DIY Mother's Day Gift Box {Repost}

  "Many things are good, many are important, but only a few are essential."  These wise words from Elder D. Todd Christofferson have been a great source of peace to me lately. Adding boy number four to our family has been nothing but pure joy, but I've also had to put several things aside.  Good things (like blogging) have moved down on my priority list.  Not to say it will be that way forever, but for now that's how I'm keeping up with the essentials.

    In the mean time, I do have plenty of posts I can pull out of my archives to share with you, and hopefully something new every once in a while.

Mother's Day is May 10 this year, and with April drawing to a close next week, this is the perfect time to get going on all those Mother's Day gifts. 

These boxes are just the right size to hold a nice gift card, jewelry, or any other small gift you may have in mind for your mom this year. 

Make your box, add some cute ribbon, a flower, and a name to it.  Then put your gift in and fill it with some fun shredded paper.  Then get ready for the little surprise at the bottom of the box.  

I like to add a little message.  This time I added a definition of mother that I found last year, and loved.  So not only will your mom get a great gift in a darling box, but she'll have a little extra bonus in the bottom of the box.  If you attach the quote with just a bit of tape it will come right off and she can keep it somewhere she'll see it.  I love adding small, unexpected touches.

Click here for the full tutorial on how to make your DIY gift box.  These are so easy to make!  If you can fold and cut, you can  make these.  I love experimenting with different papers, ribbons, and toppers.  So many color combinations to use! 

What are some of your favorite Mother's Day gift ideas?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

P.S.  To read Elder Christofferson's entire talk entitled Why Marriage, Why Family (such a great read!) click here.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

DIY Mother's Day Gift Box

I shared this DIY gift box for Mother's Day last year, and I loved it so much, that I thought it was worth sharing again.  I really do like the colors I used last year, but I can't wait to try another one this year in a different color scheme.

    If anyone deserves a dolled-up box, it's your mom.

These boxes are just the right size to hold a nice gift card, jewelry, or any other small gift you may have in mind for your mom this year. 

Make your box, add some cute ribbon, a flower, and a name to it.  Then put your gift in and fill it with some fun shredded paper.  Then get ready for the little surprise at the bottom of the box.  

I like to add a little message.  This time I added a definition of mother that I found last year, and loved.  So not only will your mom get a great gift in a darling box, but she'll have a little extra bonus in the bottom of the box.  If you attach the quote with just a bit of tape it will come right off and she can keep it somewhere she'll see it.  I love adding small, unexpected touches.

Click here for the full tutorial on how to make your DIY gift box.  These are so easy to make!  If you can fold and cut, you can  make these.  I love experimenting with different papers, ribbons, and toppers.  So many color combinations to use! 

What are some of your favorite Mother's Day gift ideas?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

Dollar Store Gift Wrapping

In my beautiful valley, we're a bit limited when it comes to shopping choices.  A Walmart came to town a few years back, and when that came so did Dollar Tree.  We do have two other grocery stores, a Walgreens, a King's plus other locally owned businesses.

I love a good trip down the canyon to Target, but rarely go anymore.  I have to say, I've come to love the challenge of shopping local in a small valley.  It forces me to think outside the box, or use what's available.  It's almost like treasure hunting.  It takes an extra bit of effort to find the cute things, (unlike Target where I could buy something on every isle) but they're there if you take the time to look.

So, my four-year-old and I frequent the Dollar Tree.  He loves the fact that his hard-earned dollar can buy ANYTHING in the store, and I like hunting out the hidden deals that can often be found.  

Last time we were there, my treasure was this blue chevron on craft paper wrapping, (I also got a roll of the same craft paper wrapping with yellow stripes) and the golden flower.  I thought the two of them together would make the perfect pair for an adorably wrapped gift.  You can't beat seven feet of wrapping paper, and seven golden flowers for a grand total of $2!  I'll be able to wrap multiple presents with the paper and flowers.

Now, a word or two about dollar store flowers.  You're getting a whole bouquet for $1!  You really can't be too picky at that price.  I've never bought dollar store flowers to use in an arrangement, but look beyond using the flower as is.  Think about pulling it off the branch, or even pulling the layers of petals apart.  And, unless the center of the flower is hidden, you're probably going to want to cover it with something.  The centers are deal-breakers for me.  If they look terrible, the whole flower does.  I just covered the plain green bump in the center of the golden flower with a sticker that came in a package I'd bought at Walmart  for a dollar or two.  Makes all the difference in the world! 

The ribbon I used came from Michaels, not Dollar Tree, but I have noticed cute rolls of grosgrain at the dollar store lately that would work just as well, if not better.

And speaking of wrapping up gifts, (for a birthday maybe) I need to give a BIG happy birthday  to my sister, Tania (the adorable one in the middle, and BTW I need to take more sister photos, this one is from Thanksgiving break)!  She's a nurse, a beauty, a girl of faith, my babysitter, my fashion rescuer (if I'm ever wearing anything cute or trendy- it's belongs to her), and one of my dearest friends.  I think the world of her, and hope she has a day as special as she is!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

Brainy Gifts for Kids from Midware

Being a mom of three energetic boys is absolutely wonderful!  And even better is having an energetic husband who can keep up with their rough and tumble play.

I'm a complete believer of rough and tumble at times, but I do love finding activities that will quiet my boys down and engage their minds.  I know it's the teacher in me, but nothing is more satisfying than making dinner while all three of my boys are sitting at the table working on an art project, maze, dot to dot, brain teaser, or just coloring.  And I tell you what, they really get into it!

Last time we were visiting my parents my mom had ordered a bunch of Mindware Color Counts books.  She's always so helpful in hunting down post ideas for me, (stay tuned for my New Year's Eve post for her latest idea) and my boys usually get a fun project/activity to do as a result.

Are you familiar with Mindware?  At the top of their website it says, "brainy toys for kids of all ages".  That pretty much sums them up.  My boys LOVE what they have to offer, and I REALLY love what they have to offer!  We haven't tried any of their toys, (except for the game Qwirkle, which the entire family LOVES!) but the books we've tried have been phenomenal!  Here are the ones we've come to love.

Prism Designs from Mindware

Color Counts from Mindware

Mystery Mosaics from Mindware

Extreme Dot to Dot from Mindware

My twins are seven, and they are totally into all of these books!  Some of the pages take quite awhile.  We keep my boys' latest pages clipped to a clipboard, and whenever they have a bit of down time, they grab it and go to work. Even my four-year-old can do a lot of the color counts with some help.

  We took a few of these books to church last Sunday, and I tell you there wasn't a kid on the row in front, behind, or to the side of us that wasn't memorized by what my boys were doing.  We ended up sharing a darling horse picture with the kindergarten-aged girl sitting next to us, and she was loving it!  These books are perfect for some quiet time, and they definitely stretch and engage the mind. 

I think the maze craze pack is going to be our next purchase.  All of my boys love mazes, and it's hard to find books dedicated to just mazes.

Maze Craze Sampler from Mindware

If you're thinking these would make the perfect gift for any of the kids on your Christmas list, (did I mention they're under $10, except for the packs) then check your local Michaels.  I have seen just about all of these books there before.  I'm afraid it's a day too late (sorry, I should have posted this last week) to order from their website, but ordering for any future occasion (or just because) would be a fantastic idea.

Their website also has a "Best Sellers" list you can check out if you'd like.  There are so many awesome toys, games, activities, and books to choose from!

Less than a week until the big day!  My boys think it seems like an eternity.  I'm thinking it's way too soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

DIY Christmas Gift Box {And Our Favorite Marbles}

I love pretty packaging!  I wish I was organized enough to start wrapping my gifts in November so I could make each package a work of art.  But life is busy, and that has  yet to happen.  So, I'm content with several simple packages, and a few extra special ones here and there.

This package comes from my DIY gift box tutorial (visit this link for the how to on making the box).  If you've visited Blissful Roots before, then  you've probably seen these boxes before (here and here).  They're like my upcycled tin cans.  I've made these for years, (I learned how in the fifth grade!) and once I start making them I can't stop.  They're so simple, and they're my favorite way to wrap up small gifts.

I stopped at my favorite scrapbook store last week and rounded up some darling scrapbook paper (this reindeer paper is from October Afternoon's Silent Night collection).  Every time I see cute scrapbook paper, I visualize it on a tin can, or folded up as a darling box.  I like to be able to see the pattern on the box, so I usually just stamp the name on the corner, and use a simple ribbon, yarn, bow, or pom pom on top. 

I'm using this little box for my boy's marbles this year.  Are you familiar with Mega Marbles?  Well, at least I think that's what they're called.  I've had a hard time tracking down the actual brand name.  Anyway, my boys found some of these marbles last year, and got several packages for Christmas.  They still love them this year, so we're getting a few more. I want to collect these marbles!  They're so beautiful, and clever in their naming.  I'm amazed with how each marble looks exactly like the name!  They come in names like cow, jellyfish, comet, zombie, camouflage, Bengal tiger, monarch butterfly, jungle, sea turtle, and on and on.  Most of the names come from animals, space, insects, fantasy or creepy things- all perfect for little boys, and girls as well.  Here are just a for you to see.  There are many, many more!

Milky Way

White Tiger

Unicorn

Pirate

Aren't they gorgeous?  I never knew marble collecting could be so much fun!  My boys even got a marble mat last year, and know how to play.  They each have their jar of marbles.  Sometimes they trade marbles, and other times they lose a few in a game.  It's been a fun hobby for them (and me).

These marbles make the perfect stocking stuffer, or in my case, small gift to fit inside a DIY gift box.  Oh, and they're not expensive at all.  You get a shooter and 24 marbles for around $3!

Thank you to Land of Marbles for all of the marble images.  And thank you for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

Teacher Appreciation Quote {Printable}

You may or may not know that next week is teacher appreciation week.  I always loved this week when I taught.  I loved teaching with or without recognition, but it sure did make all of us teachers feel extra special for a week.  I hope you'll take the time to do a little something for your child's teacher.  If you're not sure what to do, you could surely use today's printable, or I have another great (probably my all-time favorite) teacher printable you can find here.

My twins have been so blessed to have a wonderful kindergarten teacher this year (remember the homemade bread in a bag?).  They're so sad the year is almost over.  I thought of her as I typed this quote.  My boys love going to school, and they love learning.  I know that's because their teacher loves what she does.  It shows!  Thank you, Mrs. Kohler for making learning such a wonderful experience for my boys.  They will miss you, and are hoping little brother will get to be in your class someday.

Just for fun, here's a picture of my second year class on Halloween.  I can still name every single one of these darling first graders.  I haven't looked at this picture in quite sometime.  So many wonderful memories!

Click here to print today's printable. 

 Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

DIY Mother's Day Gift Box

With Easter in March this year, I feel like there's been a long stretch here with no holiday.  But we do have Mother's Day coming up in May, and I decided it's nice to have awhile to think about it, and get ready for it early.

I did a post on how to make your own gift boxes in December.  These cute boxes can be used for any occasion- Mother's Day especially.  If anyone deserves a dolled-up box, it's your mom.

These boxes are just the right size to hold a nice gift card, jewelry, or any other small gift you may have in mind for your mom this year. 

Make your box, add some cute ribbon, a flower, and a name to it.  Then put your gift in and fill it with some fun shredded paper.  Then get ready for the little surprise at the bottom of the box.  

I like to add a little message.  This time I added a definition of mother that I found last year, and loved.  So not only will your mom get a great gift in a darling box, but she'll have a little extra bonus in the bottom of the box.  If you attach the quote with just a bit of tape it will come right off and she can keep it somewhere she'll see it.  I love adding small, unexpected touches.

Click here for the full tutorial on how to make your DIY gift box.  These are so easy to make!  If you can fold and cut, you can  make these.  I love experimenting with different papers, ribbons, and toppers.  So many color combinations to use! 

What are some of your favorite Mother's Day gift ideas?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.

Christmas Gift Exchange Games

We have a houseful of cousins here today for a sleepover, so this is a quick little post. 

We have a local lifestyle show here in Utah- Studio 5.  I used to watch it every day, but my life is a bit more busy these days, so I don't get to see it as often as I'd like.  Several years ago I saw a cute idea from Alisa Bangerter (she's full of amazing ideas!).  She put together a whole list of ideas for Christmas gift exchange games.  After seeing her idea, I decided our family needed to give it a try.  We now do it every year.  Everyone brings a $5 gift for the game.  We try to make the gifts very gender neutral, because in some of the games you never know which gift you might end up with. 

 My boys look forward to the game as much as they do Santa coming.  They remember the games every year, and get so excited to see which one Aunt Miss is going to do this year!  

Go take a look at Alisa's list.  There's over 20 game ideas.  You can do the same game every year, or choose a new one each year (that's what we do).  I promise it will quickly become a new, favorite holiday tradition!  

Happy Friday!

Thank you dry icons for the cute graphic!

Teacher Gifts & Printable

I'm guessing most of you have sent your child's teacher a Christmas gift already.  We just got ours all put together and sent off today.  If you still need an idea for this year (or maybe you're super on the ball and are already thinking about next year), here's one for you.

We LOVE the little oranges available this time of year.  We buy a bag every week, and my boys devour them!  Every time we sit down for a meal my three-year-old says, "I'll go get the orange to peel."  He really likes the peeling process! 

 Anyway, I loved getting treats and goodies as a teacher, but sometimes something a little more healthy was nice.  For my twins' teacher I just bought a small glass bowl at the dollar store and wrapped some oranges in clear plastic wrap.  I tied it with a cute red ribbon and add a gift tag I'd made with my Cricut Preserves Cartridge (this cartridge has tons of cute tag, and card shapes to be used).

For my wrapping, I used a roll of brown craft paper, added red yarn, a tissue paper flower (I use these for everything!), and another gift tag I made.

I have to say I think my favorite part of the whole gift may have been this cute card.  I found it at Michaels yesterday in their 2 for $3 bins.  And guess what?  They were on sale for 50 cents!  I bought all they had left (which was only four).  So, hurry out to Michaels and stock up.

I got so excited to wrap the present that I forgot to take a picture of what was inside. :)  I found a teaching quote on Pinterest and retyped it.  I printed it out on white card stock and put it in a black 5X7 frame from the dollar store.  I have a link here if you'd like to print one out for yourself.  This quote is great for any time of year, so if you've already given your Christmas gift, save this for another occasion.  

I hope you found something you liked.  As a former teacher, I know how much small tokens of appreciation mean.  It was fun to get gifts, but the thought meant so much more!  I still have a file of notes from students and parents that I will treasure forever!  Teachers are amazing and need to be reminded of it.