two paper straws from Hobby Lobby. You can buy these straws at Mighty Dollar by the packs so I would go there. Way better than the Hobby Lobby deal. It would be really cute to attach a recipe card to the jar as well but hey, can win them all.

This is a cute appreciation gift for a teacher or a nice “I love you”/ “Just because” gift for a friend. Really, it’s a nice cozy gift for anyone and they can use the jar again so double score for this awesome jar! You can double/triple this recipe and make a few of these suckers as gifts. There she blows, folks!

Spice Tea

1/2 c. instant tea

2 c. sugar
2 c. Tang
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 pkg. lemon flavored Kool Aid

1 pack of red hots

Mix all dry ingredients well. Use 2 rounded spoons of mixture for 1 cup of hot water or simply to taste.

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