Quick Easter Egg Gift Wrap Idea...

I made these Easter egg gifties for my nieces and nephews last year, but I forgot to share it on my blog. In years past, I always made gift baskets of candy and little toys for my extended family. However, as kids get older, a little candy and a little money is a favorite.

Here's how I wrapped their money and still had an Easter theme!!

Great idea and inexpensive to put together...

Ribbon and Bow Organizing with Magazine Holders...

Hi everyone! Here's an idea to use cardboard magazine holders to organize bows and ribbon that you would use for gift wrapping.

I use a china hutch, that I moved from another room, for a gift wrapping center in my sewing room. I'll post more about the whole unit later, but wanted to share this one idea to use a cardboard magazine holder to organize curly ribbons and bows.

Come on in to see...

Quick and Inexpensive Halloween Gift Wrap...

Halloween is a few weeks away and I wanted to mail a goodie package to my daughter Kelsie in Disney World. The box was filled with all sorts of things, but one box of goodies was for all her roommates. I wrapped that box with a few things I had around the house and wanted to share the ideas with you.

Easy Halloween gift wrap…

Plain white craft paper you buy on the roll, black tulle (the kind on a 6 inch roll) and plastic fangs!!

I bought these fangs at Walmart…12 for 97 cents. That's 8 cents a piece

 I tied the bow and then just slipped a couple loops through the teeth.

Scary chic…

Add a spider in there too!

I also wanted to make gift tags for all the goodies. I found this book of scrapbooking paper in the clearance rack. It's perfect for Halloween, because it's all black and white designs.

The best part is the paper is 8 1/2" x 11" which is standard paper size and great for a printer.

This paper has  the design on one side…

and white on the other.

I used Word to insert a circle the same size as one of my paper punches…2 inch circle.

The black arrow is pointing to the "insert shape" button.

I copied and pasted 12 tags.

Used my punch to cut them out.

Quick and easy tags.

Just add it to the gift with a ribbon.

Here is one idea I used in the goodie box.

Inexpensive cups (4 for $1) from Walmart filled with candy and more fangs.

Wrap them in cellophane bags and tie off with a bow.

Don't forget the tags.

You can also add a skeleton…

or a spider for a scary treat!!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Karen~

Last Minute Father's Day Gift Wrap Idea...

Hi everyone!! Thought I would post a link to a Father's Day gift wrap idea I shared 2 years ago. It's perfect for a double duty gift…wrapping and a functional gift too!!

You can use any hardware store apron and then fill the pouches with little packages, gift certificates, candy, cookies etc.

Hardware store aprons are super cheap too. These were only 79 cents!!

Don't forget to grab a paint chip from the paint department for a gift tag!! Shhh…don't tell them

Roll it up and tie it together with the aprons strings. You can click HERE to see the full tutorial.

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!!! Hope you have a great weekend…

~Karen~

DIY Paper Gift Envelopes...

Hi everyone! I was thinking about selling pre-cut fabric squares ad shapes for quilting at some point in the future, so I was fooling around with packaging ideas. I have lots of different kinds papers to experiment with and wanted to share a couple envelope ideas with you.

You can make these envelope pouches for any occasion in any size. You can also use any paper you might have around the house…craft appear, printer paper and even paper from the hardware store!

Here are 2 envelopes I made…I love the natural brown craft paper especially for Father's Day coming up.

They are so easy to make!!

Workbench Turned into Gift Wrap Center...

Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to share an idea for a gift wrap center I have in my basement. Before I start, I wanted to share a little background with this area in our home.

About 10 years ago my parents moved in with us. They moved from a large home with lots of "stuff". One area we had to carve out was a space for was my dad's workbench. Lots of tools, hardware and supplies all needed to find a home. My dad bought three workbenches that you assemble yourself and sheets of peg board…and a small workbench was born. Ten years later, my dad is almost 90 and can't use the stairs to go down there any more, so the workbench was cleared out and his things moved upstairs or out to his shed where he can get to them.

From tool storage to gift wrap center…

I know everyone doesn't have the same situation, area or workbench, but you can use one or all of the ideas in this post. Come on in and see…

Cupcake Liners…Perfect Topper for Canning Jars

I love canning jars. I use them for everything…organizing craft items, keeping foods in the refrigerator, storing baking supplies in my kitchen cupboard, pincushions and especially for gift giving. I have used canning jar to give gifts of homemade Irish Cream, cookies, fudge, homemade popcorn etc.

The food is the gift, but a cute container is a must!!

I usually cut a piece of fabric and use that to cover the jar, but this is so much faster.

Come on in and see…

Quick and Easy Idea for Wrapping Gift Cards...

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a quick and cute way to wrap a gift card for the holidays or any occasion really. Gift cards are the perfect gift for someone who is hard to buy for or a great little stocking stuffer for little treats the recipient can use after the holidays.

When I give gift cards to my kids I always try to wrap it special, so it's like a present to open. The best way to wrap a gift card from restaurants or fast food chains is to ask for a container from that store.

This year our favorite new spot in town is an Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop. The kids still go during the cold winter days. Perfect gift card idea!

Come on in and see how cute the packaging is!!!

Pretzel Bags...Great For Other Gift Ideas

Have you ever seen those yummy pretzel rods covered in chocolate and other yummy treats? They are delicious with the sweet and salty combination. They make great gifts too.

I noticed in Michael's Craft Store, Joanne's and Walmart in the candy making aisle, they make special bags just for the pretzel rods. I bought a package thinking they would make great treat or gift bags for other things too.

There are 20 bags for about $2.50. They are 2 1/4 inches wide by 9 3/4 inches long.

Thrifty Thursday...Coffee Cup Wrapper Crafts

Hi everyone! It's Thursday and that means a project that is free or super cheap...

If you're a coffee or tea drink and buy it in a "to go", you might be familiar with the coffee cup wrap. It's a cardboard wrapper that protects your hand from the hot cup.

Last week, my daughter Kelsie had an all day dance conference at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It's a a little over 2 hours away and I didn't want her driving back late at night by herself, so I went with her for the day.

She danced and I blogged and drank coffee at Panera all morning long. I also did a little shopping, but Panera was my home in the afternoon too!!

Here is the cup wrapper I saved.

Here's the thrifty gift tag I made with it!

Just add ribbon and hang from any gift bag.

Open up any cardboard wrapper and use your favorite paper punch...

or cut any shape free hand.

I used a small punch for a hole for the ribbon.

I love the texture of this paper...like a waffle pattern.

 Here's another thrifty tip that you might do already.

Save tissue paper when it's given to you in gift bags.  When you need it for another gift and it's all wrinkled...you can iron it smooth again. Irons out perfectly

I'm sure there's lots more we can do with these coffee cup wrappers...

• place cards
• book markers
• small ornaments
• paper chains for the Christmas tree
• You can also use the whole cup wrapper as a Paper Pattern if you want to make one out of fabric!!

Hmmm...let's think of more.

Have a great Thursday and I hope it's thrifty!!
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Charm Pack Bird Feeder

Hi everyone! You all know that when I'm out shopping or roaming around any store, I look at things with a different "eye". It may be a Tool Time eye, a recycling eye, a thrifty eye or even a crafty eye.

Well, today's Tool Time is definitely a combo...an thrifty idea of using a suet bird feeder for a quilting gift bag. Wow...that's a mouthful! LOL

Isn't this the cutest little gift?

Thrifty Thursday...Upcycled Brie Box

It's Thrifty Thursday...the day we do something cheap, cheap, cheap!!! On Monday, I did a recipe post on baked brie. If you missed that post, you can click here.

Brie cheese comes in a wooden box. A box!! You know I can't throw that away!!

Upcycled Brie Boxes...free, plus some crafty stuff I already had.

Tool Time Tuesday...Christmas Craft with a Pot Holder

Happy Tuesday everyone. The holidays are fast approaching and crafting seems to be on my mind. That little voice keeps saying..."Get it done early", but whether I listen to that voice is another thing.

This time of year and even when the holidays are right around the corner (as in Christmas Eve and I'm scrambling!!), I need projects that are quick, easy and inexpensive.

Today's Tool Time is just that...wait til you see how easy this is!! It's kind of a "cheater" pennie pocket!

This version is a place setting holder, but it's also a little take home gift too.  The perfect party favor!

Tool Time Tuesday...Father's Day Gift Wrap

Father's Day this year is Sunday, June 17th.

No matter what dads receive for Father's Day, the gift wrap is probably the last thing on their mind...unless it looks like this!

A useful apron from Home Depot (or any hardware store), brown craft paper, paint chips and ribbon or string.

"Brown paper packages tied up with string...these are a few of my favorite things."

I know you're singing it your head right now!! Lol

Just tuck the presents into the apron...

and fold the apron in half...you will use the strings to tie it up.

To make a free quick card, I used paint chips that I've saved after we've had a painting project and stick on letters.

Have the kids make the card and they can sign it on the bottom color or on the back!

Use the apron strings to tie up the apron in half.

The apron can fit two or more packages on both sides.

Not bad for a 77 cent apron and a free paint chip!! Yes these aprons are 77 cents. Click HERE for a girlie version I made a long time ago

You know all Dads will love this!!

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~