From one of my very favorite blogs, Twig & Thistle, comes these fabulous free printable Valentine treat bags and favor box.
Print the download on white paper sacks to make the most darling DIY Valentine Goody Bags.
These DIY Brownie Bags make the perfect packaging for heart shaped brownies.
And for the apple of your eye a little DIY Sweetie Pie box to hold an apple hand pie.
...such sweet goodies. Enjoy!
Wow November got away from me and here we are in December. Advent is a big part of our holiday celebrations. You can see some of our Advent Calendar ideas here, here and here. Our entire family enjoys reading Jotham's Journey
If you are looking for something really quick to use for an Advent Calendar, simply download these tags.
Advent Tags Numbers 1-3-5-7-9-11
Advent Tags Numbers 2-4-6-8-10-12
Advent Tags Numbers 13-15-17-19-21
Advent Tags Numbers 14-16-18-20-22-24
If you would like to change all of the papers and make your own unique tags, Steph from The Daily Digi, made digital files for you to play with. Please use these files for personal use only. Generously included in these files are free papers and information on using the files. You might also want to check Steph's last tutorial on Digital Cupcake Wrappers for more information on using digital files. Also these new holiday papers she has included would make great cupcake wrappers for the holidays. If you would like more holiday papers please visit The Daily Digi Shop where you will find some fun holiday papers like these and these.
Digital Advent Tags Files for Photoshop users
Digital Advent Tags Files for other photo editing software users (tiff)
Cut out the tags, glue to the front of envelopes (you could also print on sticker paper). Use a long string and mini clothes pins to clip the envelopes to the string and wah-lah you have a simple Advent Calendar. You can fill the envelopes with tiny surprises or slips of paper with activities to do with your family each day.
You could also glue the tags to the front of hang tags and write the activities on the backs or print the tags on card stock , punch a hole, add a ribbon and use as tags for wrapped boxes.
At our house we normally have a brainstorming session and the kids throw out ideas of things they would like to do throughout Advent. Here are some ideas to get you started.
and make grilled cheese and apple pies in the fireplace)
Papel picado ("perforated paper") is the beautiful Mexican art of cutting paper into elaborate designs. One of the best sites on the web, The Toymaker, has some simple templates to make your own papel picado Halloween banner.
Traditionally tissue paper is used to make these banners. We had good luck using crepe paper. I printed out the designs, foldel the template in half along with a piece of crepe paper inside and fastened with paper clips. My daughter then was able to cut around the outside edges eaisly. I helped with the inside bits.
Cut out as many as you like.
To make ready for hanging we folded the top edge over a piece of string and glued, being careful not to stretch the crepe paper.
What a simple way to make your home festive!
Be sure to visit the Toymaker for all her lovely paper toys. I love her darling cat favor boxes.
The web is overflowing with Halloween treats!
Allsort's Spooky Spinners too clever!
Looking for the perfect goody to give to a friend? Living Locurto shares her darling cookie mix.
If you don't mind the cutting, these cupcake toppers are fabulous from a Fanciful Twist.
Living Locurto has these fun printable cup sleeves.
Accent the Party shares these Halloween Cupcake Picks.
The ever creative Cottage Industrialist shares these fun invites.
PaperCrave always has something awesome to offer. Check out these favor boxes with a choice of papers.
Halloween Labels from Paper Glitter.
Holiday Crafts and Creations has these cool coffin favor boxes.
A Work In Progress has made these cool Ghostie Pillow Boxes.
Design.Wash.Rinse.Repeat shares her creative pumpkin pops and...
her uber cool spooky labels.
I have been having some more fun with the Cricut. They just released four new awesome cartridges, Every Day Paper Dolls, From My Kitchen, Sweethearts and Winter Woodland. So much you can do with this machine and so little time. I tried out the new Everyday Paper Doll cartridge and my little girl was in heaven.
We used the Paper Doll cartridge and fun foam to make perfect sewing dolls.
To cut the fun foam I purchased a Deep Cut Blade
I used a 1/8 " hole punch to make the holes for sewing. Once I had the doll punched I placed the clothes underneath and used a dull needle to mark where the holes on the clothes needed to go so they matched up.
A dull yarn needle and some yarn works great to sew the clothes to the doll!
Magnetic sheets, paper scraps, recycled cardboard and spray adhesive made darling magnetic dolls.
I had best results when I used the deep blade set at 5.5 with high pressure and low speed. I found the mat must be really sticky! The cereal box was cut at 6 blade depth, max pressure and low speed. I am sure settings will vary, this is just a starting point! This doll is 7".
After the doll and clothes were cut, I glued the patterned paper to the shapes with spray adhesive. Make sure you glue the paper to the appropriate side of magnet so it is magnetic. The doll shape was glued to a recycled cereal box to make it more rigid. They do make magnet sheets that are adhesive if you like. You can probably cover the black magnet with paper to match you child's skin tone, but my daughter wanted hers black.
I even made her a little holder for her dolls. Wouldn't this make a cute gift?
This machine is clearly a crafty investment. If you are unable to make that investment right now have no worries. Simply draw out a doll shape (look online or at coloring books for inspiration) on the fun foam or magnetic sheets and cut by hand.
I was concerned that since I don't scrapbook this machine would go un-used--so not true. I have found that we use this machine for a variety of uses. My boys 17 & 12 have made cards, favors and completed school projects, my husband was able to make a vinyl lettered sign for work (all by himself and was thrilled to have saved hundreds of dollars), I have enjoyed cutting favor boxes and fabric for applique. It has been unbelievably handy for Sunday School and cutting shapes for various projects. It is just a very useful and clever machine!
Cricut is hosting another fabulous giveaway to Win a Gypsy and a trip of a lifetime! They’re giving away over 200 Gypsies, 20 travel packages and a "Cricut Swarm" in one of five fabulous locations. Purchase one of four new Cricut cartridges for a chance to win. Look for winning cards in the new Every Day Paper Dolls, From My Kitchen, Sweethearts or Winter Woodland cartridges.
Looking for more ways to win? Enter Today's Mama's Great Escape Meme Contest!
