More Neighbor gift ideas!

(hello to those here from my TV segment on the Daily Dish this morning!)

I've posted some neighbor gift ideas already this season (here and here) but I've come up with a few more! Here's my latest ideas all in 1 place!

If you are going to give the traditional treats why not do so on a great platter or container the receiver can use. One idea would be to buy a charger plate and add the saying in vinyl - "cookies for santa". The receiver gets some treats and a fun plate to use year after year. 

I always love a creative saying with a treat or gift! 

Grinch Cookies:

Stir up your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, add some green food coloring and crush up some candy canes to add with the chocolate chips. Pop them into a cute box (boxes from Martha Stewart) and add the cute tag/poem - get the printable HERE

Hot Chocolate Stirring Spoons:

Add some melted chocolate to some plastic spoons. (I found silver ones at the $1 store) You can use whatever chocolate you like - milk, dark, white, etc.  While the chocolate is still soft add crushed candy cane, sprinkles, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, red hots - whatever YOU think would be good stirred into some hot cocoa! Let them harden and then wrap them up and attach this cute card.

Reindeer Noses:

Buy some whoppers and a candy that is red and about the same size as a whopper. I used gumballs. Put 8 whoppers in a bag or small container and 1 red one (we can't forget Rudolph!). Print out the bag topper and attach. Then add a cute tag that says - Just 'brown nosing" our neighbors with a treat and some Holiday wishes" - attach a family photo and add reindeer noses, santa hats and antlers to the photo. OR If you are giving it to a teacher say - Just a little "brown nosing" from your favorite student!. Again, you can use a photo of your child on the card.

Sew up a Hot/Cold Therapy Sack: These can be made into a fun character for the Holidays

Tutorial HERE

or with a great cotton fabric or sports themed for the man in your life! Tutorial HERE

and of course we can't forget New year's eve! Snag all the instructions and the printable for these fun photo props to capture your evening HERE

Happy gifting!! Have a great weekend! 

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I'll be sharing my idea and linking up at these parties!

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Mom it Monday #10 - Mustache Photo prop printable

It's time again to link up and show off how you got your "craft on" this past week! Sewing, paper crafts, decorating, etc! link up and show me your creativity!

I am sharing my neighbor gift idea that is perfect for New Year's Eve! You can find the full tutorial below or click on the link!

SO - what have you been busy doing?
Link up your tutorials, cooking, party ideas and more!!! I love to share some of my favorites on my Facebook page so get linking!

<a href="http://www.brassyapple.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/mycreations/Blog/mITmbutton.jpg" /><br /> </a>

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Mustache photo Prop printable gift

I've come up with a fun gift to give your friends, family and neighbors for New Years Eve!
A photo prop "kit" with fun card and saying!

Supplies:

1 sheet of Stiffened Felt (brown, black or whatever color you'd like)

Bamboo Skewers (10" long. check the baking aisle of your grocery store)

Hot Glue gun

Scissors

Mustache, banners and quote bubbles pattern HERE
Mustache card HERE

cardstock

Tall drinking glass ($1.00 store)

Crinkle filler (optional)

Step 1: Print the mustache template off on regular paper. Cut out the mustache templates and use them to trace onto the stiffened felt and cut out. 

Step 2: Print off any banners, sign or quote bubbles you like on plain or colored cardstock. Cut out. You could back each sign with a glitter-ly or sparke-ly paper leaving a small border showing around each if you'd like.

Step 3: Using a hot glue gun adhere a skewer to the back of the mustaches and the signs. (Be sure to place the skewers off to one side)

Step 4: Print off the card and insert or attach some fun photos of your family! Then stuff the glass with some filler, insert the different 'staches, signs and banners, attach the card with a ribbon and you are done! 

 (The card says - "We'd love to stay and chat but we "mustache" Happy New year!)

Hope you've enjoyed this idea! Get your 'stache on! Your kids will love it!
This is also a great gift to create and mail to someone. Just subtract the drinking glass and the filler! Family or friends far away would love to receive this package from you!

I will be linking up here throughout the week and sharing this idea!

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Snuggley Christmas Characters - tutorial

This is a fun Holiday gift for friends (of all ages) and family too! Give the gift of warmth with the smile of a fun character on it's face. Pop these little characters into the microwave to heat them up and you can't help but snuggle them tight to warm up on a cold day (just another fun twist on this tutorial here).

Supplies: 

fabric (at least a fat quarter)

red, black, white and flesh colored felt (for santa)

green, white, black and flesh colored felt (elf)

print out the pattern pieces

scissors

sewing machine

regular rice or wheat ( 3 1/2 - 4 cups)

sewing machine

straight pins

sharpie marker (optional)

small black beads or buttons (optional) + needle and thread

Step 1: Cut out 2 pieces for the body from your fabric and the necessary pieces from felt for the Santa or the Elf as directed on the pattern sheets. 

Step 2: Lay out 1 of the fabric pieces right side up and begin to layer the pieces for the face.

A)Place the face piece 1 1/4" down from the top edge.

B) Overlap the hat brim 1/4" onto the face. 

C) Santa- place the beard onto the face tucking it just slightly under the hat brim.

D) Santa - Tuck the belt just under his beard and place the buckle in the middle. 

Elf - Place the belt with the buckle in the middle just under his chin. 

Pin these pieces into place and sew. 

Step 3: Adding the face. Santa - Place the red nose about halfway over the beard and the face. Sew into place. Eyes - place 2 seed beads or small buttons and hand sew on or simply use a black sharpie marker to dot some eyes on.

Elf - place the nose in the middle of the face. Sew into place. Eyes - place 2 seed beads or small buttons and hand sew on or simply use a black sharpie marker to dot some eyes on. Mouth - Stitch a smile or use your sharpie. 

Step 4: Arms - Take 2 arm piece and place them on top of each other. Slip 1 hand piece in between the 2 layers at one of the ends. Sew the 2 layers together catching and securing the hand piece in the process. Repeat with the other arm and hand pieces. 

Step 5: Hat - Take the 2 hat pieces and place them on top of each other. Slip the ball in between the 2 layers on the end of the hat and sew the 2 layers together securing the ball in place in the process. 

Step 6: Assembly - Santa - Place the arms across santas belly and then place the 2 piece of fabric on top of right side down. Pin and sew the sides together leaving the top open.

Elf - Place the arms across the belly. Place the ears on backwards at the edges of the face. Then place the 2 piece of fabric on top of right side down. Pin and sew the sides together leaving the top open.

Step 7: Turn it right side out. Fill the sack with 3 1/2 - 4 cups of rice. 

Step 8: Fold down the top edge about 1/4". Slip the hat in between the layers and pin. Then sew the top closed. 

These are great for car travel, keeping your toes warm at night, aches and pains and more!

I will be linking up here

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Pennywise presents

Beckie over at Infarrantly Creative is running a series called Pennywise Presents. Gift ideas, decor and more all under $10.00! 

Today I am sharing an idea, so hop over there to see what it is and search through the others that have been shared!

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52 Holiday Neighbor Gifts ideas!

It's that time of year again for neighbor gifts! Thanks to pinterest, I have been cleaning out some of my old paper "files" from the file cabinet and really only keeping what I am now interested in. 

While doing that I found some lists of neighbor gift ideas.  

I have typed them up and you can snag the file right HERE. 

There are 52 ideas in all! So snag the file, pin it or whatever! I hope you find an idea or two that you can use!

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neighbor gifts

As we get further into the season the more busy or "merry" our lives become! (ha ha) If you need a gift on the fly try one of these! They are ready made items with a personal touch. 

#1 - a little bubbly is always appreciated.

materials: 

A bottle of Sprite

Red paper

Black paper (I used black glitter paper for a fun add touch of sparkle)

Tulle or ribbon

A printed or handwritten tag that says: May your days be merry and "SPRITE"

The How to: Take your sprite bottle and cut a strip or two of red paper for the belt. Create a buckle from the black paper and glue to the red strip. Place the red strip around the bottle and tape or hot glue on. 

Take your printed or handwritten tag and attach to the top with ribbon or tulle. You are done! 

#2 - Taking a simple candy to the next level, but quick and easily! 

Materials: 

A bag of red Twizzlers

White Almond Bark - melting chocolate

wax paper

sprinkles (optional)

printed or handwritten tag - "TWIZZ" the season to be jolly

The How to: Melt 6 squares of the chocolate in a bowl (I did this in the microwave). Stir. Dip the licorice in the chocolate halfway and place on a large piece of wax paper to harden (GREAT project for the whole family to get involved in). Before they harden is the perfect time to add sprinkles or crushed candy cane, etc. if you want to make it more festive or dress it up. 

Wrap them, bag them or place them on a plate. Include your tag - "TWIZZ the season to be jolly - and you are done! (WARNING - little helpers love to try and sneak these fun treats - hence the tiny finger sneaking into my photo in the top right)

Enjoy your Holidays! xoxo Megan


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