These salt and pepper shakers are the cutest little gifts I have seen, so far. You want a gift that is sure to be appreciated and loved, then these little shakers are right up your gift-giving alley. This pig and piglet are not just whimsical they are functional. A sure hit for anyone’s dining table.
They are remarkably created using high quality glass. The glass is handblown to create these truly astonishing little artistic shakers. For the pig and piglet shakers, the color is created by a mixture of hand-mixed colors and 24k gold. Now, that’s impressive quality. The pig’s nose or the salt and pepper toppers are corrosion resistant, so they won’t rust. The pig and piglet salt and pepper shakers are 2″x2.5″, small enough to sit nicely on a table.
If your person is a dog lover, the “Dog’s Best Friend” version may be a better fit. The shakers are decorated with hand-mixed colors that beautifully contrast each other. The dog is 2″x3″ and the hydrant is 2.75″x1.1″, making an adorable little decorative combo. Also made with the corrosion resistant toppers. So, as long as the person owns these shakers, they will look as gorgeous as the day they were presented. Adding these to the kitchen is like adding a piece of functional art to the room. The creative animal shakers make an ideal gift for any woman in your life and are really great for the animal lover or collector who likes one of a kind pieces.
Each set of shakers retail for $63.99.
–images belong to Modern Artisans
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
You want to give your family and friends the best, but the best can often come with a hefty price tag. There are ways to save money while being your thoughtful, sweet, creative self. Here are a few ideas.
Plan Ahead
One of my best friends is getting married in a couple of months. I knew she would be having a bridal shower so back in February ago I got to work. I bought a Sharebook like this one on sale at Hobby Lobby. It’s a great product because it takes a lot of work out of putting the scrapbook together. It comes with envelopes and pre-made pages so you just have to send them out to friends and family members and wait for them to return to you. I included about ten of her closest family members and friends, assembled the book and shipped it to her so she could open it at her shower. The entire thing probably cost me under $30, but she told everyone it was her second favorite gift. (Her favorite was a handmade cookbook complete with family recipes that her aunt had compiled.)
Shop Smart
There are several sites that will pay you to shop with them. One to check out is Ebates.com. Just for signing up for an account they’ll give you a $10 gift card to a store like Target or Sephora. Then, you just shop online like normal. You’ll get cash back (usually 1-4%) from the sites you already probably shop at. It’s a cool way to get a little something back when you’re buying gifts for others.
Buy in Bulk
Come across the perfect gift that just about everyone will love? Why not buy it in bulk? Maybe a case of wine? Or a box of jam made by a local farmer? That way it’s ready to go when the need for a gift comes up. Plus you’ll save money by purchasing a large quantity.
Photo courtesy of scrapbookexpress.com
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
Who doesn’t like cookies? Cookies can make such a great personal gift, especially home-made ones, Yummy!!!
But when you want to put a neat little twist on them, give the gift of the mix and they can cook it when they get ready. Sometimes you get cookies and you don’t have the time or the appetite at the time to eat them. This way your cookie gift can be stored and cooked at a later time. You will be giving them the cookie mix, the add ins, and the recipe.
Mix Ingredients
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
Ingredient Directions
Sift all dry ingredients together. Put these combined ingredients in a ziploc bag. Also, place separate bags of the add-ins; nuts, chocolate chips, and raisins aside. Place all the bags in a decorative sealed container. Write or print the following recipe on a notecard or a decorative card and tape to the inside lid of the container.
Cookie recipe to write or print up
Preheat Over 375°
Beat 2 cups of softened butter, 2 eggs and 2 tsp of vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix in cookie mix and blend thoroughly. Separate dough and use add-ins that you choose for your cookies. Shape dough into small round balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
You can either wrap the decorative container up in wrapping paper or you can give just the container. Everything will be inside the container so either way will be great. It just depends on your choice.
image belongs to — http://www.petitecakesandpies.com
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
There’s only one season that rivals Christmas when it comes to gift-giving and that time of year has arrived: it’s wedding season. Before the bride takes that walk down the aisle and the couple says “I do,” it’s a good time to start thinking about gifts. There are definitely rules for wedding gift-giving etiquette. So to make sure I was displaying good manners I turned to the one and only Emily Post. Here are some of the biggest wedding gift-giving questions answered.
1. When should I send my gift?
I’ve been told several times that you have a year to give a couple a wedding gift, but according to Emily Post, get it done within three months. The best time to do it is right before or right after the wedding. It is ok to bring the gift to the reception if you prefer, but that just means more work for someone taking on the task of gift wrangler.
2. Does the gift have to come off of the registry?
Emily says no. A registry is just a guide, but it’s a good way to make sure the couple gets exactly what they want.
3. How much do I have to spend?
It depends on a couple of things: your budget and how much you like the couple. If the bride is your twin sister, you may want to spend a little more than you would if the bride is a co-worker in accounting that you barely talk to.
4. Can I give cash?
Yes! Cash is good. Emily says if this makes you a little uneasy, try giving a gift certificate.
Photo Courtesy of Alison Storm and Denny Shortt Photography.
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
Tea anyone? Well with this cute little tea for one, you won’t have to share your beloved tea anymore. This is a great gift for a woman who needs a little Sereni-Tea in her life
. A cool idea to add a personal touch to the tea gift is to fill the inside of the tea pot with the person’s favorite kind of tea.
The Tea Talk Sereni-Tea for One set comes with a teapot and a tea cup. It has the cunning phrase “sereni-tea: n. the absence of stress while drinking tea”, written on the cup. It also has a clever topper in the shape of a tea cup, how cute! The beautiful black and white color makes it easily adaptable into any room decor. An ideal set for the tea fanatic in your life.
Add in the Tea Talk Sugar and Creamer set to complete the gift set. The creamer has tas-tea written on the pot and has the phrase “tas-tea: n. adding cream to enhance your tea” written around the rim. The cute sugar container has the appropriate term swee-tea on the front and the phrase “swee-tea: n. adding sugar to your tea” encircling the rim. A great addition to the tea for one. This creamer and sugar set is wonderful to always be out on display. All of these beautiful ceramic pieces make a great thoughtful gift. The Tea Set for One and the Tea Talk Sugar and Creamer Set each sold seperately are available at Wrapables.com.
Tea for One Set - 27.95
Tea Talk Sugar and Creamer Set - 18.95
–Images belong to www.wrapables.com
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
Sure, finding the perfect gift is a challenge. But getting it to the person on time can be an even bigger battle. Between birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, holidays and every other special occasion, there are a lot of occasions to remember. Here are a few simple tools to ensure that you will never miss an important date again.
1. Check out this free PDF worksheet from Real Simple Magazine. Just print it out, write down any birthdays you don’t want to forget and keep it close so you can refer to it regularly.
2. Sign up for an online reminder service. There are several of them. One to check out is Birthday Alarm, a free service boasting 50 million members who use the site to remember important days. When you sign up, you’ll get an option to send e-mails to your e-mail contact list asking them for their birth date. Birthday Alarm sends you a reminder e-mail a couple of weeks in advance and one week ahead of the big day. You can also go to the site for free e-cards. Another option is BigDates. This service is free for the first three months, after that there is a yearly charge. You can choose between two levels of service. For $5.95 you get e-mail and text reminders of important dates. Or for $15 each year, the service includes five paper greeting cards. BigDates will also send you gift and card suggestions based on the budget for your gift and the person’s interests.
3. Try a greeting card organizer like this one from Uncommon Goods. This binder has room for 240 cards, a place to record important dates and even an address section so you know exactly where to mail the card. You will never have to search for a belated birthday card again.
4. Buy a birthday book like this one from Amazon.com
. It’s not a calendar or planner that becomes out of date after a year. This is a book you’ll keep. Write in birthdays and anniversaries. Plus it contains useful information like birthstones and anniversary gifts.
photo credit: www.AlisonStorm.com
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
The perfect baby shower gift that you can make is the “On My Way Bag”. I like to do this because it’s a more personal gift and it’s so creative. This bag is a baby sling filled with goodies made especially for mommy and new baby. Made to be used at the hospital and the 1st few days home. The mom-to-be will absolutely love this gift. Here is what you need:
- a baby sling - this will act as the container for everything
- paper filler - tissue papers used for gifts
- clear tape
For Mommy
- foot and hand cream
- stress ball
- lip balm
- socks with grippers
- preggie pops
- disposable camera
- massage oil - for feet and back
- breast and sanitary pads
- mini baby book -1st week baby book
For Baby
- small pack of newborn diapers
- baby blanket
- alcohol pads - for the cord
- baby mittens and socks
- pack of onesie’s
- diaper rash cream
- pacifier
The bag is really simple and fun to put together. If you don’t know the gender of the baby use unisex colors and items. For the baby book, I like to create my own in a scrapbooking form, but you can buy one that will be just as perfect. Just a simple 1st week baby book can be made out of any small photo album book.
Start with placing the largest things in first. I usually do the diapers, massage oil, cream, and baby book. Once you get the bigger things in start filling in the bottom with papers as needed and placing in the smaller items and taping them in place. Make sure you have things “popping” out the top for visual effect. The baby sling has a wide enough opening so that you can fix it up and make it look as pretty as you like. Once the bag is completed, place a ribbon around one strap and make sure everything is neat and secured down with tape. You should now have a beautiful “On My Way Bag”, great for mommy and baby!
Images belong to www.babyzoop.co.uk, www.ramonapregnancy.org
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
Maybe it’s your dad. Or your best friend from college. You might even be married to one. Everybody knows those people who already have everything. And every year when their birthday rolls around or Christmas arrives you go through the same stressful routine of pondering, searching and ultimately settling for a gift that doesn’t really measure up. How about giving a gift that matters? It’s a perfect idea for people who have everything. There are plenty of resources to check out and products to consider if you’re looking to give a gift that matters. Here are a four ideas to get you started.
1. Changing the Present. At ChangingthePresent.org you can browse gifts that support a wide variety of causes impacting places all over the world. The price points vary, too so whether you have $5 or $50 you can find a way to give a gift that matters. A $50 gift provides a month of porridge to a malnourished child through Action Against Hunger. For a $10 donation you can give a disadvantaged woman an interview suit through Dress for Success. And for just $5 you can provide 14 meals to school children through Operation USA. Once you’ve picked out the perfect gift you can create a card that announces your gift.
2. HydroMissions. For a very affordable, and very meaningful gift, check out Hydromissions International. Each week volunteers make the soap by hand and then sell it to raise money for projects that help bring access to clean drinking water to people in developing countries. The soap comes in yummy scents like Bora Bora Bubblegum and Galapagos Green Tea. Plus each bar is just $3.99.
3.GiftBack.com. At GiftBack.com, ten percent of your purchase goes to a charity of your choice. Just shop for items like fruit, chocolate or an engraved business card case. Ten percent of whatever you purchase goes to a charity of choice.
4. Toms Shoes. Give a gift that gives twice. Pick up a pair of TOMS Shoes for just $42. Plus, with every pair of TOMS you buy, they’ll give a pair of shoes to a child in need.
photo credit: Hydro Missions
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
Today I’d like to talk about one of the most delicate artists I have ever met. Her name is Joanne Mannell and she is a California artist. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and at Art Shows across California. You can visit her website at www.MannellGallery.com
Her love of nature influenced her work and is reflected in a huge selection of brilliant landscapes, soft florals and colorful seascapes. Ms. Mannell also makes custom work. 
All you have to do is contact her.
Some of her most famous floral paintings are beautifully handcrafted into Greeting Cards and come with their own envelope. The actual size is 5×7. The price is $3 each or $2.75 if you buy 10 or more. They also come in a Gift-Boxed Variety Pack of 6 for $25.
The beautiful selection is available online at www.MannellGallery.com
Ms. Mannell will be present at the Apple Hill Arts and Crafts Show, High Hill Ranch in California, starting August 30, 2008 till November 15, 2008.
Images belong to: www.MannellGallery.com
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
When you’re cruising the net, you never know what kind of site you are going to stumble onto. The great thing about being a gift blogger is I get paid to blunder around the net looking for cool things. So when PerpetualKid.Com popped up, I was obliged to spend loads of time checking out some of the hilarious items available. It’s all in the name of research folks - no goofing around here. *fingers crossed behind my back*
PepertualKid.Com offers a great collection of items for people who have a great sense of humor or for the person who has everything.
One of the site’s most popular items is “The Ex Vodoo Knife Set.” It’s billed as a “cathartic knife holder” that come with 5 stainless steel knives. Art and functionality combine with this holder as it uses magnetic sleeves to keep the 8-inch chef, bread, carver knives, 5-inch utility knife and 3.5-inch paring knife in place.
Available in several colors including red, black, chrome and pink, this holder is a great gift for a friend going through relationship drama or for a daughter going away to college or getting her first apartment - which makes me think Dads are going to be lined up for this one! This fun gift has been featured in Time Magazine and USA Today.
photo credit: www.perpetualkid.com
Looking for gifts? Browse our GIFT STORE! Also, check out the COUPONS page for savings at the best online gift stores!
2.
