Giving Gift Cards!

I often give gift cards out as gifts. I love gift cards myself. Its like having a little something in your wallet that says...Hey...lets go shopping, even when you can't afford to go!! I don't however like just giving a gift card in an envelope. I have put GCs in tins, in boxes...reusable bottles, ect. and ever since the little brown bag craze started...I have been giving GCs in them....simple, easy, pretty and makes the GC seem much more personal!! Love that!!

Several weekends ago my Daughters both had Birthday parties to go to and I scrambled to make bags perfect for the GCs. I realized then, I should, probablly, have a stash ready made...it would be so much easier! So thats what I did....I made some for me and a couple to put in the shop!!

They are so fun to make...I made them all day!!

I made some for every occasion, that way, I'd have some ready when I needed them!!

Then I made some for Boys too....because I never seem to make things for Boys!!

Then I remembered Father's Day was coming....so I made some for that too...

Then I realized I probably had made enough for right now and stopped.....but now I want to make some more, because they are fun to make....so I stamped some more bags......I think Im addicted to the little brown bags!

What is your favorite way to give a GC?? Do you wrap it up? Put it in a box? Or do you love the ease of an envelope?

Keeping it Real!

It's been CrAzY busy around here! We finally decorated our Christmas tree tonight...half way into December! Ugh!! The four shows I did were great and I'm seriously so tired that I almost can't wait until Sat. where there is a possibility I might actually be able to sleep in!!
Tonight we celebrated my Daughter's Birthday....officially a Teenager today!!! Time sure has a way of going by incredibly fast!! For each of the Kids birthdays, I cook whatever they want....she picked my stuffed bell peppers and garlic bread but she didn't want me to bake the dessert she wanted a store bought cupcake {with piled high frosting!}. Her Friend and she went with Dad to the store to pick it out and she returned with this....

A Dome cake, a Christmas tree dome cake....with, I'm quite certain, way more frosting than actual cake...and TONS of green dye...my hands are stained from cutting it..I'm a frosting girl and this was over the top! We all had a good laugh!!

Do you do any digital or hybrid scrapbooking? I've wanted to but I'll admit, I never have and I don't even know how to...but I'm about to learn how {I hope!!}....I was asked to join The Hybrid Chick Blog and post a tutorial once a month over there!!!I'll be working with some of the beautiful products over at The Digichick and if I can figure it all out...I'll be doing some Hybrid projects!! Exciting!!! Go check the sites out, there are some wonderful projects out there!!!

Hope your week is going great!!
Hugs,

Happy Monday!!

How was your weekend? Mine was pretty darn hApPy, even though I turned a little older! =:O) My adorable Family all pitched in and bought me a shiny new camera!!! Wooohoooo...I got a Canon Rebel and I'm pretty happy about that since I have been wanting a better camera for a while!! Now I should be able (hopefully) to take better pictures!! Happy!!!!
I did finish this layout last week....for the P K Glitz blog. Even though its been a few years since she was a senior....I still love this photo of her!! You can find all the details for this layout on their blog!

The forecast for the weather for this week is rain, rain and some more rain....not happy! Hopefully that means I can get some projects done around the house! Honey refinished the dining room farm table, painting the legs red and sanding down the table top and then glossing it up!! Looks beautiful and just like a new table! Now I just need to get some fun pillows for the bench seat and my little tiny dining room will be much, oh so much, cuter!!
Weigh In Monday: Even with all the over eating I did this weekend(Benihanas, hot fudge sundaes, frosted cupcakes, HUGE breakfasts on BOTH days)...I'm down almost 1 lb for a total of 6.6 lbs! Small victory and I'm taking it!! I'm sure it was because I stayed totally on plan for the first part of the week because I definately was on diet holiday this weekend!!
Hope you're doing something fun!!

~Happy Birthday!~

I made this page for my OLDER Sister and strangely enough, I often thought about dinosaurs, the invention of the wheel, the discovery of fire and then electricity, while I was making this page. Time it seemed, just spun by...in the end....I was left with a beautiful vintage type page which reminded me of her and all the crazy, fun years that have past before and how I can't wait to see whats coming up next...

This is the first time I have used a Webster's Pages scrapbook paper and I really enjoyed leaving the writing on the page as part of the focal point on the page. The pocket watch couldn't have been more perfect for a Birthday page, unfortunately you can see how sparkly it is from all the Glimmer Mist I sprayed on it!!! Here is a close up of the Melissa Frances sentiment:

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing my own layouts and this page inspired me to get into the grove of trying to catch up on some of my personal books which I always seem to push off to the side in the never ending attempt to make a little money.
Heather, I hope you like it! Happy Birthday! I wonder if Diane will have a Bundt cake for you?? SpOiLeD!! Wish I was there!
Hugs,

Happy Birthday, Mum!!

My Mum is going to be older this week...so I made her a card...and I "aged" it to match her! heheheheh.... My picture taking skills need some serious work...I know!!

I used a K&C Flower, they are so fun, like little pom pom's of happiness! The pink lace was sent to me (Thanks Becky!!) and its just lovely. The buttons, in a bag of beautiful, pinks, greens and blues. I'm not sure where the chipboard came from. The striped paper is Imaginisce and the beautiful patterned paper is from Tinkering Ink, which I just love!
I'm so use to doing things neat and precise. Clean edges, nothing undone. "Shabby", Distressing are kinda new to me so Im having fun playing around with different elements and techniques. I hope you like my mood?! I know, I do. Thanks for visiting me and have a fabulous day!

Cute & Simple Golf Birthday Gift Basket!!

I made this cute little gift basket today for my Brother-in-Law's 50th Birthday party! So easy and it works perfectly to make the gift certificate for golf look less boring...I took a Target Dollar Spot bucket and filled it with kraft paper and "grass". Added some golf balls & tees and for a splash of color, a happy flower cookie! (Thanks Heather!). I finished it off with ribbon and tea stained tag that I stamped with "Birthday Wishes" from Amuse.

A cute an inexpensive way to make a Gift Certificate look more fun!! I hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day weekend! Its super windy and cold here today so we're off to the hot tub!
Have a great night!!