DIY Map Gift Bag

  It's not always easy wrapping a grad gift or a dad gift. Masculine wrappings often leave much to be desired. Usually it comes down to a gift bag festooned with fishing tackle or striped wrapping paper. The options are normally pretty limited. 

  Until now. 

  Have I got a solution for you! Enter your new best friend... old maps.

  You can simply wrap a box with a map which would be perfectly acceptable, or you can kick it up a notch by creating your very own customized gift bag.

  All you need is:

• a blank bag
• a map
• a strip of cardstock in a complimentary colour
• 2 brads to fasten the pinwheel centres 
• glue

I used this template for the pinwheels.

Cut on the lines. Punch holes on the dots. Fold the dots to the middle & fasten with a brad.

Source

  How great are these pinwheels? They add a little fun touch to what could be a stuffy-looking gift.

They may not, however, be for everyone. Totally cool. Just leave them off & do the strips of map paper on the sides of the bag. 

Awesomeness.

My work here is done. ;)

~~~~~

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Enjoy your day!

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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!

I link up to these great parties

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Nut Jar Upcycle

Can you guess this little container's humble beginnings? 

Well, you likely already have because of the name of this post. :)

But in case you skimmed over that part & really are wondering, it all started with a little almond jar like this.

After we ate the yummy almonds, I kept the little jar thinking it was a great size. But what to do with it???

I finally just started playing, not really having the whole vision when I started. 

Here's what I did:

1. Paint the lid black with craft paint.

2. Cut some patterned scrapbook paper to fit the jar. 

3. Apply the paper with Mod Podge.

4, 5, 6. One by one, layer the tabs on the bottom of the jar, using Mod Podge on top of each one. 

7. Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the entire paper surface. Let dry.

8. I learned how to make rolled paper flowers using this tutorial. I made 3 bigger ones & 3 smaller ones. Apply with hot glue. 

Now to figure out what to do with it now that it's all prettied up... any ideas? 

I'm thinking it would be great as gift packaging with a sweet little gift inside (maybe jewelry?).

Please share your ideas as to what you think I should do with it! :)

Enjoy your day!

I link up to these great parties! 

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"Guess Hoo Loves You" Valentine Bag & Card

  

Guess hoo loves you? Me!! :) 

  It's been a while since I've made any papercrafts. I'm so happy to bring them back! 

If you know me, you know I have a crush on owls. So any excuse to make something owl-icious... I'm in!

I started with my Cricut & the Hoot 'n' Holler cartridge.

All these pieces were cut of with this cartridge 

(except the bag - those were purchased from the craft aisle at Wal-Mart).

The card was very simple. Just a sweet owl & a sentiment. 

Together they make a cute little owl duet. Happiness!

Enjoy your day! Thanks for reading, my friends!

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Cardboard Roll Treat Packets

  Do your kids ever save toilet paper rolls "because we might be able to make something with them"? Mine sure do! Most of the time, I sneak them into the garbage when they aren't looking. For the past couple of months, however, we have all been saving any kind of cardboard tube on purpose.

  My son & I had the idea that we could make some kind of treat packet for his classmates at Christmas time. We finally saved enough tubes & this week we got to work! Here's what we came up with.

  I had thought that I may want to do something a little more fancy with a cut out tag attached or something & then had second thoughts. Realistically, these are 7-9 year old kids who likely will just tear it open to get at the candy inside. :) 

  So, we made it look as special as we could without spending too much time on this project.

  Here's what we used:

1. small bags of candy
2. toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls cut smaller
3. pretty Christmas paper
4. string, yarn, twine, or heavy thread

  I hope I'm not insulting your intelligence by describing this for you, since it was so simple. 

  We started by stuffing the bags of candy into the rolls.

  Next, cut your paper into strips & adhere around the roll.

  Lastly, loop the string around the tube several times & tie in a knot.

  If your kids are in my son's class, please don't spoil the surprise, k? It was pretty easy & my little guy is excited to have treats that he helped make.

  Are you making something for your kid's friends? What do you have planned? I'd love to know about it. Please leave me a link & I'll come check out your projects.

Enjoy your day!

Linkin' Up:

Home For The Holidays

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy

One Artsy Mama

Create & Inspire

Craft-O-Maniac

Everything Under The Moon

The Girl Creative

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Made By You Monday

Lend a Helping Hand this Christmas

  Christmas is all about giving. Or at least it should be. Sadly, with all the commercialism that often surrounds the Christmas season, the real reason for Christmas can get lost in the shuffle.

  That's why I'm encouraging you today to take a break your own preparations to help someone else with theirs. Pick up the phone or send an email & see who could use a hand. Whether it be shopping, baking, wrapping, or decorating, pick something you like doing & offer to help someone else with that task.

  If you don't have a lot of free time, just give a couple of hours. I'm sure the recipient of your kind deed with be forever grateful. 

  If you don't have a friend who needs help, purpose to spread some joy in another way. Buy a Starbucks or another hot drink for your child's teacher. Offer to help in a soup kitchen or at your local food bank. Plug a parking meter that has expired if you're out shopping. Pay for the order of the person behind you in the drive thru.  

  These are just a few ideas of how you can give this Christmas away. So go ahead, spread some extra cheer & do something a little out of the ordinary. Because Christmas isn't Christmas until you give it away.

“For God loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  ~John 3:16

Enjoy your day!

Linkin' Up:

One Artsy Mama