 |
You probably remember from this post that I am a fan of bubble wrap.
Well, a little while back, a friend of mine and her adorable family had a big occasion to celebrate. We wanted to plaster a banner on her garage door. And since the occasion was cause for jumping up and down, we decided to make it a bubble-wrap banner. So it could be enjoyed even after it was taken down. Here is my son modeling it before we snuck over to her house to put it up. (Isn’t it fun being sneaky?)
{ 1 comment }
 |
Dear Readers, I have a bit of an urgent question from Nicole, and I knew you could swoop in and help out.
“We are hosting a foreign exchange student, and we want to have a small gift for her when we pick her up (in a week!) But I am having trouble coming up with a good, meaningful idea. Any suggestions?”
—Nicole
Nicole, I just love that you are preparing to make your guest welcome from the moment she steps off the plane. I think anything that will make her feel comfortable and set up in her new home will be appreciated. You could spend the week buzzing around putting together a package of fun school supplies and desk accessories to help her be ready to conquer her new agenda. A couple favorites, Pinhead colored pencils from here, and a beautiful purpetual calendar she can use for the rest of her days.
What about you, readers, any ideas for welcoming Nicole’s guest?
+++
If you are looking for a treasure of a gift, pi’lo is not to be missed. So many beautiful pieces that will last for a lifetime.
{ 20 comments }
 |
Don’t you think everybody should get their own fan club? Really, on some days, wouldn’t it be great to have your own cheering section? Or maybe…to open your mailbox and find fan mail?
You might want to try sending some fan mail this week. We thought we’d send some, and had a lot of fun doing it. Incase you want that fan mail to take the form of a foam finger, like ours, here’s the how-to. And if you have no occasion to make a foam finger today, trust me, there is going to come a time when you are going to want to make your own. And when that day comes, you will know how.
This has to be one of my favorite projects yet. We started with some leftover foam we’d bought at the fabric store. Thinner is better. We snipped out the appripriate shape, a front and a back.
We used a permanent fabric glue, Gem Tac or Liquid Stitch both work, and glued the front and back pieces together, then let them dry.
Next we pulled out our acrylic paint and mixed up some pink, fabric paint works too.
We made a few discoveries about working with the medium of raw cushion. It has to be damp to be painted. Aren’t you glad you have me to fill your mind with such important details? So we got the whole cushion wet and squeezed it out so it was just damp, painted onto the surface, then squeezed it out again.
I was very pleased the ty-died effect. You like?
Then, while the finger was still wet, we painted on our special message. If you’re planning to mail, remember to give this days to dry. You want it to be fully dry before you fold it over on itself.
And finally, the result. This goes out to all my readers, the very coolest readers and dearest friends in the world! I’m your fan.
and incase you’d like to see a little more, here is my favorite fun mail inspiration from the archives (or see it all right here):
A Great Big Sponge | A Tube of Bert’s Bees | A Wreath and Twinkly Lights | A Disguise | School Supplies | A Pair of Flip Flops | A Big Ball | Plastic Eggs 1 and 2 | Silly Putty |Shovel & a Bucket | Ribbon Sticks | Bubblewrap Hopscotch | Fan Mail | Waterbottle Care Package | Bouncy Balls | Sticky Notes | Jr Mints | Frisbee | Mini Banner and Mini m&ms
find postage rates for happy mail right here along with other mailing details
{ 27 comments }
 |
Today marks day one of extended birthday bash mania here in our house. I love that my kids share a birthday week. It’s kind of like our combed-down version of carnival or mardi gras. Parties for days! The kids and I go craft crazy while Brent shakes his head at our ambitious plans, disappears with a book for a while, then comes back to try to help me rein in the mess.
Just last night we finished mario hats, a mario pinata, toad cakes, and tea party invites. We were focused! We may have gotten further but my girl came down with a little earache. And before all falling into bed exhausted, we also managed to make these, which my son is taking to preschool to hand out to all his friends on his big day.
We thought we’d do a twist on melted heart crayons by adding initials. Didn’t they turn out sweet? They’re so bright and pretty they left me wanting to make more, maybe with a message on them next time. And they were pretty simple. Here’s what we did:
1. Ravaged the crayon drawer for all the ugly crayons. Anything that was still pointy was safe. But all the dull, broken crayons came out for us to peel the label off and break into smaller pieces. Next time I will keep the same brands of crayons together. The crayolas melted much slower than our stash of crayons collected from restaurants.
2. Preheated the oven to 190 and arranged the crayons in a candy mold. I wanted to keep the temp low because the mold I used was meant for chocolate and isn’t too heat resistant.
3. Melted the whole batch for a good ten minutes, until they’d all melted.
4. Pulled them out of the oven and put them into the fridge for ten minutes.
5. Next we worked on the initials. We scratched the letters into the surface with a pencil. The wax was still a tad soft and it was super easy to get the letters just how we liked. Then we melted a black crayon in the microwave and painted over the letters with a small brush. We had to throw the wax back in once or twice, but it wasn’t too trickey.
6. We wanted the black to meld with the rest of the crayon, so we put each crayon back in the mold, letter side down, and popped them back in the oven for another four minutes, as long as it took for the letters to just begin to show signs of melting.
After they cooled, we were quite pleased with the result.
Scratching out the initials.
et viola!
{ 10 comments }
 |
NOTE: This is the second post in a series about photo gifts by my guest author and friend Rachelle.
Yesterday we talked photo albums, today we’ll talk photo gifts. Besides the calendar from Shutterfly, the mouse pad from Costco, the mug from Snapfish, there are handbags, ornaments, blankets, playing cards, key chains, stickers, etc. , etc. but, since this is the giverslog (where gifts are taken to a whole NEW level), let’s think outside of the box… I challenge you to look around for the inspiration that is all around you!
I thought I’d share few gifts I’ve done this past year with photographs in hopes of getting you thinking of the possiblilites:
1. A cereal box covered with my kids photos and well wishes for my brother to open on Christmas morning as he was away from any family.
2. For my friend running a marathon, a small gift card holder covered with a black and white photograph of her shoes (it was entitled “26 miles to go”). It was filled with Jelly Belly Sport beans.
3. A large storyboard type print for my cousin’s wedding gift with some of the photographs I took of her special day.
4. Birthday party invitations and thank you cards where photographs, which always makes them more fun and personal.
5. A memory game for my kids and a set for their cousins with 52 playing cards (made with photographs, chipboard, scrapbook paper, mod podge, and lamination) from our last get-together.
6. “Grandparents day” cans covered with my kids picture and filled with a yummy treat. This one is a fun one and super versatile. You open the bottom of the can with a smooth edge, eat what’s inside, wash it out, and fill it with something yummy or fun! Then you wrap the outside in a cute wrapper (with a photo is always a bonus) and tie a ribbon around the pop top to remind the receiver to open it! I made these for birthdays, holidays, and any other excuse I could think of this year!
The possibilities are endless. I hope these two days have gotten you thinking. What photographs can you make sure happen when you are together with your loved ones? What ways can you incorporate photos into your gifts? As you plan meaningful gifts to give that your loved one will treasure include a photo and I guarantee you’ll get a big smile!
{ 8 comments }
 |
I love planning. At least as much as I like doing. Am I the only one? No matter what the project, I like to revel in the planning stage. Trips, workouts, grocery lists, renovations. Did I tell you my husband and I planned our kitchen 35 times before we built it?
Also, I love when one of my friends comes up with some big idea. I like to hear all about it. And sometimes, when someone’s taking on a new project or new stage in life, I think the perfect thing to give them is something they can keep by their bed for scribbling down thoughts and strokes of brilliance. Here then, are a few favorite planners and notebooks.
unbound 2010 datebook by purgatory pie press
DIY cereal box notebook tutorial
yearly agenda by Lina Carta
of course, love the pocket notebooks by oh joy
the grid notebook
printable planner, via here
your life in chapters (LOVE this)
the Laurel Denies yearly, completely beautiful
one year of white pages, brilliant
baby shower notebook set
Cath Kidson’s dream home planner
and one more poster calendar
the all-weather journal for the adventurous types
8-days-a-week planner
the smiley journal
{ 15 comments }
 |
We’ve been trying to keep things low key around here. I’m stressing less about piles of clean but unfolded laundry or a preschooler is still wandering around in his pajamas at 11 a.m. Amid all this happy indolence, however, we have managed to fit in a couple back-to-school projects that my daughter and I were excited about.
My daughter loved the idea of customizing a backpack. It took some serious hand-stitching, because my machine wouldn’t sew down the middle of the straps, plus I made the mistake of buying no-sew heat-and-bond, so I had to wrestle each stitch through. But my daugther was so pleased, I’d say it was worth it.
We also found the German tradition of a schultüte to be completely delightful. We made two mini schultütes. Only we didn’t feel bound to do it only for kids going to school for their first year.
And one more thing. We decided to welcome my first-grader home with a gift: a cat’s cradle book. She practiced very diligently all night, on her own, with me, and then with Grandma. Next on the agenda, Chinese jump rope.
{ 3 comments }
 |
One of the first blogs I ever loved is this one (check out the J. Press ties posted today). The posts on her blog and the letterpress design in her shop are just right, never overburdened with details, just the simple essentials that cheer me up most.
Her recent posts have got me thinking about cupcakes and flower bouquets, two never-fail ways to brighten anyone’s day. I think her letterpress cupcake boxes are the perfect cupcake delivery vessel. And I was just admiring her mailing labels, which got me thinking, does anyone else agree these two would make a great match? (flower arrangement tutorial via Martha)
{ 1 comment }
 |
I’m always excited when a friend takes on a new endeavor, maybe because I always have way too many plans floating around in my own head. So I was thrilled to come across these One Project Journals made over at Studio Violet. I think they are the perfect gift of support. They come in a pack of four, 2 blank, 1 stripes, and 1 graph. So you could sketch out your garden, list the qualities your next boyfriend will have, log potty training progress…just think of the possibilities!
And speaking of gifts of support, look what my awesome friend brought me this weekend pre-race. Yummy smelling things since she thought “I might get a little stinky” and a hilarious note to open during the race. It was great, I so needed it. She also came with her whole family to give me in-person support. Thanks again, Shanti. You’re the best.
Now if you can follow my stream of conciouss, I have to throw in one final favorite. This would be great for anyone taking on a new physical endeavor who is 28 or older: Jack Frost Ice Packs. Great for icing injuries (when, not if they come) even while simultaniously carpooling chldren and making dinner.
{ 0 comments }
Hello and welcome. My name is AmberLee and I am a California mom, chocolate maker, and country girl. GiversLog is my place to catalog my adventures in handmade giving, cooking, sending happy mail, and doing all the other things I adore, which you can see a long list of right here.
