Gifts

What’s better than spending a rainy afternoon coloring? How about baking chocolate chip cookies? 

I thought both sounded pretty satisfying and came up with a way to combine the two for the ultimate Father’s Day craft project – a colorful and custom mailing tube, filled with homemade cookies!  Whether you’re shipping the cookies or just using the tube as a fun wrapper, this is definitely an affordable, fun and delicious Father’s Day gift idea that adults and kids will surely love making.

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Giving a photo of your child as a gift is a great idea for friends, family, and even teachers as the school year comes to a close. However, you do run into one dilemma – how to give it to them.  You can either just give them a bare photo or put it into a picture frame that will cost at least five to ten dollars and usually lack personality. A third option is to create your own custom picture that you and your kids can decorate and make personal. Plus it's pretty easy. You can print your photos off at home or using the Sony Picture Station available at many FedEx Office centers. And while there, ask one of the FedEx Office team members for a small easel back, which will cost less than a dollar. 

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I want to share one last idea before my wedding. For my ceremony, I decided to give little bells as our wedding favor, partly to pay homage to my last name one last time and also because I love the sweet, cheerful sound they make.  

I put them in baskets for my nephew to hand out to our guests just before my new husband and I get ready to say goodbye and hop in the vintage car we’ve rented. They’re small silver bells and I’ve made little tags to tie on each of them that say “Ring this bell for a fond farewell” on one side and “thank you for being part of our special day” on the other side.” After our guests send us off, they can keep the bell as a reminder of the day. 

Here’s how I made the tags: ...read more

Last February, I ran in the 12th Annual Mardi Gras Run in Dallas, and the first thing I noticed upon arriving at the race was the huge crowd of walkers and runners. I was a little intimidated at first – as it had been quite a few years since my last 5K – but I ended up having a total blast. Some people were dressed in wild costumes and others had their faces painted. Everyone seemed to have smiles on their faces and there was a collective energetic spirit in the air. The best part was the group of event volunteers standing around the finish line with armfuls of Mardi Gras beads. As each race participant crossed the finish line, they were showered with beaded necklaces in bright green, gold, silver, and purple colors.

In the days that followed the race, I found myself looking at my beads in admiration of my accomplishment and also puzzled as to what to do with them. I’m a big fan of recycling and repurposing. So, I put on my thinking cap and came up with a solution… I could use the beads for gift wrapping!

To help you see my vision, I put together a couple of samples. ...read more

It seems like birthday party season is upon us. My refrigerator is covered with invitations to toddler birthday parties. So I’ve started making my own gift tags that are reusable and that the moms adore – they’re backpack nametags that tie on perfectly to each kid’s gift bag.

To make them, I use the following steps: ...read more

I come from an extremely close family. So when my grandfather passed away in 1999, we all felt the loss. As Christmas approached, my mother decided she didn’t want everyone to focus on what had been lost as a family, but instead highlight all the good that occurred over the year. Thus the State of the Moyles Address was created. 

It started as the typical family holiday letter on a simple plain piece of paper with an opening statement about what had transpired to the Moyle family as a whole, and then included a little blurb about each family member. It was then inserted into the yearly Christmas cards she sent to friends and family all over the country. 

The positive reviews were staggering. This simple paper opened up communication between friends and family alike, and initiated “wow, I didn’t know that happened….” and “remember when...” conversations. It also added a personal touch to the standard Christmas card.  ...read more

I’m going to go ahead and declare it: What you are about to read is the best gift idea for the person who has everything. And by “person,” I mean your mother.   ...read more

I am a parent in the unconventional sense. My child is a feisty and fun white and dark gray (almost black) rat terrier fittingly named Oreo. And like most pet owners I know, I can’t imagine life without him. Neither can my parents…who take care of him when I’m traveling for work or just because they want their only “grandchild” to visit. So in my search for some last-minute stocking stuffer ideas, I decided to create them a small Oreo-themed 2010 calendar so they could see his smiling snout even when Oreo’s home with me! ...read more

With only one week until Christmas Eve, I know I need to buckle down and find meaningful gifts that won’t break my budget. I’ve always found it best to give a few trinkets that are useful and unique, along with a special note to remind friends and family how much I care. ...read more

I’ve always found beautifully framed photos of kids to be tried and true winners when it comes to giving holiday gifts to the grandparents each year. I’m sure you’ve found the same – even when it’s something you came up with last minute for Christmas or Hanukah. If you want to put a spin on it this year, think about putting together a family photo calendar. Some options to consider: ...read more