~The Holidays Are Right Around The Corner~

Now that Halloween is over Thanksgiving and Christmas will soon be here.  Are you getting ready for the holidays?  Even though I shop for gifts year round there is still so much to do!  Every year there are things that I want to do and unfortunately I run out of time.  This year will be different.  Here are the things I have accomplished so far this year: 

• I’ve been clipping coupons and stocking up on ingredients for turkey day.
• I’ve dug up my recipes for Thanksgiving.
• I was accepted to be a vendor at the Holiday Bazaar at the Si View Community Center in North Bend.
• I have hand made approximately 150 holiday greeting cards that I plan on selling at the bazaar and in my etsy shop.
• I’ve started to list holiday cards in my shop, Sno Valley Greetings.
• I have about half of my Christmas shopping done. (yay!)

Here are my goals for November:

• Make a food donation to the Mt. Si Food Bank.  Currently they need turkeys, click HERE for details on how and when to donate.
• Finish the rest of my Christmas gift shopping.
• Buy wrapping paper and maybe start wrapping gifts.
• Continue to make cards and gift tags to sell at the holiday bazaar.
• Decorate the house! (my favorite part)
• Get our Christmas tree (this year we are looking for a 10 foot tree)

What are your holiday plans and goals you would like to accomplish?

10 Gift Ideas For Co-Workers and Bosses

This subject comes up every year.  You want to give your co-workers and/or boss a gift for the holidays however you don’t want to be too personal or exorbitant.  You don’t want to go over the top and spend a lot of money yet you don’t want to look tight fisted and frugal. 

Here are some unique ideas that are unique and won’t break the bank.

1.  If you are crafty create a mini scrap book of a memorable event that happened in the office.  Maybe the office got together and had a surprise birthday party.  If you aren’t crafty you can always buy a nice photo album and fill it with the photos. 

2.  Picture frames are always a nice gift especially if you have a picture to go in it.  Consider getting together with some co-workers to take a picture for the frame.  If you don’t have a picture you can always frame a gift card to their favorite store, restaurant or coffee shop.

3.  Edible gifts such as chocolate, candy, meat/cheese, fruit, popcorn etc…are usually safe gifts to give.  If you are worried that it’s not enough or you don’t want to look cheap bump it up a notch and buy some finer chocolates.  Are you a baker?  Make everyone a special goody tin with baked goods.  Don’t forget to be wary of food allergies! 

4.  Give Wine, Champagne or Liquor!  Typically you can’t go wrong with a nice bottle of bubbly…just make sure the person you are giving too drinks.

5.  Give a book if you know their favorite author or genre.  If you don’t buy a gift certificate to a book store. 

6.  Gift certificates are always a safe bet.  If you can spend a good amount of $ go for a gift card to a restaurant.  If you are looking on the lower end of the spectrum buy a gift card to a coffee, ice cream or smoothie shop.

7.  If the person you are buying for works at a desk check it out.  Do they need anything?  Many people like to personalize their desks with pencil/pen cups, staplers, tape dispensers, etc…If you know what type of pens they like to use buy them a pack.  You can never have too many pens.  To finish the gift buy a few nice notepads.

8.  Mugs and cups for the coffee and tea drinkers.  You can’t go wrong with this gift.

9.  Key Chains.  Everyone has keys.  Add a personal touch and get a monogram key chain.  Don’t go all out tacky unless you know the person well and/or it’s a joke.  You can always engrave the key chain to make it more personal.

10. Holiday Ornament.  Only go to this idea if the person you are giving to celebrates the holidays with a tree!

Hope these ideas help.  If you have any other ideas feel free to comment on this post.  Remember giving gifts is not a necessary act.  You should always give a gift with thought and heart. 

Happy Holidays!

~Make Your Own Snowflake Holiday Gift Card Holder~

I came across this great project idea on Michael’s website.  These gift card holders are a perfect way to personalize your gift rather than put it in a store bought holder.  I’ve included directions below on how to make the Snowflake Gift Card Holder.   

Materials Used:

• Eazy Felt Stiffened Felt: Purple, Light Blue, White
• Holiday Trim It-Up Blue, Light Blue & White with Silver Edge Ribbon
• 'Tis The Season Silver Dot on White Grosgrain Ribbon
• Sparkling Glitter Glue, Lilac
• Scissors

• Ruler or Straight Edge
• Craft Knife or X-Act® Knife
• Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
• 1/8-inch Hole Punch

Cost of each project will vary depending on materials used.

Directions:

Cut two circles with a diameter of 4½-inches from the purple Eazy-Felt.

Use the hole punch to make holes in the purple felt circles about every ¼-inch around the entire circumference. Lay the second piece on top and punch through both pieces to ensure the holes line up. Cut a 25-inch piece of white narrow ribbon with silver edge. Lace this through the holes. Leave a 3-inch opening on one side of the circle, lacing only to one side and not through to the other circle. Do the same to the other side of the 3-inch opening. This will give the illusion that it is completely laced all the way around. Glue down each end inside the circle so it cannot be seen.

Use a snowflake template from the computer or freehand draw one onto paper. Use a copier or printer to reduce the size of the snowflake, just make sure the snowflake fits within the purple felt circles, including the lacing. Print three sizes in smaller succession. Place the largest snowflake over the light blue felt and cut out entire flake with the craft knife. Take the smallest snowflake template and only cut the center of the flake out of the light blue felt. Take the medium sized snowflake and cut the flake completely out of the white felt. Layer and glue the snowflakes together as shown.

Glue the light blue felt snowflake down in the center of the circle. Lay the white snowflake on top and glue down. Glue the light blue center of the snowflake down in the center of the white snowflake.

Cut a 6-inch piece of silver dots on white grosgrain ribbon. Fold in half, glue ends together. Glue the raw end to the inside of the tag but only the front or the gift card holder will get glued shut.

Use the glitter glue to accent the snowflake. Place glitter glue in center of snowflake over the blue felt and just at the tips of the other parts of the snowflake.

Tip:

Use photo as a guide and follow manufacturer’s instructions for all products used.

The felt and ribbon colors could easily be changed to suit any particular theme or color scheme. Please experiment within the idea.

If you are interested in seeing the project sheet on Michael’s website click HERE to be re-directed.  Happy Crafting!

~Mission Soldier Support Is Underway~

I am a proud to announce that I am a participating member in MSS. (Mission Soldier Support) A charitable effort of Handcrafted Card makers dedicated to providing beautiful handmade cards to our soldiers overseas, for the upcoming winter holidays. The soldiers can use these cards to write to their loved ones back home.  If you'd like to donate an item to this cause, search "MSS" for participating shops on www.etsy.com

 When you buy the card, simply include "MSS" or the words "Mission Soldier Support" in your notes to seller and I'll send the cards straight to our project coordinator, Rachel shop owner of Captured Time Books.  

This promotion runs from October 1st through November 7th, 2008. Feel free to pass our promo on to your friends. It is a really easy way to give this Holiday Season!

~What do you do for Labor Day?~

My plans for this weekend consist of rest and relaxation, well...after the house gets cleaned.

I plan on making some new greeting cards this weekend too. The holidays are fast approaching and I need to start mass producing Christmas cards! It's so hard to believe that August is almost officially over and that means the end of summer. If the weather gets better I would love to go do some things outdoors. Pretty soon it will be windy, rainy, and cloudy here in Washington. Why not get the most out of the sunshine? Enjoy the long weekend everyone! Don't forget my blog contest ends September 3rd.