Too Good to be Truffles

All this week, I'll be showing you how to

make your own ornaments using this

easy to make salt dough recipe.

Today, we'll be using this blah -- paper liners

that scrumptious chocolates used to sit on.

I rolled balls out of the salt dough and passed a skewer

through the top for holes where I can insert a

piece of string.

Then I baked the balls in 250 degree oven.

Once cool, I painted and decorated!

Here's what they look like now:

TADA!

Truffle ornaments!

Don't they look like the real thing?

Adding a silver cord will indicate that these

chocolate bonbons are not edible.

Then you can hang them on the tree!

A Christmas Card

Let me tell you about something I came across

in the public garbage can. I found a clear plastic

bag (sealed) containing these:

CD envelopes!

Fifty pieces of clean, unused CD envelopes!

Clearly, nobody had wanted these, so I helped myself

to the stack. {But please know that no matter how much

I like making stuff out of "trash", I don't go through

other people's garbage bins. Heehee!}

Okay, here's what I eventually used them for:

TADA!

My 2010 Christmas card!

Inspired by this card I crafted last year, I decided

to include a handmade ornament.

Using this salt dough recipe, I made heart-shaped

ornaments with a cookie cutter. I added a hole on top

with a skewer and then baked these in the oven.

After cooling, I painted the hearts in a sparkly silver.

Then I slipped in a silver cord through the hole

and attached the ornament on red card stock

(trimmed to fit the CD envelope)

with a holiday message.

I wrote more personal messages on the

back plus a suggestion on how to use

the ornament: on a tree, a wreath or

around a doorknob.

I hope my relatives and friends

like this card + ornament that they

can use year after year!

Mint + Chocolate

Howdy! Look at what I have as a blah today:

An empty chocolate and gum box.

A bit blah but I like these because they resemble envelopes.

But nothing that gift wrap can't solve.

I added dimension with layers of these scalloped coins

(made from a puncher).

Plus a little contrast with fuchsia sequins.

These make for nifty gift boxes for small presents

but have lots of impact.

Have a great weekend!

Generic to Fantastic

If you're giving away gift cards for the holidays,

add a little personality to the packaging.

When you purchase the gift card, it sometimes comes with an envelope.

But isn't this so blah?

Make it TADA!

Add some glitter & bling to match the

sparkle & shine of the holidays.

This tinsel was from a gift I got last year

that I simply hot glued on the face of the envelope.

Add the card and a brief, cheerful message!

Gingerbread Lady

All this week, I'm sharing some wrapping ideas

for small gifts that you'll be giving away.

When the holidays come around, there's

a lot of baking involved & packages received.

Make sure to save those empty boxes!

These are blahs that can become TADAs!

I can't help but think of gingerbread people

at this time of year. So I took out the cookie

cutter and traced the shape on the cardboard.

Then I painted it all over in a festive color &

attached some ribbon at the top with hot glue.

Tada! It looks like an ornament!

By adding two holes, it can be used to

"wrap" a pair of earrings.

Something you made yourself or found at a craft fair.

You can use it to highlight a necklace, too.

Tuck this gingerbread lady in a small gift box

if you want to keep the gift a surprise.

Bear-y Christmas!

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for

visiting Delia's blog yesterday where I turned a blah paper bag

into a TADA! envelope. Perfect for money gifts and tips.

Today, I have another idea to "disguise" a gift card

(some people may think it's impersonal to give a gift card,

I don't -- I think it's practical and let's the recipient pick

what he or she really, really wants!)

Blah: a teddy bear that was a promotional freebie.

Remove the tag and replace with a small envelope

(I made this using construction paper).

Secure it to the bear with ribbon or small amount of hot glue.

Insert the gift card and finish with a sweet note.

TADA! No one can resist the charm of this bear

who comes bearing a gift!

Have a great day!

Big Gifts in Small Packages

How was your weekend?

I hope you were able to find some "me" time in the midst of

holiday preparations and year end deadlines.

This week, I'll be showing you ways to wrap small gifts

that are big in value.

Today's blah:

A plain paper bag.

To see the TADA!, you'll have to visit

Delia's blog where I'm a guest blogger.

What are you waiting for?

It's time to hop on over to Delia's!

The Gingerbread Man

If yesterday, I made my version of a gingerbread house,

today, I might as well make a gingerbread man, right?

So I'll start off with blah, empty food cartons like these:

Then cover each in left-over gift wrap.

Add some cord for the handles, attach

my good looking gingerbread man and...

Tada! A cute gift box!

Have a fantastic weekend!

A Gingerbread House

This week on my blog, it's all about crafting gift boxes

for your Christmas presents.

They're easy and inexpensive to make,

they look fabulous and the basic materials come

from your kitchen cupboard.

Like the blah cracker box.

With a little transformation using my magic wand...

Tada! It's an adorable gingerbread house!

Just insert the gift {wrap it in tissue for

added surprise} in the opening on top.

The recipient can then re-use this box

for future gift giving!

Let It Snow

Before throwing away empty boxes from your pantry,

I suggest you give them a make-over.

For instance:

This box used to contain sugar.

So blah.

Tada! A gift box that's ready for use!

Dress it up with paper or felt and

decorate with your favorite Christmas character.

Add a touch of glitter {pretending to be snow}

for some extra shine!

A Barrel of Wishes

Creating gift wrap solutions while recycling is hitting

two birds with one stone. And I'm trying to hit as

many birds as I can!

Today, this is what I'm recycling:

An empty, blah oatmeal container.

Tada! It's now a unique gift box with a cover!

All I did was to wrap the cylinder in felt

(or use decorative paper) and attach

some embroidered "wishes".

Use it to package food gifts like cookies & bars

or even bags of tea or coffee, bottles of jam or

small jars of spices & sea salt.

Gift Boxes

The holidays are here and Christmas shopping must be

on your mind. When I think of Christmas presents,

gift wrapping isn't far behind.

I've turned empty boxes into pretty packages before

and I've got a few more ideas all this week.

Blah: an empty tissue box

Tada!: a gift box dressed appropriately for the season!

Simply cut off the top of the box, cover it with felt (or paper) and

accessorize with Santa's belt with glittery buckle.

Wrap your gift in tissue & put it into the box.

Tada!

Thanksgiving Friday

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Now, the holidays are officially here!

Today, I am thankful for REWARDS.

Rewarding yourself often is absolutely necessary.

Photo taken at Jacques Torres' ice cream

shop in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Thanksgiving Thursday

It's Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S. and

I want to wish all of you a "Happy Thanksgiving"!

Today, I am thankful for GRATITUDE.

Graffiti photo taken in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Thanksgiving Wednesday

Today, I'm thankful for the ABILITY TO CREATE.

Photo taken at a shop in Brooklyn Heights, New York City.

Thanksgiving Tuesday

Today, I'm thankful for INSPIRATION.

Photo taken at the Museum of Modern Art Store

in New York City.

Thanksgiving Week

Hello there!

We're celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S. this Thursday

and I'll take a break from crafting to make time

for some thanks giving. I think it's important to

count our blessings and see how rich we truly are.

Today, I'm thankful for MIRACLES.

A photo of the TV screen last month, where rescue operations were

on-going to save 33 miners trapped underground for 69 days.

The world watched in awe when each miner was brought to

safety and into the arms of their loved ones.

Absolutely breathtaking.