Tissue Paper Flowers to Embellish a Gift Package

Don't you think that a beautifully wrapped package adds to the thoughtfulness of a gift? 

I sure feel that way & love when people put in a bit of extra effort to add some beauty to a gift's packaging.

This is such a cute little gift embellishment that easy to make yourself. I just learned how to make the tissue paper flowers from Michael Ann Made & simply took them a couple of steps further. 

Supplies Needed:

• Wrapped gift
• Wide ribbon or strip of paper
• 3 Sheets of tissue paper
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun

Starting with your wrapped gift (I just recycled some brown paper), lay a length of wide ribbon across the gift. 

You'll need enough to wrap around the gift & glue to the ends together.

For the tissue paper flowers, you start with a sheet of tissue paper. Obvious much? ;)

Fold it into a square to whatever size flower you want.

This is where I differed slightly from the original tutorial. I used a full sheet folded up with makes quite a full flower - it looks much like a peony, in fact.

Cut out flower.

Once your flowers are cut out (I did 3 - one pink & 2 yellow), place them on the ribbon.

One you have them placed the way you want, staple them to the ribbon.

Starting with the top layer or two of tissue, bring it up & gently pinch it together.

Working by layer (or two), pinch all the layers. 

There you have it! Your flower is finished!

Now hot glue the ribbon together at the bottom of the gift.

Done! Give your super cute gift with pride in a job well done.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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This project was featured on:

Fisherman Layout {Basic Grey}

In honour of Father's Day coming up, I want to show you a layout I did featuring some photos of my dear husband.

He loves all things outdoors. Fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing... I wanted to capture some of the photos we took the last time we went fishing together. 

This simple layout came together very quickly. Because the patterned papers are all from the same line, they were easy to co-ordinate. 

Then I added my title which is chipboard with a felt type finish.

To finish it off, I attached 3 corduroy brads to the edges of the paper strips.

Products Used:

• Patterned Paper - Basic Grey
• Chipboard Letters - My Mind's Eye
• Corduroy Brads - Stampin' Up!

Another fast, fun layout!

Enjoy your day!

The Dish Soap Challenge. Week Three: Patio Furniture

  In doing this dish soap challenge for the past few weeks, I'm feeling like dish soap is my new cleaning BFF. It's been so amazing! I haven't been disappointed yet!

  For those just tuning in, I've issued myself a challenge to start doing my cleaning with dish soap wherever I can. Every week for the next while I'll clean something new with dish soap & see how the results stack up to the results using a more expensive, specialty cleaner. I'll use my home as the guinea pig & let you in on the results.

This past weekend was so beautiful & warm, we simply had to eat outside on our patio at every possible occasion. 

We had taken out our patio furniture this spring, but hadn't yet cleaned it off or used it.

After weeks of rain, wind, dust, & birds (if you get my drift), this is what the table looked like:

Blech! I think I'd pass on a meal at this table!

After simply squirting a small amount of dish soap into a pail & adding some warm water, the kids & I washed off our patio table & chairs.

We dried them off with a dry rag & here is the end result:

A gloriously clean patio set to eat lunch at!

Verdict: We're 3/3. I'll be using dish soap to clean outside again.

If you missed the first two instalments of this experiment, please visit:

• Week One: The Bathtub
• Week Two: The Toilet

Enjoy your day!

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Easy Salsa Sloppy Joes

Even though the weather is getting steadily warmer, we've been having the odd rainy day, which, for the time being means that I'm still using my stove & oven on those cool days.

This is a very easy recipe that comes together in about 20 minutes from start to finish. 

I don't know about you, but when it comes to weeknight meals, fast & easy are good in my books!

Easy Salsa Sloppy Joes
serves 8

1 lb. ground beef
1 1/3 cups salsa
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 Tbsp brown sugar
8 hamburger buns, split

In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain. Stir in the salsa, soup, & brown sugar. Cover & simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through. Spoon 1/2 cup onto each bun.


  Done! How easy is that, right? Serve with your favourite salad & your meal is complete. The last time I made this, I served it with our favourite Chickpea Salad. Perfect for a quick, yummy, child-friendly weeknight meal.

Enjoy your day!

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Shabby Chic Baby Card {My Mind's Eye}

Last week, a friend of mine asked me for a shabby chic baby card using pink & soft colours. 

Here's what I created:

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock - Michaels
• Patterned Papers - My Mind's Eye (Lines: Stella & Rose, Lost & Found)
• Tag - My Mind's Eye
• Pearl Brad - American Crafts
• Scallop Punch & Corner Rounder Punch - Stampin' Up!
• I made the flower with my Cricut machine. Cartridge used - George & Basic Shapes

I love the end result & so did my friend. 

In fact, I think I'll make more of these for my card stash, I like them it so much!

~~~~~

On a different note, I know that my posts have been hit & miss for the past couple of months.
For that, I apologize.
I plan to make up for that by doing extra posts in June. I hope you enjoy what I have planned!

Enjoy your day!

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