Friday, July 30, 2010

Printable: More Toy Bin Tags

Remember the toy bin tags I made for my son a few months ago?  Well, when I shared them with all of you everyone liked them so much I decided to make a second sheet.  Hurray! 


Train-Toy-Bin-Detail

So many of you had requests; thank you for sharing!  I couldn't do everything, of course, but I did choose the ones that the greatest number of people asked for: play dough, puppets, little people, puzzles, blocks, dress up, balls, games, art supplies and movies.


More-Toy-Bin-Tags-Sheet
To use these tags, all you have to do is download the pdf and print.  You can then use them however you please.  I chose to punch a hole and tie some thread through mine to hang on storage baskets.

I'd love to hear about how you're using them.  Be sure to leave a comment and let me know.  And be sure to tell your friends so they can get in on the goodness, too.

{images by me}



Monday, July 19, 2010

New at the Shop: Pinwheel Invitations

I just designed these pinwheel invitations for a baby shower, but I can't help but think of all the possibility they hold.  

Blog-Photo

They seem just right for a garden party, family picnic or birthday party, too.  I've just added them to the shopWhat would you use them for?

{image by me}



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

How to Ship Muffins (or Cupcakes)

Recently, my father-in-law was involved in a boating accident and injured himself enough to land in the hospital for a few days.  Happily, he is home now and starting the long road to recovery.  To help cheer him on his journey my son and I decided to send him a little package full of one of his favorite treats: Banana Crunch Muffins(If you've never tried these, please do.  They're so good.)  I wanted to package them in an aesthetically pleasing way that would also help them stay intact during their travels.  My solution: an empty cereal box.

1.  Select an empty cereal box that is the same width as the box you'll be using for shipping.  Mine happened to be Frosted Cheerios.  Using scissors, cut holes just wide enough to securely hold your muffins.

Cereal-Box

2. Wrap your cereal box in some pretty paper.  I used Kraft, but some patterned wrapping paper might look even better.  Once wrapped, cut holes through the paper, too.  Lay tissue paper inside your shipping box and slide the cereal box in on top.  It should fit snugly and not wiggle.

Prepared-Box

3.  Nestle frozen, wrapped (plastic secured with a bit of tape or a sticker) muffins into their spaces.  Freezing them before shipment will help keep them fresher for their destination.

Muffins 

4.  Fold over the tissue and secure a pretty card on top.  To keep the muffins from sliding out if the box gets turned up side down, pad the remaining space at the top of the box with bubble wrap or bunched plastic grocery bags.  Be sure to fill it up to the top before closing the box and test drive it at home to make sure your muffins are truly secure. 


Papa-Card

You could also use this method to ship cupcakes, although I would highly recommend sending them unfrosted.  Put frosting in a separate, small plastic container for the recipient to add on themselves. 

Have you ever shipped baked goods before?  What are your favorite methods?

{images by me}



Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Lavender Sugar

Thanks to a little wild lavender bush growing in my front yard, I was able to dry my own batch of lavender this year.  It smells heavenly and I can't wait to try all the things I'll be able to do with it.  My first project was lavender sugar, which is so simple to do.  Blend 1 Tbs. dried lavender buds in a blender until powdery and mix with 2 cups of fine granulated sugar (Caster or Baker's sugar works best).  Or put it all in the blender together for something a little more like powdered sugar in consistency, like I did.

Lavender-Sugar


Sugar-Detail

It's a beautiful, thoughtful and inexpensive gift idea.  You can substitute lavender sugar for regular sugar in countless recipes, like sugar cookies, or serve it sprinkled over a bowl of fresh berries.  If you'd like to try cooking with whole lavender buds, there are recipes like Lavender
Spritzer
to try.  Personally, I think my powdered sugar variety will
make some amazing Mexican Wedding Cookies.

{images by me}