GIFT Ideas

I spend a lot of time making gift baskets and gift items for neighbors, friends, teachers, coworkers, etc. I find it to be a rewarding way to extend your stamping into another area that makes people happy. Somtimes, it isn't the size of a gift...it's the thought you put into it that makes it sp special.

Here's a sample of some special gift ideas:

Nugget boxes

Boxes can be purchased through http://www.papertreyink.com/

Water bottle topper

Fill packed with a powder mix of your choice that is added to a bottle of water. Makes a great gift for those "on the go".

Small Cork boards
These are so easy to make. I put magnets on the back of mine so someone can hang inside a locker or on a file cabinet at work.

Flowers that Never Fade

These flowers are stamped with cardstock

and run through the cuttlebug for texture.

I them hot glue them to a silk flower stem

and mount them in some starfoam with moss. What a cute way to tell someone you care. Little watering can purchased at the dollar spot at Michaels.

Fry Boxes

These fry boxes are a great way

to package up small treats like caramel

popcorn, mints, candies, nuts and the like. They can be used alone or put into a basket.

Mint To Be Tin

This was an old tin that I got some fancy paper clips in.

Anything I get, I think about future use. For this one, I

added some thin mints covered with labels and decorated the

top of the tin.

Covered Chocolate Bars

You can make these in any size of bar and can be decorated

for any occassions: birthday, baby, get well, etc.

Or put them all together and make a cute basket for a special occassion. You can create a themed basket (baby girl, baby boy, birthday, or a favorite color). I get lots of orders for other people and make a lot for my own gifts for people.

Birthday Baskets

This included some chocolates, mints, bottled water, covered notepad and more.

This basket was for my neighbors birthday. It included

a giant paperclip and notepad, popcorn, covered

tic tacs, candle with matches, beaded ink

pen and more.

Anytime Basket

I made this basket with some chipboard for the

container and added some crushed paper and then added goodies. This was just a small basket that included two wrapped Hershey's chocolate bards and some covered nuggets (Hershey's nuggets). Did a red, black and white theme.

Heated Pearls Technique

I just tried this technique and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! Here are the instructions to make this technique:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/pearl_extrade_heated_pearls/

You can decorate an entire background wtih this technique or cut out a flower or butterfly and do just that one item. The texture adds a nice deminsion to your card and looks very expensive. I embellished with an Elegant Ornaments stamp (Stampin Up) that I embosed with gold tinsel. But beware, it is very messy to make these. Have fun and enjoy making your own cards.

Here is another card in different colors...

Photo Tiles

These are so easy to make and lots of fun to give. Simply print your image onto tissue paper and adhere to a tile coaster (I used Botchiano tumbled tiles) with Modge Podge. Apply a top coat and allow it to dry. Seal with a clear sealant, add some felt dots to the back and you have a customized gift that is sure to make anyone happy!

Give it a try!

These coasters I stamped with black Staz On ink and painted with regular Stampin' Up Ink. I sealed them with a glossy sealant two times to make sure the ink doesn't run, fade or leak.

These coasters were all stamped to look like a flower wreath when put together as displayed. Used like this, they could be used as a hot plate on a table or to remove something from the oven. Or you can stack them and use for regular coasters.

Autumn

It's the time of year that I love the most...autumn. And I love to make and send cards and gifts with pumpkins, scarcrows, fall leaves and other fun seasonal stamps.