Some simple gift giving ideas

I haven't been able to make a lot of things here lately to show you, my customers and friends all the awesome things you can make with your stamps and the new Stampin' UP! products.  That is partly due to the fact that my crafting time and photographic time has been limited.  I am struggling myself to figure out what is feasible for the holidays for me to make.  I make a lot of my gifts because it is a lot more affordable for our very tight Christmas budget.  I also like to make things so it is more personal for the receiver.  And of course I just like to make stuff.  But this year has been a bit different in that I haven't already come up with gifts in preparing for a stamp camp and so I haven't been sharing much in the way of ideas with you.  I want to remedy that and share some ideas that I think will be much appreciated, and not to hard for you to execute.

1.  A family recipe box or "notebook" for handed down family traditions.  You could use the From the Kitchen of set by Stampin' UP! , Voila, or the new Recipe box set from Papertrey Ink.  You would simply need to make a few phone calls or email to ask various family members what their favorite family recipe is.  Maybe what is their favorite holiday meal, side dish or dessert?  What was their favorite recipe that they had when growing up or whatever.   Just try to compile some of those treasured recipes that they enjoy and would like to share.  You don't need enough for a grand cookbook, just enough to assemble as a family gift.   

Next purchase some 3x5 or 4x6 index cards and write them down, or print them out on the computer.  I would then use the stamps from the recipe card stamp set and use them to spruce the index cards up, or make dividers for each section of your holiday cookbook.  Use the bulk on board chipboard pieces that you can buy, cut them to fit your cards, decorate them with designer paper,and use the crop a dile to punch holes to tie them together with ribbon or a jump ring.   Decorate the front with the Voila chef or image of your choice and use chipboard letters or numbers for FAMILY RECIPES 2008.

Super easy and can be mass produced.

2.  Little treat baskets: Basket and Blooms totes are great for giving a small little treat to classmates, co workers. etc.  They are super quick and easy to assemble and I can cut them for you and get them to you  super quick.  Just let me know you want to purchase the designer paper, and i'll order it and get them cut out to you  super fast.  You need to let me know about the paper by Dec. 5 if you want them before Dec. 20th.  

3.  Or make the little box totes from Splitcoast or for a mini version here .  They are cute and once you cut the pieces, they are very easy to assemble in mass.  Make some yummy snowball cookies, or some no fail fudge and package them up.  

4.  Go to Papertrey ink and check out Lauren Meador's My Timeless templates for the FREE downloads of the STOCKING STUFFER  and RECIPE  folio downloads.  Just insert your paper into the printer, print out the patterns and you are so done.  She also has a template for a stationary box that is awesome.    It is called All Boxed Up template.  It is only $5 and you can download it as soon as you checkout.  NO shipping.  Awesome.  

Check out the following links to see what you can do with these.  

Teacher gift folio

Monogram stationary holder with a One sheet wonder for making the stationary

Other great ideas for her Timeless Templates from Lauren Meador

5.  For those guys on your list: how about making a stationary set of cards for giving to their wives to keep them out of the doghouse so to speak: Valentine's Day, Anniversary, Birthday, I love you, and Mother's Day.  These wouldn't have to be super elaborate cards, and I bet you have enough sets to do this pretty easily.  A floral set or an all occasion set would work well.  Have fun with them.  

6.  And lastly for the kids: how about some hand stamped line images good for them to color in and "make their own cards".  I like Pun Fun for this, but there are other sets as well.  You need Birthday, Thank you, and Thinking of you cards.  Simple layer imaged on a white card base: see here.  Then they children get to color them in with the crayons or colored pencils you package with them.  Super cute.  Use your punches to punch out some stars or arrows or hearts to put in there for them to embellish with.  I don't know a child who doesn't like to glue things.  

7. And of course you could always package up a store bought gift with a gift bag made of designer paper or a fabulous gift card holder. 

8.  Oh and for the home decorator, try givng them some of our Decor Elements for dressing up a frame or putting on their walls.   These are great, easy to apply and are REMOVABLE.   

9.  Lastly don't forget the great ornament kits in the Winter Mini.  They are super easy to assemble and would be great for attaching to the outside of your gift wrapping.  Try Stampin' UP!'s white wrapping paper, or wrap a small gift in designer paper.  Also there are great rub-ons for putting on packages, glass ornament balls, or vases and candle holders in the winter mini as well.  They are on sale this month too.  

10.  And the Country Living Decor kit is a great gift too.  Put them together with photos and give them on  your packages or as a gift in one of the little gift totes above.  Super sweet and from the heart. 

Have a wonderful Holiday season.  Any orders placed online with me from now until December 25th will get a Free copy of the new Spring/summer Idea Book and Catalog from me when they come out in January.  

Basket and Blooms totes assembly tutorial

Hi, Everyone.  Well some of you have purchased precut basket and blooms totes from me and now you need to know how to assemble them.   They are really very easy to assemble and you will need Sticky Strip to do so.  

1.  Fold the bottom circle piece along the score lines so all the little tabs are folded up.  Set aside.

Take the side pieces and fold the edges where they are dashed/scored.  Place sticky strip along those folded edges (on the side of the paper that will be on the outside of your basket), and along the bottom edge of the basket pieces.  You want to completely cover the bottom edges, as that will keep your bottom piece secure and able to hold more weighty items.

2.  Now peel off one sticky strip piece along the side of one of the body pieces.  Adhere the two body pieces together side by side.  Now remove the sticky strip off the bottom edge of both pieces.  Take the bottom circle piece and start at the edge without the scored side piece left undone and roll and press the circle tabs along the edge of the bottom of the body of the tote.  See photo for what I mean.  You need to make sure that the edge of the circle is at the edge of the tote body bottom.  Again refer to photo.  To make the rolling process work, you need to go slowly, keep tucking the little tabs in so they don't stick to what you don't want.  

3. As you get to the end of the tote bottom edge, you will need to remove the sticky strip from the last side flap cause you will need to adhere that little flap in before you finalize your bottom "rolling" to adhere that.  

4.  You are done.  Adhere the strips from your die cut images to make a stripe on the tote.  Note that the strips are longer than you will need for this.  Trim appropriately.  Use the tags, flowers, etc. to layer a cute embellishment.  You are done.

See, super easy.  

And the photos help.  The photos go in backwards order.  Sorry, but I still haven't figured out the order this thing puts the photos when I upload a lot at a time.

Thanks for checking out my tutorial.