An Easter Gift For Friends & Neighbours...

I made up a little Easter gift for a friend today and I thought you might like to take a peek!

If you are looking for a hostess gift or a small gift for friends or neighbours for Easter, this may be just what you are looking for!

It involves two of my favourite things for gift-giving....homemade treats and a recycled container made into a beautiful-looking package.

I have seen so many recyled egg cartons made into lovely things on pinterest, I was inspired to create one of my own.

I took this empty egg carton...

and filled it with homemade mini-cupcakes.

But you could also fill it with two-bite brownies, small cookies or mini-muffins...or an assortment of colourful Easter candy.

And here's the fun part which I love... decorate the container with scrapbook papers and embellishments.

If you don't have scrapbook paper, wrappping paper would be just as pretty.

I used 2 different patterns of scrapbook paper that I trimmed to fit using a paper trimmer, but scissors would work just as well.

I wrapped the papers around the egg carton just like wrapping a present and I used scotch tape.

 And I embellished the top with a white paper doily, pink raffia, paper flower and a button.

It certainly takes the egg carton from a 'scrubbing Cinderella' to a 'beautiful Cinderella' at the Prince's ball, don't you think?

This post is linked to these fun parties:

Valentine-Sweetspiration Week: Pretty Packaging

If you have read my blog for any amount of time....you know how I love pretty packaging.

And I want to share with some you great ideas for packaging for those little cupcakes we made yesterday.

But first, I want to tell you about my day.

In my little corner of the world, it was -28 celsius when we woke up this morning at 6:50 am.

Check out the thick frost on the inside of the window in our breakfast area.

And on the door.

Brrrr.

I spent my day inside of course. We drove the kids to school this morning and dropped them off at the door.

Then I came home to change one person's bedsheets to flannel.

I made a BIG pot of soup...Italian Wedding Soup.

Made a huge fruit platter...so when my baby birds returned to the nest, there would be warmth and food.

I kept the fireplace burning.

At 2:48 pm, I drove to my daughter's bus stop to pick her up.

The windchill made the temperature feel like -48.

She said a grateful 'thankful' as the icy wind sliced thru the car when she opened the door. 

So let's get back to the little cupcakes we made yesterday...

I wanted to share with you an idea for using a recycled cracker box to package baked goods.

 Cut the box open like shown.

 Cut off one large side of the box that will allow the box to become an open basket.

 Now fold the box back up with the printing on the inside.

 And staple the sides to secure &  hold the shape.

 Now add some pretty tissue paper and place the goodies inside.

And wrap using some cellophane wrap.{saran wrap would also work.}

Finish off with a ribbon and a little decoration.

Now you have a pretty package ready for giving.

{I found the cupcake ribbon at Walmart after Christmas for 54 cents a roll.

It was part of the Christmas inventory. Such a lucky find!}

 I also found these darling little chinese take-out containers at the Dollarama.

There were 8 in a package for a dollar.

 They are the perfect size for the little cupcakes we made yesterday.

Just add a little square of tissue paper...and place the goodie inside.

 Perfect for taking to school for little friends, or sharing with neighbours.

They would also make a great table favour or take home treat for a gathering.

Tomorrow I will be sharing some decorating for Valentine's Day.

Stay warm...xo

10 Homemade Gift Ideas For Friends & Neighbours...

Hi there!

With just a few short weeks 'til Christmas, I thought I would do a roundup of all the projects I have made in my very own kitchen to share with you.

I seldom buy gifts for friends and neighbours as I usually make something from the kitchen to share.

I love homemade and I am always so touched when I receive a homemade gift.
I have forever been inspired by my Mother, Sandra...and her family.
My mother, to me, outdoes Martha Stewart any day of the week!
{And she does not have a boatload of assistants, or professionals to do it for her!}
For  years my mother has made homemade gifts for her 5 brothers & sisters and friends for Christmas.
She always gave homemade baking, or she would tramp around in the woods, cutting boughs of greenery to bring home to make fresh Christmas centerpieces for everyone!
My Uncle Derrick has traditionally given us his delicious homemade carrot cake every year.
And my dear Aunt Janet was famous for her Nanaimo Bars.
And my Aunt Nannette always has some delicious recipe on the go! Her peanut brittle recipe is easy & so yummy!
And I know we are not the only family who show our love with gifts from the kitchen....there are thousands of home cooks out there who do the same!

I hope you enjoy these projects and find something that you feel inspired to try!

***

1-Homemade easy sugar cookies packaged in a chinese takeout container and prettied up with ribbon and a tag.

{We are giving these to a few neighbours this year.}

2-Peppermint Foot Soak mixed up in a few minutes and packaged in jars with a lil'  ribbon & a candy cane.

{I made these for a few girlfriends and skating coaches this year.} 

3-Homemade Strawberry Butter. Add homemade biscuits or a can of pre-made biscuits from the grocery store and you are ready to go!

{I made these for a few girlfriends this year.}

4- Homemade cookies or fudge packaged in a dazzled up pringles can.

{Giving these to a few teachers this year.}

5- Christmas Cookie Oreo Pops. So good and fun to look at!

{I made over 50 of these this year. Great to use as table decoration!}

6- A Cookie Mix in a 1 litre mason jar.

{We are giving these to a few hockey families this year who have helped us out by giving our boy a ride sometimes.}

7- or  packaged in a paper bag.

8- Homemade no bake cherry balls in a sweet little box.

{We gave these out to friends last year.}

9- Pretzel hugs packaged up in baggies with a topper made on your home computer.

This is a great project for kids to make on their own.

{We gave these as a gift to teachers one year.}

10-Chocolate Christmas Dream cookies packaged in bags with some cardstock behind the cookie to keep it from breaking and toppers made on our home computer.

{My daughter gave these to her skating teammates one year.}

So there you have it....a few ideas that you can whip up in your kitchen which are economical and pretty to look at!

Wishing you happy project-making in your kitchen!

This post is linked to these terrific parties: