Last Minute Gift Idea (for Birthday, Grad, Mother’s & Father’s day, etc.)
29 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Birthdays, Father's Day, GIFT BASKET IDEAS, Mother's -and- Father's Day Tags: Baby Shower, Birthday, Birthday Gift, Father's Day Gift, Gift for Graduate, Gift Idea, Grad gift, Graduation Gift, Grandparent, last minute gift, Mother's Day gift, retirement gift, Wedding gifts
This (last minute) gift idea would be fun to give just about anyone!
One of my sons lives in a different state and is the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at a college located there. Because his busy season runs into spring, he hasn’t been able to come home and celebrate his birthday with family in a long time. But this year, his season ended early, enabling him to head home for his birthday (as part of trip to scout local, stand-out high school players) and I was able to give him a HUGE hug and wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, in person…. YAY! The last minute dilemma: I had already decided to pitch in on a birthday gift he’ll receive once he returns, which left us without a small gift to actually hand him on the one year he would finally be with us…. figures! LOL
Anyway, not to be defeated, I thought of something creative & fun, but as low cost as possible I could pick up for him… last minute. Remembering my umbrella gift idea (http://seasonalhome.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/one-of-the-best-traditions-in-my-book/), I came up with a new twist on it! Because they are always open, I ran up to our local convenience store and purchased the same amount of scratch-off lottery tickets as the age he was turning. Then, using double-sided tape, I temporarily adhered each of them along the length of a long piece of curling ribbon. 
I cut the ribbon end and tied it to a 
balloon weight (you can find these at dollar stores, if you don’t have one hanging around) and placed that into the bottom of a gift bag, feeding the ribbon ‘o lottery tickets in behind it. Then once I was done, I tied the other end of the ribbon to the top of my gift bag and added a note of “what to do” instructions, made on my computer using clip art and a text box.
Needless to say… he really liked it and that made me happy too!
Enjoy the Creativity!
Eileen
Making MORE Memories!
19 Oct 2010 1 Comment
in Babies :-), Birthdays, CHRISTMAS!, FAMILY, GIFT BASKET IDEAS, Mother's -and- Father's Day Tags: Baby Gift, christmas gift, Creative, family gift idea, family traditions, holiday gift, Making Memories, New Baby Gift, traditions
I am firm believer that children, and people in general, remember what you DO much more than what you give. Because of this philosophy, I receive many requests to create gift baskets filled with items that help us make memories with family and/or friends. If you would also like to make one of these, here’s how I build one:
I use my book (Creative Family Traditions and Ideas) as the foundation for each basket because it has ideas useful in many different types of relationships, including simple friendships. Next, I search out other manufacturers who also sell products encouraging us to focus on the “M” word…. MEMORIES… not money and include those, thereby supporting my book as well as the products of other deserving companies. Finally, rather than place the items in a typical basket, I search for “useful” containers. Before you know it, I have a gift filled with fun and useful items for creating memories or at the very least – items that make life easier for the recipient.
On an even HAPPIER note ~ When I wrote my book, I discovered that raising 4 children on an extremely tight budget provided me with a true “gift”. Necessity being the mother of invention, my circumstances helped me become creative – teaching me how to spend “time” (on my children). I developed clever traditions, ideas and problem solvers as well as ways to reinvent new uses for everyday items. All of my efforts made them feel loved and special. And now that they are amazing & creative adults themselves, I realize that they benefited tremendously from my situation! Coming to that conclusion makes me even happier because I realize that today’s tough economic hardships may actually have a silver lining… it gives me hope for the future adults of today’s struggling parents. I applaud the parents who roll with the punches and dig deep to find their own FREE creativity to “spend” on their children. I wish I could give every one of them a HUGE HUG and tell them to hang in there. I want them to know that the end result can be positive and wonderful!
[check out BABY'S 1st GIFT post as well as the 2 baskets (below) that I created for a fund-raiser, this week]
One of my FAVORITE traditions (in my book)
16 Aug 2010 1 Comment
in Birthdays, Graduation, Mother's -and- Father's Day, Wedding! (Bridal Shower too) Tags: Birthday, family traditions, Father's Day, Gift, graduation, Mother's Day, Tradition, Unique gift wrap, Wedding
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve presented gifts, to friends and family, using this method. I thought of it when my boys were teenagers and have used it for “event” birthdays (like this 60th birthday celebration – see photos below), Baby and Bridal Showers, Graduations, Mother’s or Father’s Day and Holidays. Whenever I feel like showering someone with a little fun and happiness, I fill up an umbrella with goodies they love. My brother loves Starbucks coffee and scratch-off lottery tickets, so I filled his umbrella with $25 worth. He LOVED it!!!! It’s so funny to watch their expression when they think you have bought them JUST an umbrella…… and THEN….. they open it up and are thrilled beyond words!
The assembly details and suggestions are in my book (CLICK on book icon, in right column, to order) as well as TONS of other fun ways to celebrate the Events, Birthdays, Seasons and Holidays of our lives. Best of all…. they’re road tested! Making memories is SOOO important. If you (or someone in your life) need ideas, they will LOVE my book… gift them!
By the way, this time, I added a new twist to my gift umbrella. I placed it in a cardboard tube (left over from the inside of a roll of wrapping paper) and then, wrapped the cardboard tube with bright birthday paper & curling ribbon. I thought it would be fun for it to resemble an English Christmas Cracker – except mine is a Birthday Cracker, loaded with prizes! Check out the fun he had ~
SUMMER Birthday for the “Young at Heart”
18 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Birthdays, SUMMER Tags: Balloons, Birthday, Birthday Decoration, Parent's Birthday Party, Summer theme
If you have a parent who is celebrating a milestone birthday this summer, check out my idea for a party decoration. I displayed this for my own Mom, on her 85th, and she really appreciated the bright, cheery, youthful message it conveyed. Maybe your parent will too!
By the way, I picked up the pails at a dollar store, the self-adhesive, vinyl letters at an office supply store, helium-filled balloons and clear plastic wrap (inside pail to simulate a water look) at my local party store and the sand & shells at a nearby discount store. Total cost was apx. $20.
Helpful hints:
1) Place some clear plastic, waxed paper or a tray down, first, before adding the sand, to protect your table’s surface.
2) Instruct the party store to tie each of your balloon bouquets to a “balloon weight” (which they typically have available) so they will stay put, inside your beach pails.
To see more creative ideas for birthday celebrations, check out my book - Creative Family Traditions and Ideas – by clicking on the book cover on the right of this page. Enjoy your birthday celebration!!!
My New, Favorite Birthday Celebration Product…
14 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Birthdays Tags: Birthday, Birthday Cake, Birthday Celebration, Birthday Idea, Candles, Cupcake, Ice Cream, Sparklers
Looking for a FUN, new “birthday” celebration product? I just found one in my local grocery store… sparkler candles! You can use them on a cake, stick them in a bowl of ice cream, on cupcakes, etc. The package recommends “outdoor” use, so a picnic table celebration might be best. What a cool way to light-up someone’s birthday! As always, it’s recommended that you follow all safety precautions and of course, this product is not intended to be handled by children. But, in the right hands… how fun is this!!!
Check out my book (click on book cover) for more FUN, Creative and Unique “Birthday” Celebration Ideas!
Close-up view
Inexpensive Party -or- Bridal Shower Favor
05 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Birthdays, Mother's -and- Father's Day, SPRING!, VALENTINE'S Day, Wedding! (Bridal Shower too) Tags: Bridal Shower, Bridal Shower Gift, Bridal Shower Gift Idea, Bridal Shower Goodie Bag, Favor, Gift, Guest Gift, Party Favor
[check out my other helpful, creative ideas... under the categories, listed on the right-hand side of this page →]
Recently, I was looking for something inexpensive that would make a nice, little party favor. What I came up with would also make a great bridal shower guest gift.
I found this box of these rose-shaped soaps [each petal is a piece of soap] at a Michael’s Craft Store. The cost? Are you sitting down? ONE DOLLAR!!! That bargain price left me with extra funds to purchase a package of tiny, open-ended plastic bags (apx. $2) and a roll of thin satin ribbon ($1.00). The box of 9 rosebud soaps had only 1 tag attached, describing their scent (lavender) on 1 side and instructions (for use) on the other side. Since my plan was to create 9 individual gifts out of my economical find, I needed to create 8 more labels to attach to each soap rosebud.
To accomplish this, I scanned both sides of the label into my computer. Next, I created a 9-cell “table” in Microsoft Word. Into each cell, I inserted the .jpg I created by scanning the front of the label. I repeated this process and inserted the “instructions” instead. I, then, printed the front “table”, flipped over that printed paper and placed it back into the printer. Then, I printed the instructions, which ended up on the back (of the original printout). I’m a little technologically challenged, so I had to print it out a few times (front & back), hold it up to the light to see where lining-up adjustments should be made until I finally got it right. In the end, it printed out a grid of 9 tags that looked exactly like the original! Now, all I had to do was cut them apart and punch a hole in each so I could thread a length of satin ribbon through it and tie in a bow to close up each baggie with a rosebud in it.
For the event, I displayed them together on a silver platter, on a table located by the front door so each guest could take one on their way out the door. It was a big hit with the party-goers because most of them had never seen rosebud-shaped soap before and the beautiful, yet simple packaging made it seem like a very special gift… and an economical gift for me. A win-win!!!
Patchwork Gift Wrap Idea!
05 Jul 2010 Leave a Comment
in Birthdays, Father's Day, Graduation, Mother's -and- Father's Day, Wedding! (Bridal Shower too) Tags: Birthday, Gift, Gift Wrap, Gift Wrap Idea, shower gift, Unique gift wrap, wedding gift
[check out my other ideas under the categories, listed on the right →]
If you would like to try a unique idea for wrapping a gift, here’s one…
This idea is especially helpful when you are short on time and find that you only have a small amount left of your favorite gift wraps. It also falls under the “waste not, want not” category in life! In this case, my favorite plain white paper came up a little short (on the ends of my gift) AND I only had a small amount of my other favorite black & white toile paper left. So, it occurred to me that I should combine the 2 papers and unify them through my ribbon choice. Here is the end result, which was a TRUE attention getter at the birthday party I took it to!
Simply use double-sided scotch tape to adhere side pieces of gift wrap
GIFTING DAD, a GRAD, SPECIAL BIRTHDAY, Bride/Groom or New Parents, etc.
13 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Birthdays, Father's Day, Graduation, Mother's -and- Father's Day, Wedding! (Bridal Shower too) Tags: 16th Birthday, 21st Birthday, Birthday, Birthday Gift, Birthday Ideas, Birthdays, Bridal Shower Gift Idea, Creative gift wrap, Dad, Dad gift, Dad's Day, Father's Day, Father's Day Gift, Father's Day Gift Idea, Gift, Gift for Graduate, Gift Idea, Gift Wrap, Grad, Grad gift, Grad Ideas, Graduate, Graduation Gift, Graduation Idea, Man Ideas, present, Unique gift wrap
If you like my ideas, then you’ll LOVE my book… it makes an AWESOME GIFT! CLICK on the book’s icon (on right) or on ABOUT THE AUTHOR (above) for more information, more of my designs and a sneak peek into my book! And, if you want to be notified every time I add a new post to this blog, please SUBSCRIBE (on the bottom right).
SECRET AGENT 00-DAD
Just prior to Christmas, every year, my husband and I along with our grown children set aside a day to be together and grab a little adventure that none of us have ever experienced before. We call it our “Family Fun Day” and it’s just one of the ways we stay close. With that in mind, I came up with this Father’s Day gift idea.
As I thought back over the past few years of our adventures (photos below), I realized that we did a lot of very macho activities… simply perfect for a Secret Agent Father’s Day! Your mission (should you decide to accept it) will involve setting up appointments at 2 or 3 local Adventure facilities and scheduling them to begin in the morning and progress through the day. Below are a few potential ideas that may inspire an idea or two:
Adventure #1: a 5 minute helicopter ride (Design/Image/Idea copyrighted by Creative Family Traditions. All rights reserved.)
Adventure #2: five laps in a real race car at a REAL race car speed! (Design/Image/Idea copyrighted by Creative Family Traditions. All rights reserved.)
Adventure #3: five minutes in a simulated skydive (Design/Image/Idea copyrighted by Creative Family Traditions. All rights reserved.)
- Discovery flight (at a local Executive Airport)—fly both an airplane and helicopter
- Parasailing
- Fly in an open cockpit bi-plane (available at some regional airports)
- Hang gliding
- Glider ride
- Zip Line (this eco adventure is popping up everywhere these days)
By the end of his adventures, Dad should feel as though he just experienced a day in the life of a Secret Agent (on a much tighter budget, of course; apx. cost for 3 ideas shown – $185)! And since gift stores usually carry a wide variety of frames, finding the perfect one to display Dad’s memorable photos in should be a cinch!
2 Themed Gift Wrap Ideas
GIFT WRAP IDEA #1: Cut a large triangle (almost equal in length to the height of your gift bag) out of a piece of white Foamie or plain, white card stock paper. Also cut a bow tie and 3 button shapes out of a sheet of black Foamie or plain, black card stock. Glue to the front of a black gift bag for your 00-Dad gift. Gift suggestion: a watch, with a ton of special functions, for your Secret Agent Dad!!
GIFT WRAP IDEA #2: Glue a photo of Dad enjoying his favorite hobby to the back of a paper frame (found in the Scrapbook Dept. of stores). Optional: adhere a Personal (self-adhesive) message to the top and bottom of the frame (messages & alpha letters also in Scrapbook Dept.). Glue framed photo to the front of Dad’s gift bag for the perfect, personalized gift wrap!
Design/Image/Idea copyrighted by Creative Family Traditions. All rights reserved.
) The neat thing I have learned, however, about sending out a New Year’s greeting is that everyone has finally slowed down, so your greeting is more memorable! And as you can see (below), keeping your greeting light-hearted (by making sure it reflects something funny) will have your family & friends looking forward to receiving it each and every year!
Turning your greeting into a jpeg will make it easy to attach to your e-mail
In this greeting, I simply couldn't overlook all the sunglasses, so we called ourselves the "Swamp Mafia"
Our 2010 Adventure - Horseback Riding!
