Craft Ideas Archives - Page 10 of 12 - Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

The Dollar Store Diva: Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Fruitful New Year!

December 19th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Here’s the final installment in the Dollar Store Diva’s Holiday Gift Giving series. She’s saving the day yet again with a simple yet LOVELY gift idea that will only take a few minutes (and a few dollars!) to create.

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Fruit baskets are usually a welcomed gift, but often the amount of fruit is overwhelming. I decided to make a cute little mini-version.

I like the shabby-chic look of this fit-in-your-hand-lunch-bag “basket”. [As in FREE.] I started folding the bag down from the top, over and over, until it created a “basket’ about 3” high.

One apple

one pear

and a few Hershey Kisses

all fit nicely on a bed of brown paper shreds I had sliced with my trimmer from another bag. [Once again, as in FREE.]

All I had to do then was to wrap the “basket” with a fat ribbon, tie a bow, and slip in this Fruit Basket Printable Card. [Yup, you guessed it: FREE.]

For a second mini-fruit basket, I filled a pretty little glass bowl from the Dollar Store with a strand of red tinsel garland, then added three pieces of fresh fruit–an apple, a pear, and an orange–and a few Kisses. Finally, I wrapped it all with cello wrap, tied it with some curly ribbon, and attached the same Fruit Basket Printable Card.

I took it to my beautician today.

She loved it.

Wouldn’t a teacher also love a gift like this? Or a ________________, or ____________________, or ________________. [You fill in the blanks. You can even put my name in one of the blanks.]

And I really do wish all of you a

Merry Christmas

and a

Fruitful New Year!

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom, Nancy, who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

See more Dollar Store Diva ideas here.

The Dollar Store Diva: The Gift of Bread + a FREE Printable Tag

December 12th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

“What hymns are sung. What praises said. For homemade miracles of bread?”

Louis Untermeyer

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“The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocations of innocence and delight.”
– M. F. K. Fisher

***

After an abundant meal, my mother would often say: “Thank you for the elegant sufficiency; any more would be a superfluity.”

She made me smile every time she said it.

One of the celebrative aspects of Christmas is that it is a time of sweets and treats galore–elegant sufficiency indeed.

But, as we know, the sweets and treats galore of the holiday season can also become a significant superfluity.

So, when we take a gift to a neighbor or co-worker, instead of sweets, how about taking the gift of homemade bread?!

Gifts of bread can come in all shapes and sizes – banana bread, zucchini bread or you fill in the ___________ with your favorite recipe.

I have a bread maker, and my favorite recipe is one that my daughter Alicia introduced to me.

An important note: Alicia adapted the recipe slightly by changing both the flour amounts to 1 1/3 cups. And it is perfectly delicious!

For this first loaf, I cut off the front of a grocery bag, and wrapped the bread like I was wrapping a package. Both fun and free!

Then I added some ribbon and a tag that said exactly what I wanted it to say:

Eat your bread with happiness!

This is actually a quote from the Bible–Ecclesiastes 9:7. Some translations use the word “joy”, and others use the word “happiness”. Some say “your bread”, and others say “thy bread”.

I love the thought of eating bread with joy; I even love the poetic sound of the old English “thy”.

Next I walked the aisles of my local Dollar Tree to find other containers for my gifts.

I found this basket, just the right size and shape for my gift of bread.

I also found this red plastic cutting board–the perfect Christmas color and shape for my fat loaf of bread.

And then there is the ever-faithful brown paper bag decorated with scrapbooking paper with a lovely loaf of fresh bread poking its head out of the top.

I have created a free Eat Your Bread with Joy Printable Tag with a variety of fonts, colors, and options for you. I have formatted the pages for landscape and 5×7 pages. I set my printer for the 5×7″ setting and printed the first two pages on pages I tore from a paperback I had picked up free at a book sale. I then cut out the tags and matted them with scrapbooking paper. I printed the last page of the printables on white paper, cut out the tags, and matted them with colored paper.

I am so happy with the results.

By the way, our local Wegmans sells ever so delicious breads in their bakery. If you don’t have time to bake a loaf, who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a loaf of bakery bread wrapped with curly ribbon and one of these tags?

Yummy…an elegant sufficiency to be eaten with joy.

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom, Nancy, who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

See more Dollar Store Diva ideas here.

The Dollar Store Diva: Free Joy to the World Gift Wrap Printables

December 5th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Simple wrapping ideas with a poignant message from the Dollar Store Diva.

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The simplicity of this gift wrapping leaves the message to speak for itself–the profound announcement of the first Christmas:

Joy to the World!

Using the Joy to the World printable I created, I cut out the tags and matted them in green and red paper.

The candy stripe paper came from my favorite wrapping paper source: The Dollar Store.

Aren’t these lovely?

I love the blue, white and silver of the let-it-snow season here in the northeast.

I added a strip of snowy wrapping paper (from–yes, you guessed it–the Dollar Store) to a white bag, then adhered the smaller blue printable. Some silver and blue ribbon add the final festive touch.

Another white paper bag with red and green ribbons and a couple of jingle bells to ring in the season of joy.

Maybe this will spark some creative wrapping ideas of your own. Or maybe it will be a visual reminder of the angelic proclamation centuries ago:

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).

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Check out more Dollar Store Diva ideas here!

The Dollar Store Diva: Three XOXO Gift Ideas + FREE Printable Tag

November 27th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Here is The Dollar Store Diva’s latest amazingly simple yet super adorable gift idea!

Want to Do Christmas Well with me? LIKE The Merry Little Christmas Project on Facebook and be a part of our community! We talk Christmas baking, decorating, organization and more. Come join us!

Receiving a homemade gift like this tends to evoke the warm feeling that most of us long for during this season.

And I have good news for you–you can make this gift ever so easily using the printable Holiday Hugs and Kisses gift tag I created for you.

Gift Idea #1

I used a small mason jar, filled it with Hershey Hugs and Hershey Kisses, attached the tag with twine and a ribbon, then slipped in a sprig of pine from my backyard.

That’s it!

Check your list–do you have a neighbor? a teacher? a friend? a co-worker still on your gift list?

Gift Idea #2

I love these boxes that are at my Dollar Tree year round. At 2/$1, they make happy packaging.

First, I slipped in red and green tissue paper and filled the box with both Hugs and Kisses.

Then I wrapped the box with red cello wrap (Dollar Store), tied it with curly ribbon, attached the printed Merry Christmas tag, and threw in a candy cane for good measure,

Now, how is this for festive presentation?!

Hostess gift anyone?

***Don’t forget to use this FREE Holiday Hugs and Kisses gift tag I created for you!***

Easy steps for creating the Merry Christmas tags:

1) Print the tags 2) cut them out 3) mat them with your choice of colored paper 4) adhere the matted X and O to the tag 5) punch a hole in the tag 6) run ribbon through the hole 7) tie into a bow

Gift Idea #3

Either of these–the jar or the box–would make the perfect wrapping for a gift card.

Just slip the card in between the Hugs and Kisses and watch the pleasure on the recipient’s face when the bonus gift is discovered!

And there you have it–three gift ideas, all overflowing with Hugs and Kisses.

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Check out more Dollar Store Diva ideas here!

Want to transform your Christmas with us? My Book The Merry Little Christmas Project – Five Words that will Transform your Christmas has helped thousands of women do just that. If you have ever wished that Christmas didn’t have to be so stressful, I wrote this book for you. Click here to learn more and begin simplifying and organizing your Christmas with me!

The Dollar Store Diva: You’ll want to make a note of this (Wrapping Things Up!)

November 16th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

The final installment from The Dollar Store Diva’s printable stationery series!

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A handwritten note on the right occasion is a work of art.––Margaret Shepherd

I am excited to reveal the way I wrapped my all-occasion cards from Parts One and Two.

First of all, I decided that I would use only materials that I already had in my house–no trips to the craft store, just a search through my existing supplies.

I discovered that I had: large manila envelopes, brown lunch bags, white lunch bags, doilies, and twine.

And this is what resulted:

I found this lovely idea here and the printable tags here

I used scrapbooking paper to add color to this bag. Then I added the final touch: stamps to go along with my gift of stationery.

Now I have the perfect gift [Can I trust you with a secret?] for my mother-in-law!

I got this delightful idea and free printable here

AND NOW A TUTORIAL:

So, this is how I did it.

1) I used my trimmer to cut off with the bottom portion of the lunch bags, the part that spreads flat to make the bag stand.

But I didn’t need the bag to stand, so, without a twinge of conscience, I cut the bottom portion off.

2) I used a tape runner adhesive to seal the bottom of the bag.

(Actually, this is my friend Joanie using the adhesive.)

3) And then I added festive embellishments–as shown in the pictures above–and slipped the note cards and envelopes into the bags.

I am happy, indeed, with the results.

Of course, this wrapping idea can be used for any number of gifts on your list.

Last, but most definitely, not least.

I did a happy dance when I finished my final wrapping idea.

[Good news: A link is included at the end of the tutorial with a kit containing all of the printables.]

I used a manila envelope to create a “folder” to house the stationery. Please don’t panic if these directions make no sense at all; I feel quite confident that you can create your own folder without me looking over your shoulder, gasping if you snip the paper in the wrong direction.

1) On my manila envelopes, the back “seam” was not in the middle. That middle seam was important to my plan, so I used my trimmer to cut the length of the envelope one and three-quarters inches above the higher “seam”, making the folder six inches tall.

Is that as clear as mud? Don’t worry, wherever you cut will be fine, just as long as your folder is about six inches tall.

2) This is where that seam comes in handy: I used scissors to cut along the handy-dandy seam, which created about one and three-quarters inches for the cards to poke out of the pockets.

3) I snipped off the ends of the strip I had just cut off, and sealed the flap of the envelope.

And there you have it:

two nifty pockets for the cards and envelopes

a Notes to Write checklist along with some postage stamps,

both attached with a colorful paper clip.

And here is the promised link for a free Handwritten Note Printables kit

Hope your dance is as happy as mine!

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

The Dollar Store Diva: You’ll want to make a note of this! (Part 2)

November 14th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Free printable all-occasion cards from The Dollar Store Diva that will make a happy and welcomed gift!

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Source

At Christmas time, do you ever feel like this mother duck?

Well, maybe this next set of all-occasion cards will help you cross off one more name from your list of favorite people you want to give gifts to.

I just found this fascinating blog and I spent a delightful evening choosing images for another set of cards that can be printed and then wrapped with creative energy.

I have attached a file of eight free card printables including the five shown here.

Cozy and warm thoughts Source

A soothing get well note Source

The lonely little birdie says it all. Source

So, let me help you get your Christmas-gift ducks in a row. Just open All-Occasion Cards to Print and choose your favorites. Or, hey, why not print them all to create a gift pack of eight cards, then use the too-much-fun wrapping ideas coming soon in You’ll want to make a note of this! Part 3.

Check out more Dollar Store Diva ideas here!

Source for cardinal in tree

Source for daisy

Source for swings in the snow

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The Dollar Store Diva: You’ll want to make a note of this! (Part 1)

November 12th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Check out the latest installment in the Dollar Store Diva’s Holiday series AND check off a stocking stuffer at the same time!

I love stationery, and I love the notes that are jotted on the stationery. Recently I came across this picture of a note card. I was riveted by it. Its stark simplicity gave power to the simple message–MISS YOU/LOVE YOU. I was also drawn by the black lettering, with the red heart adding a touch of warmth and color.

Using its FREE printable, I immediately printed some to give as stocking gifts.

Then I started thinking of other friends, neighbors, and co-workers I could give a gift of note cards to. I decided to design some of my own, with their own simple message, using the black print and the touch of red.

Miss Frugality that I am, I decided that, not only is the smaller font striking, but it also saves printer ink 🙂

And, of course, I had to create others to share with you. Find my FREE stationery printables here and create to your heart’s content. Tie them with black and red ribbon, and you have a gift you can give with pleasure.

For envelopes, I buy note cards at the Dollar Store simply to use the envelopes. I watch for cards with envelopes that measure 4 1/2 x 5 3/4. [If I’m lucky, I can use the envelopes for my handcrafted note cards, and then I can cut the front off the Dollar Store card and use it as a postcard. Two bangs for the buck!]

But wait! There’s more!

There are two more parts to You’ll want to make a note of this!

Stay tuned to Dollar Store Diva for Part 2–more lovely note cards to make, and Part 3–brown lunch bag wrapping ideas that will make your heart go pitter-patter.

Check out more Dollar Store Diva ideas here!

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FREE Gratitude Jar Printables

November 9th, 2012 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Want a creative and meaningful Thanksgiving activity? Check out this FREE Gratitude Jar Printable Download from Paper Coterie.

Simply print a label for your jar and fill it full of your family’s responses to the printable gratitude prompts.

I LOVE this idea. What a fantastic way to truly be THANKFUL this Thanksgiving.

Looking for more creative Thanksgiving freebies? Check out these Framed ‘Give Thanks’ and Countdown to Thanksgiving printables from the one and only Dollar Store Diva! You also might enjoy these FREE Fall Printables she put together for us.