Handmade Gift Boxes For a Special Touch

We've all been in a pinch before when holidays or birthdays sneak up on us. It happens to me a lot! I need to wrap a gift and don't have an appropriate gift bag, or I have the gift bag but can't find tissue anywhere. Need a box, can't find one the right size, etc.. then I stumbled upon a great idea -- handemade themed gift boxes. So I wanted to show you a quick way to dress up a plain white small box for any small gift. (jewelry, scarves or toys to name a few). The great thing about this is its not just a quick fix, it is a very special keepsake, and it takes very little time to complete.

 

This box was decorated for a child, so the pictures that I use reflect that.  For this project, the items that you need would be any size small box, small piece of ribbon, glue, 3-D plain white square stickers from scrapbooking section,double sided tape and some sort of easter pictures. I keep cards that I recieve throughout the year, so I have plenty of options. When I  can't find just the right one in my card stock, I go to the internet and print what I need.

 

 I use double sided tape to attach the pictures. For two of the pictures I used the 3D stickers to give it depth. I added some ribbon, used super glue to glue it to sides of box. Dries clear, dries fast, perfect. Used just one rhinestone on the box in a light blue color.I had a scrap of easter paper that was thin so I used on the inside of box.

 

A perfect box for niece's Lego People!

 

Below is a more detailed medium size decopage gift box with a dog theme that I did for a client.  Normally decorated inside and outside these detailed boxes take much longer to make. The finished product has a more personalized look.

 

 

 

 

Equestrian Theme

 

 What I really like about the larger decorative boxes is that they are so much more than a gift box-- the recipient can use them for trinkets, odds and ends, or general storage. Some people use the large circle nesting boxes specifically as a decorative element in their home. I can customize them to suit any taste or hobby, or to compliment any decor.   I've got a few boxes listed on etsy if you want to check them out.

CardsAndAntiques.etsy.com

 

I hope this post was helpful, if you have any other quick or unusual ways to wrap a gift feel free to share!

 

Irish Cream Cupcakes for Saint Patricks Day

Irish eyes will be smiling when you serve these yummy cupcakes to mark St. Patrick's Day.
They can easily be prepared ahead of time so after dinner desert is ready to serve.

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

MAKES: 24 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups sugar (Awful lot of sugar, a little too sweet I think, try just one cup.)
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Irish cream liqueur
• FROSTING:
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
• 6 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
2. Beat in applesauce and vanilla (mixture may appear curdled). Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with liqueur, beating well after each addition.
3. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
4. For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in liqueur. Add confectioners’ sugar; beat until smooth. Pipe over tops of cupcakes. Refrigerate leftovers.Yield: 2 dozen.

Nutritional Facts

1 cupcake equals 273 calories, 9 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 38 mg cholesterol, 170 mg sodium, 45 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein.

Ready for Spring!

I am so tired of winter, bring on Spring now! If your like DIY, crafts, seasonal decor and decorating on a budget then you might like this blog. I get so many questions about the things I make, in person and on etsy, that I decided to start a blog to help answer those questions and to give detailed info on seasonal projects.  Spring is coming so it would be a great time to talk about Easter decor. This blog may cover more than listed above so you never know what you might find here.  Stay tuned, hope to see you back soon!