A Bundle of Fun

Hey guys! Today's craft is inspired by these little bundles:

They're filled with all sorts of fragrant and luxurious bath products. Perfect for gifts because they're already wrapped!

TADA! Here is my version. 

I used the Japanese art of furoshiki using a bandana. A vintage handkerchief is another option, too.

When it's unwrapped, here's what you'll see inside.

I followed a Japanese theme. There's a face mask, a very useful book that I want to pass along, green tea, some panda-shaped biscuits and a chocolate bar. TADA!

I hope my friend who receives this will agree that it is a bundle of fun!

Used Postal Stamps

I've waxed romantic of my love for snail mail. What's not to love? An envelope arrives in your mailbox and inside it is a carefully chosen card or stationery, with handwritten words from someone who cares about you! And then it's taken to the post office...just the start of this letter's journey. 

I love snail mail so much that I've even kept the postage stamps! These are little pieces of art, a snapshot of history, and currency all rolled into one. Without them, the letter or package would never arrive.

Today, I'm using some of these stamps for something practical and extends the life of these cancelled stamps. 

First up, an empty plastic box.

Lay-out the stamps on top of the box and once you're satisfied with their placement, carefully stick them on using all purpose glue.

Allow this to dry.

I added a layer of dimensional magic glue for a glossy and raised look (this is an optional step).

And here is what the box looks like. It's ready to store desk supplies or small fashion accessories...TADA!

Travel Tags

August. It's summer where I live and it's travel season!

I saw this at an airport and I thought it would be a cute craft idea:

These are travel tags or ID tags for your luggage. I think it would be easy to recreate using an ID sleeve. Just tuck in a favorite photograph with your contact information at the back (in case your bags get lost) and TADA!, instant luggage tag.

Here's a version I made:

I would use wire rings so that the tag is more sturdy given all the abuse luggage goes through getting from the ground to the plane and vice versa.

I found an excuse to rifle through my stash of scrapbook paper. 

I choose this cheerful lemon print.

I cut it to size, added my information, and put them inside the plastic sleeves.

I'll be able to spot my luggage from far away. Kids can use this on their bags for back-to-school season, too.

Old ID badges now have new life. TADA!

Happy travels ya'all!

Pressed Flower Pendant

Hey, hey, hey! Are you ready for some crafting today?

During the spring, I took some time outdoors to pick flowers. 

Then I put them in my flower press. They were sandwiched in layers of paper to absorb all the moisture. The screws were adjusted everyday to flatten the flowers even more. 

After a few weeks, the flowers were dry and flat. Yet they still possessed their vibrant color.

I snipped off the stems and put the buds in this recessed pendant that I got at the craft store.

I covered the flowers with this nifty dimensional glue.

In the beginning, it was cloudy but eventually dries clear.

Here is my pressed flower pendant (the color faded; the petals must have reacted to the dimensional glue).

And here are the other pressed flower pendants I made. TADA!

A Quiet Spot in the City

I wish I had a garden, a place where I could plant flowers and edibles like herbs and tomatoes. A garden where I could put a bench or a hammock to spend balmy afternoons. A garden that had a dining table to gather loved ones for a home-cooked meal and a home-baked cake.

I live in an apartment building and I don't have a garden to call my own. 

Thankfully, I found this spot in the heart of the city.

It's in Greenwich Village. It's gated and fenced in but is open to the public.

It's called Jeffereson Market Garden.

It's vibrant in the late spring and the whole of summer.

It has pretty paths and the most spectacular array of flowers...

The noise from the street is tuned out with these tranquil sounds...

A babbling pond...

A collection of fountains...

And gentle wind chimes.

There's a greenhouse...

And a few birdhouses.

 

There are some benches for rest, reading, and meditation.

I guess having my own garden isn't so bad after all...TADA! 

A New Iron-on Patch

Iron-on patches are a quick way to turn blah into TADA! It's a fun addition to jackets, shirts, bags, and shoes. 

I got myself this adorable sneaker patch. I'm a big sneaker fan -- comfort all the way!

It's a new addition to my project pouch.

Simply apply to the pouch with a hot iron and allow to cool.

The spaces on this pouch are slowly filling up with patches from travels, turning a plain pouch from blah to TADA! 

Hostess Gift Ideas

Whenever we're invited to stay at a friend's place, it's always TADA! to be a gracious guest. That means being helpful around the house, being considerate (especially when sharing spaces like the bathroom), and expressing appreciation. And one way to do that is with a hostess gift!

Here is one that I assembled. It has a set of six placemats, a bottle of dish soap and handsoap. These items are useful in any home, but it's also a nice touch to think of your host's lifestyle. The friends who I gave this to cook and entertain a lot. 

Instead of putting the items in a gift bag, I packaged them like a gift basket. I painted an empty clementine crate (blah to TADA!) and added "Merci Beaucoup" (Thank you very much in French) in brush lettering. You can't see it but at the base, there's shredded paper so that the items don't move around. And I enclosed a handwritten card, too.

Guess what?! My friends loved the gift and used them at breakfast the very next day. TADA!

Here are a few more ideas whether you're visiting for dinner are staying a few days:

If you like to pickle or make preserves, a jar of your handiwork will impress them. This is roasted garlic in olive oil that can be used for pasta or salad.

Homemade granola that can be enjoyed with yogurt, oatmeal, and on top of baked goods.

Baked goods -- whether from your kitchen or a favorite bakery in your town.

A candle (store-bought or handmade) that will bring scent and warmth to a home.

I hope these ideas are helpful! What about you? What hostess gifts do you like to give?