Banana Bread Thank You

Our local Farmer's Market generously allowed our church Food Pantry to collect produce donations all summer!  I wanted to say "Thank You!" to the farmers who donated to us and to the proprietors of the market who enabled us to be there!

I made some mini banana bread loaves and let them cool completely.  Then I wrapped them in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to keep them fresh.  I wrapped all of that in a cute napkin (Pioneer Woman at Walmart) and tied the ends with jute twine.  Next, I added burlap ribbon, tulle, and a gift tag.  The gift tags can be downloaded HERE.  I also made matching clothespins as an extra "happy"!  (instructions for those can be found HERE.)  I gave these to all the farmers and vendors who had been so kind to us!

For the proprietors, I made a small gift basket with the wrapped banana bread, candle, coasters, and other local or homemade items!

Being at the farmer's market was a great experience and we are so thankful for the fresh produce we were able to provide to the needy in our community!

Donut Thank You

This is such a cute printable to pair with donuts as a gift for anyone!

You can print page 1 on the front & page 2 upside down on the back and fold it in half to make a card.  Add a personal note and sign below the "Thank You" banner.  Download printable HERE.  If you would like to purchase the clip art I used to make these, you can find it HERE.

Now go give someone a donut and let them know how much you appreciate them!

"Cool" Coach Gifts

I wanted to get our swim team coaches a little something for all of their hard work over the summer!  I found these pocket fans at Academy for $3 each.  Using my Silhouette, I cut out the vinyl letters (Cafe Rojo font for the "H" & Pharmacy font for the "K", "A", & "T").  I then attached a tag that said "Thanks for being a cool coach!" with baker's twine.  You can download the tags HERE.  I love how these fans can fit in your pocket and know they will come in handy at a swim meet!

8 Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

I had a couple of people I wanted to take dinner to: one for a new job & one for a new house!  However, because it's summer, I haven't been doing much cooking at all!  So, I decided to bring ingredients instead in a cute bucket with a cute tag!  Here are the things to buy:

• bucket (found at Dollar Tree)
• 15oz can black beans
• 15oz can pinto beans
• 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
• 15oz can sweet corn
• 12.5oz can chicken breast
• 10.75oz can cream of chicken soup
• 10oz can enchilada sauce
• 14oz can chicken broth
• 1oz packet taco seasoning
• bag of tortilla chips

You can download the recipe tag HERE.  You can download the "Welcome to the Neighborhood" tag HERE.

Trays with Vinyl for Mother's Day

I used my Silhouette to add vinyl to some fun trays for Mother's Day!  They made a perfect gift when paired with a cute hand towel and cups!  See details below each picture.  Happy Mother's Day!

Tray: Hobby Lobby; Cups & Hand towel: Swoozies

Vinyl font: Cherry cream soda; Vinyl crab: "underwater tags toppers circles"

Tray: Hobby Lobby; Cups: Swoozies; Hand towel: local gift shop

Vinyl font: Cherry cream soda; Vinyl crab: "underwater tags toppers circles"

Tray: already had; Vinyl: "having the time of our life phrase"

Hot Chocolate Kits with Mugs

I am making Hot Chocolate Kits with Mugs for our cousins and friends this Christmas.  Here's how they turned out!

The hot chocolate kits contain a hot chocolate packet, candy cane, marshmallows, Hershey kisses, and caramel Hershey kisses.  I put all of these items in a clear bag and attached a tag with white tulle.  The tag says "Warmest Wishes for a Merry Christmas!" and can be downloaded HERE.

For the mugs, I followed all of the instructions from DON'T MIND IF I DO BLOG.  I used orange and black oil-based Sharpies to draw my design.  I let them sit overnight and then placed them in a cool oven.  I turned the oven on to 425 degrees and let them bake 30 minutes.  I let the oven cool completely before removing the mugs and inserting the hot chocolate kits.  The mugs are super cute!

Birch Christmas Ornaments

I made Birch Christmas Ornaments this year for all of our teachers, administrators, and special people at our schools, church, and activities!  These were super easy and I am so pleased with them!

I ordered 2"-2.5" birch tree slices with pre-drilled holes from Etsy.  I gathered a variety of Christmas stamps and used a brown ink pad to stamp the tree slices.  I stamped both sides of the ornament so that people could choose which side to display.  I personalized one side of the ornament with the name of our school, church, or activity.  Lastly, I used red baker's twine to attach a "Merry Christmas!" tag (you can download HERE) and form the ornament hanger.  So easy but so pretty!

Painter's Tape Artwork

I've been updating my Art Wall (see post) and needed some more art for my 6 year old son.  We decided to make this simple painter's tape artwork for the wall!  It was so easy and turned out great!

I bought a blank canvas and attached blue painter's tape in random patterns across it.  Make sure to press the tape down very well.  Then my son painted each shape with the color of his choice using acrylic paint.  I let it dry completely and then carefully peeled off the painter's tape.  (We only had a problem with a couple of colors getting under the tape and I think these were some older bottles of paint that were a more liquid consistency.  So, watch for that if you are using leftover paint.)  It looks awesome on the art wall!!

Valentine's Gift for Hubby

My husband has been traveling a lot lately, so I made this snack basket for him for Valentine's Day.  I got most of the tags from eighteen25 HERE but then had to create a few of my own for my husband's other favorites (sunflower seeds, beef jerky, & spearmint gum).  You can download my labels HERE.  A silly & sweet gift for the hubby!

Merry Movie Night Gift Bags

We have several kids that we need to get a small Christmas gift - a gesture of thoughtfulness without spending a lot of money.  This year, I decided to make them all Movie Night gift bags.  Each gift bag has a popcorn, movie-sized M&M box, mini sprite, & $2 to rent a Redbox game or movie.  I made a Redbox label to wrap around the $2 and put all of it in a small gift card box. You can download the Redbox wrap labels HERE.  I put everything in a plain white bag and added Christmas shapes cut with my Silhouette.  Then, I added a cute Merry Movie Night gift tag which you can download HERE.  I know my kids would LOVE to get this as a gift and I LOVE that it's a cheap, fun gift!

End of the Year Gifts for Other Teachers

I am made these luggage tags as small gifts for all the "other" teachers: music, art, computer, PE, administrators...  I used my Silhouette to cut the rectangle shapes out of scrapbook paper and also to cut the letters for the monogram.  I printed the last names with a border on my computer.  Then, I just assembled it all and ran it through my laminator.  I added a ribbon and a tag that said "Happy Summer Travels!".  You can download the tag HERE.  So cute!

Summer Fun Basket for Kids

This Summer Fun Basket was so easy to make!  I just got a basket from the Dollar Tree and filled it with bubbles, bubble wands, chalk, a jump rope, a frisbee, a mini football game, and silly string.  I think the kids will love it!

Get Well Soon Gift

If you've ever wondered what you could do with those big containers that cheese balls come in, I have an idea for you!  I recently knew someone in the hospital and decided to fill a clean cheese ball container full of things for the hospital stay.  I added magazines, change for the vending machines, gum, breakfast snacks, salty snacks, & sweet snacks.  It was the perfect container for all the goodies!

Monogrammed Bags

I found these cute jute handbags at Hobby Lobby for just $8 (less with a coupon)!  I decided I wanted one for myself and one for my second grader's teacher's birthday too.  And being from the South, I just HAD to add a monogram!  I used my Silhouette machine to make the monogram stencil.  I used "Contribute" font and cut it out of a thick cardstock.  I taped the monogram stencil to the bag with double sided tape and regular scotch tape.  I didn't have any problems with bleed through, but just to be careful I added wax paper and sheets of paper in between the two sides of the bag.  I mixed half fabric textile medium and half of my acrylic paint color (my new favorite color -  Anita's craft paint Hawaii - love!).  I carefully painted the monogram on with a thin brush.  I did 3 coats, let the paint dry completely, then carefully removed the stencil.  On the teacher's bag, I also used fabric glue to attach a strip of ribbon and a bow.  I think I'm going to have to make more of these!

Another One:

Another One Using a Different Bag:



More!:

Christmas Gift Ideas

I made these ornaments for all the extra teachers at our schools, the mailman, party hostesses, and anyone else I just needed a little something for.  This beautiful nativity ornament came from THIS BLOG.  There are detailed instructions for making it and I even bought their silhouette patterns from the Silhouette Online Store.  I did add the white tag on which I stamped "JOY" and attached with a silver ribbon.  I put the ornament in a clear bag with shredded white paper and tied it up with white tulle and a "Merry Christmas" tag.  You can download the gray 2" circle "Merry Christmas" tags HERE.  I'm super happy with how they turned out.  Thanks for the idea and patterns, The Sewer The Caker The Copycat Maker!

For my girlfriends, I made this cute Mistle"toe" set.  It contains nail polish, files, toe separators, and more!  I made tags that say "For Your Mistle'Toe's".  I printed them and cut them with my 2" circle punch.  You can download these tags HERE.  Then, I used my 2.5" scallop punch on some cute scrapbook paper.  I put my 2 punches together and tied everything up with lime tulle.  Fun & easy!