Personalized Gift Tags

I love giving gifts.  It is just so fun to think of something that someone will really enjoy, and buy it for them.  And, one thing I love to do before giving a gift, is making it even more personalized with the wrapping.  There is just something about the little details that can make someone feel that much more special.

We celebrated many birthdays in July.  One being the first birthday of Lincoln's friend, Micah; and another being our sister-in-law Lisa's 27th birthday.  I decided to wrap the gifts each in the same paper... and make similar gift tags to top them off.

These just kind of came together as I went.  And, it only took maybe 5 minutes total.  Even better.

I just free-hand drew some letters on the extra wrapping paper after cutting it to the size of the gift.  Put it through my trusty sticker maker (which I love... and works like a champ at its ripe 'ole age of 9 years... at least!), stuck the letters to cardstock, cut it out with fun scissors, outlined in permanent marker and added an eyelet to make it feel a bit more finished.

And, of course you have to add ribbon... real ribbon... in colors to suit the special person!

I think that these will become bookmarks.  Even better.  The cuteness lives on.

Simple Scrappy Birthday Card

So, I just stumbled upon a collection of pictures from my scrapbooking phase. 

I tend to craft in phases - depending on what stuff I decide to let explode all over the kitchen table.  I have always had dreams of a crafting room... where I can have my projects out and can close the door when the crafting chaos isn't a welcomed sight.  (...gasp!  I know - how could it ever not be welcome?!)

So, here is more scrapbooking goodness.  I love the idea of cards that are personalized just for the person to recieve them.  This one was made for my now brother-in-law's birthday a few years ago.

I guess the B could stand for Birthday - but in this case it was for his first name....

And, when you open the little tie, you get to see the birthday wishes....

And, then you can flip up the card and write your own message inside.

I love the tie, destressed edges, and the bronze staples.  A few guy-friendly details.  I like to think that scrapbooking goes to the next level when you pay attention to the details.  This card could really be personalized for any event... not just birthday wishes.

It's funny because this is about as masculine as I can get in my scrapbooking.  It's just so hard to try to persuade myself that ribbons, and grommets, and chalking and inking screams 'MAN!'.  It usually just is more female-friendly... although I think it's just good taste and cute, right?!

I'm hoping to get back to current-day crafting adventures... but work demands are making me look back at my past adventures... which isn't all bad, either! 

Paper Bag Books

Okay - so I love these.  They kind of combine all the goodness of scrapbooking, sewing (just barely), actual physical cards (which I think are all too rare anymore) and a whole bunch of thoughtfulness.

I have made a few, and I really don't know why I haven't made more.  Well... maybe I do.  I sometimes take hours doing a page in a scrapbook... so I would have to say it's safe to say that these would take me a long time.  And, I love doing them - so I'm not complaining one bit.  It's just that whole thing of there not being enough crafting hours in a day.  Bummer.

I made this one for my dad after he traveled to good 'ole Chi-town to support me in my 4th Breast Cancer 3-Day walk.  (Which, is all together a whole different series of posts because it is such an amazing and life changing event).  For those of you not familiar - the 3-Day is a walk that spans, you guessed it, 3 days.  We walk 20 miles per day - a total of 60 miles.  For these three days it is totally socially acceptable, and quite encouraged, to wear bras overtop tank-tops, on your hat, swirling around in the air, etc.  It's not everyday that I walk around in the wide-open public wearing a feather bra, a flowered coconut bra, or glittery seashell bra.  And, yes, I did make all three!  Hooray!  The crafting spans into 3-day accessories!

So, onto the paper bag book.  It is a cute way to make a card/book/scrapbooking momento/etc. 

All you do is take paper lunch bags.  I actually stumbled upon extra large bags - which was more fun because you can fit more onto a page. Stack the bags on top of one another.  I alternate the bags, so that the closed end of one is on top of the open end of another.  Stack as many as you want, and stitch down the center.  And - there you have it - a paperbag book!

Now, it is up to you just how you decorate it.  The open ends of the bags become little pockets to slip in extra little surprises.

They are so easy. So cute.  And such a fun surprise when someone is expecting a card to accompany a gift... or when they're expecting nothing at all.

Happy Crafting!