Challenge: Making a List and Checking it Twice

If you are anything like me, you like to make lists to keep everything organized. With Christmas coming up next week, I've been checking my list several times a day so I don't forget anything that needs to be done.

My challenge for you this week is to create a customized gift for someone on your list. It can be store bought and decorated with a card to match, or you can do a hybrid gift...partly store-bought, partly homemade. Just remember to keep it easy so you have more time to mark off other things on your to-do list! :)

One of the items on my list was to put together some teacher gifts. Between both of my kids, I have 13 teacher gifts to prepare. That could quickly get pretty pricey, so I came up with a fun idea that also helps to easily cross the teacher gifts off my list!

 I am giving the teachers a decorated brown gift bag filled with a dinner that is quick and easy to fix: spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, green beans and a package of brownie mix. All they need to do is add bread and meat to the sauce and they will have an instant meal ready for their family. Because, let's face it, our schedules get busy during this season, and who doesn't like an easy meal you didn't have to plan out? :)

Here's a quick how-to for this gift set:

I included a card that explains the purpose behind the gift:
"This time of the year is always so busy,
and we wanted to bless you with a dinner that’s easy
so you can spend more time with your family.
Thanks for all you do and enjoy!" 

To create your custom printed cards, type your text in a word document, using text boxes, and then print it out onto plain printer paper. Cut your card stock or patterned paper to fit in the text box areas. Use removable adhesive and attach your pretty paper to the printer paper and run it back through your printer. Then you can embellish the card front. The script words were stamps that I heat embossed on the card stock, and I added ink to the edges and rounded the corners.

I followed the same basic steps for the brownie mix directions.

I backed the brownie mix card stock with a piece of chipboard, then punched holes in the sides to thread my ribbon through so I could tie it around the packet, and a glue dot placed on the back of the card stock helped hold the paper in place on the brownie mix packet. 

For the jar, noodles and can, I just tied matching ribbons around them to help them coordinate with the gift bag.

Supplies Used:

Bo Bunny Midnight Frost Papers

White Card stock

WRMK Corner Chomper

Ranger Distress Inkpad: Chipped Sapphire

CTMH: Silver Brads
Fiskars Border Punch: Scalloped Sentiment

CTMH: Christmas Sentiment Stamps

Stampendous: Black Embossing Powder

Tsukineko: Versamark Inkpad

Hobby Lobby: Large Kraft Gift Bag

Michaels: Blue Ribbon