Skip To My Lou » holiday gifts

Gift Wrapping {Free Gift Tags}

cindylouh — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:02 +0000

One thing I love to do is wrap packages. It doesn’t need to be extravagant, just some pretty ribbon or cool twine for me does the trick. It’s amazing how something simple can transform a gift!

I also love fun tags!

Here is a little treat {just for you} , all you have to do is “like” Skip to my Lou on Facebook and these funky little tags are yours to download and print!

Facebook is the way to stay connected and all you have to do is Like Skip to my Lou and you will be the first to hear about what’s going on over here (posts, giveaways, and more). It’s also a great place to interact with me and tell me what you think, I love hearing from you too! So stop and by and be sure to say Hi; I just might be giving away more free printables there soon {hint hint}.

Handmade holiday gifts

cindylouh — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:00:27 +0000

Here are a few impressive, inexpensive and inspirational gifts for everyone on your list. Take a peek at Friday 5′s favorites! With a few weeks before Christmas, you still have time to whip up a gift or two!

WOW! Aren’t these luminaries beautiful? They are made with water balloons as the form! Follow the tutorial on Candletech.com and make a few for yourself or for an extra special gift.

Evie S. has a super simple tutorial on how to make these fab paper-clip earrings! Any girl would love to find these in her Christmas stocking!

A little embroidery floss or satin cording dresses up hair combs for a fun gift for the girls on your list. Lemon Jitters shows you how.

For the bird lover on your list, make this whole peanut bird feeder from a slinky! Re-nest shows you how!

33 Shades of Green has designed a wine bottle sleeve that you have to see! Wouldn’t you love to give this to your favorite holiday party hostess?

f you need more inspiration take a look at my handmade gift guide below….

Made by you Monday {wrap up}

cindylouh — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:00:12 +0000

So many sweet treats!

Blogginess shared these chunky cookies and cream brownies and they look delicious.

I want to try this Pralines and cream fudge from Something Swanky!

The Farm girl hits the spot with these Peppermint Bon Bon Cookies.

Swamp Hollow designs shared this sweet and salty cashew brittle , Yum!

I hope to see you all tomorrow posting on another Made by You Monday, and make sure to come back next week and check I just might be featuring {you}!

Frozen Tumbleweeds

cindylouh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:11:14 +0000

I am coming out of the closet. Yes, I watch the Bachelor! I know, it is not an example of the finest television programming. The worst part (actually the best part) is that it is so important that I get together with a group of girls —yes every Monday night to watch the Bachelor. We must have been pretty desperate for reality TV (really each others company) that we got together to watch Mama’s Boy last night. All I can say is OH MY, I think we are in for some drama. However, they are going to put it back to back with the Bachelor–YIKES. What is a girl to do? It might take some smooth channel flipping but we will get our fill of drama.

When we gather for this guilty pleasure we have a few cocktails and appetizers! So I thought Frozen Tumbleweeds would be the perfect Christmas gift for these girls.

They are really simple to make and so delicious! The recipe is from my sister-in-law.

Frozen Tumbleweeds

1 5qt container of vanilla ice cream (softened)
2 1/2 cups coffee liqueur (Kahlua, I am on a budget so I used Kamora )
2 1/2 cups creme de cacao (Hiram Walker)
3 – half gallon buckets (I found these at Wal-Mart)

Mix all ingredient in a huge bowl. I used a hand held electric mixer. Fill the buckets and now you are ready to label.

I put a label on the top telling what is in the bucket and that it needs to be kept in the freezer and must be stirred before serving.

If you would like the labels I used you may download them. I printed them on 1-up label paper I purchased in individual sheets from the copy store (Kinko’s) and cut out on the gray line.

Tumbleweed Label Download

Then on the front I put a greeting from our family. I have made these labels so you can download them and then change the area that says who the gift is from. Click your cursor over that area and you should be able to customize the labels (I am crossing my fingers that this works)

Customizeable May your Holiday be Merry Label Download

Enjoy!

Looking for more homemade goodie ideas for gift giving try Homemade Caramel Corn!

Last Minute Teacher Gifts

cindylouh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:27:36 +0000

Here are few ideas for simple but useful gifts that could be made up in a hurry for teachers.

At our school teachers must now wear a badge. Cute2Carry offers an easy tutorial for making a pretty lanyard for those badges.

A cute coffee cozy along with a coffee shop gift certificate would also be an appreciated gift. Pink Milk and Fairycakes has a quick and easy coffee cozy tutorial.

If you knit or crochet try these coffee cozy patterns:
knitted Coffee Cozy pattern
Crochet Coffee Cozy with finger pocket pattern

Help your teacher take their lunch to school in style with this simple oil cloth lunch sack —filled with a gift certificate to a local sandwich shop would make it extra nice!

Every teacher could use a bookmark —-attach a note that says, “You wrote the book on being a great teacher” and enclose a gift certificate for your local bookstore to make it extra special!

Make and Takes has a beautiful beaded bookmarks tutorial submitted by reader Megan

You can find more handmade bookmark ideas here

I made these fabric covered steno pads for my children’s teachers. On the first page of the notebook I wrote, “Just a note to say…………………..” You may find the pattern in the shop.

My generous friend Michelle gave the pattern a go for me and made this beautiful cover!

She is going to give the notepad cover (just the cover, not the pad) as her December Box Tops giveaway. So if you have any Box Tops or Campbell’s Labels to send to her just email her for her address, and if she gets them before January, you’ll earn one chance for every Box Top or Campbell’s point. Most importantly, you’ll be helping her daughter’s school.

More homemade gift ideas can be found here

More teacher appreciation ideas can be found here.

Bunny Egg Holder

cindylouh — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:31:42 +0000

I though these would make cute place-cards or table decorations

Download bunny-egg-holder.pdf

Print on colored card-stock and cut out on dotted line.

Bring legs up then wrap one arm in front of legs and then bring the other arm around and place on top of the first arm. Staple where claws on bunny should be.

Want more bunnies? Check out Bunny Napkin Rings

Homemade Caramel Corn

cindylouh — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:58:13 +0000

This is a sweet treat for some sweet friends.

I use my friend Di’s recipe. It is easy and so delicious!

Di’s Caramel Corn

½ Cup butter (1 stick)
1 Cup light brown sugar
¼ Cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 quarts (12 cups) popped corn

In heavy saucepan on medium to medium-high heat melt butter then add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring mixture to a boil stirring constantly. Once mixture boils stop stirring and boil for 5 minutes (Do not stir). Remove from heat and carefully stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour mixture over popped corn. Gently stir to coat popcorn. Place popcorn into a large roaster or rimmed baking sheet and bake at 225° F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy!

Two batches of this recipe filled my three containers from Wal-Mart perfectly.