Category: Gifts

One of my childhood friends was having a tea for her bridal shower… after settling on a Betsey Johnson New York crocheted navy and pink frock and hot pink ruched pointed toe pumps, I decided to shop for her {coordinating} pink gift.  I figured that with Easter right around the corner… a bridal basket would be right on point.  What bride-to-be wouldn’t love some pink kitchen accessories, killer cupcake mix (with the perfect pearl topping!), and some gourmet truffles to eat while she bakes?  A simple gift basket how-to is below.

1. Gather all materials… basket, tissue paper, ribbon, any other accessories, and the gifts.  For the gifts, try to stick with some kind of a theme (here the theme was twofold: pink and cupcakes)… All these gorgeous goodies are from Williams-Sonoma. 2. The adorable edible sugar pearls that are ideal for chic cupcakes. 3. Yum. Chocolate + champagne + pink + gold leaf = p.e.r.f.e.c.t.i.o.n. 4. Tie your ribbon around the basket and line the bottom of the basket with coordinating tissue paper that is all bunched up. 5./6. The final basket… with tiny faux flowers in the corner for a sweet touch. ♥

I am a complete sucker when it comes to all things personalized.  I am also an utterly complete sucker for greeting cards.  Beyond this, I am an utterly completely ridiculous sucker for receiving a personalized (ie homemade) greeting card for no reason at all.  Those that know me know my obsession with one-of-a-kind gifts… accompany the gift with one of these one-of-a-kind-made-by-fabulous-little-you cards.

1. Layout all of your supplies.  I love to use things I already have. Some leftover paper from Valentine’s Day (seen here), linen paper used to make the menus for my sister’s surprise birthday party (seen here), stamps used to make place cards (seen here), and pearl details that were remnants from a wedding that I had designed (seen here).
2. Get a great tool with which to cut straight edges. I swear by my Martha Stewart Simple Paper Trimmer (buy it here).
3. Use your paper cutting handy dandy tool to trim your main paper (the card’s base) to the size that you want.
4. Fold your base paper in half.
5. Cut your secondary paper (use something flashy… you know you want to) to be a bit smaller than the folded portion of the front of your card.
6. Adhere the secondary paper to the base paper using double stick tape (if you don’t already own some… buy some. now.).  Cut your third piece of paper to a slightly smaller size than your secondary paper.  I used linen paper (you know, the fancy resume kind)… I love the texture. So posh.
7. Time for some stamping. Lay out the stamps on your paper before inking as a guide.  Don’t worry if you don’t stamp in a completely straight, perfectly spaced line. The charm is in the imperfections.
8. See? Imperfect, but still darling.
9. Add some of your own (charmingly imperfect) handwriting and a little embellishment if you feel like it. I did.
10. Double stick tape (ah, yes. again.) your third piece of paper to your secondary, glitzy paper. There you have it. An adorable, made-by-you card.
11. See again? Imperfections… crooked handwriting. Not every corner in place. Everything slightly off-center. That’s the best part.
12. Line the inside with more luxe linen paper. With such an adorable card just keep the message short and sweet. It’s more than enough.
13. Add a little more personalization on the back. You’re so crafty. And chic. And adorable. And perfect. That’s what the person that you give the card to will think. So, take a little time… let someone know they’re worth it to you.