Homemade gifts are best...

Hi there. How is everyone holding up this holiday season? This weekend I've really been working hard to finish up all the gift wrapping so that I can enjoy time off with the girls when their holiday break starts next week. I totally forgot about the guy/gal exchange that we always have for Eric's side of the family. I have to admit that the gifts have gotten quite dorky as of lately. Eric and I usually end up toting something home that is right out of the bargain bin and not very useful. I know "it's the thought that counts" but if not much thought is put into a gift at all then why bother, right? I'd rather just enjoy some one's company around the kitchen table or play games.

With those thoughts in mind, I wanted to bring a gal gift that was thoughtful and very useful. Of course, the ladies in our family all know of my handmade cards and notepads and just love them. So why shop any further than my craft room, ya know? Using leftover supplies from this (on sale) Butterfly Notebook Kit, I whipped up 4 coordinating cards in about 20 minutes flat.
I added in a few more pieces of patterned paper, a half of a paper doily, a punched sentiment from Take Note and chocolate striped baker's twine. The base cardstock is Rustic White.
After the cards were assembled, I splattered the tops with Mister Huey spray mist from Studio Calico.
I decided to add in one more little homemade gift item.....a jar of peach jelly that I made this summer. I usually hoard this jelly as I don't make but about a dozen jars or so. But the warm color of the jelly paired with the yellow on the cards and notepad were just too fun. I tied the jelly jar up with a paper bag circle, a typed label and some thick cotton twine. Stay tuned tomorrow for some more jelly gifts. :)
So here's my little gift ensemble. I added in my favorite lip gloss from Bath & Body. I always grab a few when they're on sale to add to gifts.
My usual gift wrap is a brown paper sack. Lisa Truesdell wrapped up the cutest paper sacks for teacher gifts. Why reinvent the wheel when something is this cute and simple? So I didn't. Thank you for the inspiration Lisa! I stapled the paper sack, adhered the paper doily, added 2 strips of Washi tape and then used a pop dot to adhere the butterfly embellishment that I already had in my leftover stash pile. Easy peasy and so cute.
Another gift in the wraps! I'm off now to pop popcorn for some white chocolate popcorn for the lady teachers. The men teachers all get hot Cajun peanuts that Eric orders to have at his store for customers every year. I love to get an extra box for us to divide up for gifts. I'll let your imagination run wild with the fun jokes we make about Eric's hot peanuts. :-0

Other stuff: Project Life and Daily December updates will be coming up this week. I've been working away but just haven't had the chance to get some blog posts in.

Etsy SALE: I've got quite a few items in my shop on sale. Don't miss out on my newest batch of Wrinkle Ribbon bundles. I'm making room for new items to come in 2012. Yes, the chevron bags and Kraft bags will be back in stock. :)