Gift Ideas Archives - Page 23 of 25

A Toast to the Happy Couple-Wedding Present Idea & Easy Bow

January 14, 2010 By Michelle Barneck 10 Comments

Ever wonder what to give for a wedding or bridal shower gift? Living in Utah, we get A LOT of wedding invitations. I always shop from the registry because let’s face it, they are going to love something they picked out, but I wanted something to make it have a little more personality. We recently had a shower for my hubs cousin and I came up with this wedding present idea.

There is always a toaster on the list and it is always kind of the joke present. You know, giving someone a toaster. So I ran with the toaster idea and made this toast card to go along with it.

I just found the toaster and toast pics online, added the words in Photoshop and printed it out on white cardstock. It reads, “Here’s a toast to two amazing people finding love.

I think this may be my new go to wedding gift!

Click Thumbnail above to print card template. Then just cut out and glue together.

I also really loved this easy bow. Cut a whole bunch of strips of different ribbon, about 7 in long to match your wrapping paper. With a strip of tulle tie a knot around the center of all the ribbon to hold it together. Then, tie the tulle in to a normal bow like tying your shoes and spread out the other ribbons. Easy peasy!

Do you have a signature wedding gift?

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Show a Little Love: You’ve Got Mail

January 10, 2010 By Michelle Barneck 6 Comments

This month I am going to do a series of posts called “Show a Little Love.” I think it is quite appropriate with Valentine’s Day coming up. But, mind you, these will not all be lovey dovey romance kinds of posts. They can be showing love for a friend, family member etc. too. You’ll see as we go along.

This first idea is so simple, but has been so fun! I bought this little mailbox at Target for $1. You could really decorate it and make it cute, but I know my husband and he would not think it was for him covered in ribbon and hearts. I was playing to my audience and lucky for me, to him, simple is better.

I placed it on our kitchen table and inside put a little love note expressing appreciation and love for the hubs. Nothing complicated. No sonnets or novels, just a sentence or two saying “Thanks for doing the dishes this morning. It is so nice to wake up to a clean sink. I love you!” Or something like unto it. I put the little flag up and waited for him to notice it. It did not take long. he came home from work, saw it and said, “Did you write me a letter?!”

Now we randomly stick notes in it and put the flag up to alert the other that they have mail. It has been really fun to give and get random little notes and compliments. I especially love it because the hubs usually leaves for work before I am up (hey, he leaves at 6:45) and this is a fun way to communicate in the morning.

Now it’s your turn to share your ideas on how to “Show a Little Love!” Leave your link below! Be sure it is the direct link to the post not just to your blog. Also, please link back to this post so they can see the rest of the ideas too!

Show a Little Love button made using Shabby Princess 2006 Seasonal Sampler

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Stamped Washer Necklace Tutorial: Courage

December 16, 2009 By Michelle Barneck 22 Comments

We always have a special Christmas lesson for our Young Women at one of our homes the Sunday before Christmas and wanted something special to give our Beehive class. My wonderful adviser and crafty girl extraordinaire, Amanda (from Every Crafty Endeavor), came up with the idea and the supplies to do stamped washer necklaces that say Courage to go along with next year’s mutual theme. I am so nice and took pics of the process so that you can do it too. I know, I know…too kind.

(Stay tuned for how we tie them in to the Christmas nativity lesson)

Supplies Needed:

Heavy Hammer (you can use a regular one, you will just have to hit harder)
Washers (ours were about an inch)
Alphabet stamp set
Black permanent marker
Baby wipe
Leather, ribbon, or a chain to put the charm on

Stamp sets are available on Amazon for $15 if you need one. *Update: I just bought a stamp set on sale from Harbor Freight for $10 including shipping!

1. Take your supplies to a concrete area so you don’t damage whatever is under your stamping. (We froze our little tushes on the porch in 30 degree weather, but the end result was well worth it and it really did not take that long.) Pull out the letters you will be using and put them in order. Place the first letter stamp equidistant from the hole in the middle and the edge. Now, with the other hand, whack the stamp with the hammer 3 or 4 times (depending on how hard you hit and the weight of your hammer).

See cute Amanda demonstrating her great skill.

2. Keep it going with the other letters. Place the next letter by aligning the edge of the stamp with the first letter and turning a hair so it follows the curve of the washer. This may take some getting used to. We had to redo some. Continue with each letter.

3. Once you have the letters stamped, get your permanent marker ready. Color over the letters so that the indentions are black. If you have a stubby marker like me this may take some doing. Once all the letters are covered, wipe with a baby wipe until you are left with black only in the letter indentions. I would do each washer one at a time. It is easy to wipe off when they have not been sitting.

4. Now just thread your “chain” of choice through the hole and you are good to go.

I love how they turned out! I love that they represent the theme so well! “Be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua 1:9

Now, for how they will be tied to the lesson. We are going to be talking about how each of the people in the Nativity Story had to have great courage. We will talk about each piece of the nativity as we place it on the table and also have a song to go with it.

Mary-to be the mother to God’s Son and to travel to Bethlehem 9 mos. pregnant and give birth in a stable
Joseph-to find out his wife to be will be giving birth to God’s Son
Jesus-to be the one to volunteer to come to earth and sacrifice himself for us
Shepherds-to have an angel come and then go to find the Christ child. Spreading the word to others.
Three Kings-followed a star to find the Christ child and did not tell Herod where He was

I am so excited for this lesson! It is so personal to have it in Amanda’s home with the fire crackling and everything so cozy. Last year, the Christmas lesson was AMAZING and I can only imagine this year will be the same!

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DIY Christmas Gifts

December 4, 2009 By Michelle Barneck 8 Comments

Christmas is upon us and that means we need to be thinking about gifts for our neighbors and friends. For Feature Friday today I decided to put together a little round up of DIY Christmas gifts that won’t break the bank. So let’s get to it! Here are some of my favorite friend/teacher/neighbor gift finds. (And by favorite I mean easy too!)

Festive Hand Sanitizers from Sister’s Stuff
Can’t wait until my little guy is in school so I can give his teachers cute things like this!

S’more Clay Ornaments from Little Birdie Secrets
Someone can make me one of these for my tree. 😉 Check out the tutorial, they are totally doable!

Free Brownies from How Does She
I think this is hilarious! Make your own darn treats! Plus, if you are like me you are frightened to eat much of the homemade things that come through the door at Christmas time anyway. It is very sweet to get a plate of goodies that the kids helped with, but I have seen kids make treats and I do not want to eat them afterward. I’m just sayin‘.

Pop Top Treats from How Does She
How fun is this?! I remember my mom canned one of each of our presents one year. It was really fun to have to open it with a can opener!

Snowman Soup from Lori’s Country Creations

I LOVE cocoa. (My hubs despises all my mugs.) What could be better than cocoa with all this fun stuff in it!

Christmas Potpourri from Creative Holiday Gift Ideas
My mom makes this and lets it simmer and I just want to stand over it, close my eyes and breathe it in all day. It smells so delicious!

Well, hopefully you are all set now for DIY Christmas gifts and can get going on your neighbor gifts so you can get them out early and enjoy the rest of the month! Happy holidays!