Make Your Gifts Memorable (Photo Courtesy of craftapalooza)

You spend lots of time picking out the perfect present. You toil over whether to buy the crimson shirt or the maroon one. You stress about the decision of whether your grandma would like gloves or mittens better. But often when it comes to wrapping those lovely presents we just shove them in an old gift bag or pull out last year’s wrapping paper and hope there’s enough left on the roll to make it around the box. This year, resolve to put a little more thought into what’s on the outside. Here are some tips for adding flare to your holiday packages.

Stick with a Color Theme

Rather than adding a hodgepodge of wrapped gifts under the tree, pick a color scheme. It doesn’t have to be the traditional red and green, either. By sticking with your color theme you’ll create a cohesive look with your gifts and make more of a style statement.

Always Include Ribbon

A Christmas package without ribbon just seems incomplete. Stock up at your local craft store. Buy ribbons that work well together and on their own. Try stacking a thicker ribbon under something thin and sparkly. And don’t be afraid to recycle the ribbon once you’re done with it.

Head to the Office Supply Store

Gift tags are like earrings for a package. Don’t overlook this important accessory. You can even get creative with them. Simply head to an office supply store and purchase some jewelry tags. Embellish them with stamps, glitter, or even by stitching on some ribbon. Get as creative as possible.

Use “Green” Tissue

Instead of buying tissue paper, try something more creative, cheaper and more green. Put old, discarded wrapping paper through the paper shredder. You’ll end up with a colorful and earth-friendly alternative to tissue paper.

Put a Gift on the Gift

Use your ribbon to tie a small gift onto your package. Include a Christmas ornament, small picture frame or even a gift card holder onto the top of the box. By making the outside so appealing, you’ll build even more excitement for what’s on the inside.

Gifts Can Ease Stress. photo courtesy of stuartpilbrow

We all know people who are frazzled, strained, worried and tense. With the holidays approaching chances are you’ll encounter this even more. Want to help your loved ones de-stress and calm down? Here are some gift ideas that can spread a little relaxation to your over-worked friends and family members.

Stress Relief Tea

This warm relaxing tea will wash away tension. It’s one of the best sellers on LocalHarvest.org. Pick up 12 bags for $10.50 or six for $5.51.

Stress Relief Games

Games can be a great way to chill out. Give your loved one the Puzzle-a-Day Sudoku so they can have a few minutes of stress-free enjoyment each day. The book is $9.35 at BarnesandNoble.com.

Stress Relief Yoga DVD

Exercise is one of the top ways to reduce stress. Not only is it healthy for your body, but it’s good for clearing your mind, too. Encourage others to relieve stress with a healthy habit like yoga. The Stress Relief Yoga for Beginners sells for $11.86 at Walmart.com. Or try Yoga for Stress Relief on Overstock.com if you need a more advanced option.

Stress Relief Massage

For the super stressed, pamper them with a trip to the masseuse. Massage is a great stress-reliever and provides a way to ease tense muscles and quiet busy minds.

Anti-Stress Neck Pillow

The microwavable Anti-Stress Neck Pillow from HealthSuperstore.com is made of super soft material and filled with herb-infused flax seeds. The aromas of lavender, chamomile and citrus will help ease worries and prompt relaxation.

Custom Stress-Reliever

Think about what’s causing your friend or family member’s plate to overflow. Do they need help with household chores? Childcare? Or perhaps they could use a meal away from the kitchen? Give them a thoughtful gift that you know will take something off their to-do list and lighten their load.

Take Care of the Patriotic Details (Image courtesy of Tweedle Dee Designs)

Whether you’re inviting the neighborhood over for a backyard 4th of July bash or you’re just gathering a few patriotic friends, there are some easy ways to give them a truly memorable summer party. You can have your home transformed into an explosion of red, white and blue without spending a lot of money or time. Here are some easy DIY 4th of July party favors that you can whip up in your free time thanks to the help of some party pros.

Tweedle Dee Designs

Tweedle Dee Designs is offering up an incredibly cute collection of free 4th of July party printables. It’s quite the free gift and includes labels for your bottled water, treat bags for guests, note cards, cupcake toppers and more! All you do is download the designs, print them off on high quality paper, cut them out and create your red, white and blue party decor. There are even free invitations that coordinate with the collection.

Paper and Pigtails

Another designer, Paper and Pigtails is offering up free 4th of July decorations to help make your party more patriotic. This freebie includes four sets of red, white and blue circles that can be used as cupcake toppers or favor tags. If you want a more complete party set, check out the designers’ Etsy shop where you can pick up the 4th of July Party Pack for $10 which includes water bottle labels and even snack cups.

Martha Stewart July 4th Clip Art

Martha Stewart is the queen of holiday crafts. And she wouldn’t leave you hanging this 4th of July! Head over to MarthaStewart.com for a complete selection of free printable Independence Day crafts. You’ll find step-by-step instructions for making elaborate looking tissue fireworks and printable center medallions. Martha will help you with even the smallest details like patriotic ice cream cone wrappers and napkin rings.

Go Green with Your Gift-Giving (photo courtesy of bindarri)

Earth Day is coming up which means many of us are thinking about how to be more eco-friendly and reduce our carbon footprint. You may think going green requires big, bold steps like installing solar panels on your roof or trading in your car for a bike. But there are so many small, simple ways you can go green– including with your gift giving! Here are ways to make your gift giving more green.

Buy Local

Shopping local not only benefits your community’s economy more than shopping in big chains, but it also can be more eco-friendly, especially if you’re buying locally made products. The further a product has to be shipped, the more impact it has on the environment. Look for American-made products or handmade items created by local artists. Chances are these will be more green.

Shop for More

Rather than head out on a shopping trip every time you need a gift, try to buy multiple gifts during the same trip. You’ll save money on gas and you’ll pollute less by limiting your travel time. And while you’re out, make sure you bring along your own shopping bags so you don’t have to use one from the store.

Use Alternative Wrapping

When giving a green gift it’s important to consider the gift wrap. Try recycling and reusing items like newsprint, fabric or gift bags. Wrapping a gift can create a lot of unnecessary waste.

Encourage Green Living

Try to encourage others to live a more green lifestyle through the gifts you give them. Find items like travel coffee mugs, products made from bamboo or solar powered gadgets. Not only will your gift be green, but you’ll be influencing others to make small changes, too.

Consider the Gift

Is your gift made from recycled or sustainable materials? Does your gift include excessive packaging or is it made from any dangerous chemicals? Consider the gift you’re giving and make sure it’s as green as possible. This is a great way to celebrate Earth Day beyond just one day in April.

Give Homemade Spa Treatments (Photo courtesy of Fing'rs)

Lots of your friends and family members probably love the idea of indulging at a spa– but few have the time or money. Now you can give them the gift of relaxation with these DIY spa gifts. With a few simple ingredients packaged creatively in jars or plastic containers from a craft store, you’ll have a great gift ready to go.

Coffee Body Scrub

Don’t toss out those coffee grounds– put them to good use. Combine two cups of coffee grounds with a half cup of raw sugar or sea salt and a few tablespoons of massage oil for a lovely coffee body scrub that will wash away the dry skin winter leaves behind.

Bath Cookies

Check out SpaIndex.com’s most requested recipe– bath cookies! You’ll bake up something great for your friends and family members to use in their next bath. The recipe is pretty easy and includes many ingredients you probably already have in your fridge or pantry including sea salt, baking soda, cornstarch, oil, and eggs. Combine the ingredients, bake for ten minutes and you’ll have a gift that looks like you picked it up in a fancy spa!

Sugar Coconut Hand Renewal

Winter does a number on our hands often leaving them dry and cracked. Whip up this recipe from Health Magazine and give it away to those who may need a little pampering. The recipe is made up of ingredients like coconut oil, sugar, and lemon juice. Make sure your gift also includes a pair of cotton gloves like these from PrettyLikeMe.com so they can let your mixture work overnight.

At-Home French Manicure

Put together your own French manicure kit that includes cuticle cream, white and pink nail polish and a fancy nail file. Give it to someone who may not have the time or money for regular manicures, but deserves to look their best.

Step One: Hit the Fabric Store

Head to your favorite local fabric store and make a beeline to the knit section. Look for something super soft, like pima cotton or jersey. We found lots of great colors like pink, orange and lime green at the local Hobby Lobby fabric department selling for $5.99 a yard, but with a coupon we snagged it for 40% off. Have the fabric store employee cut you 3/8 of a yard. Typically this fabric is sold in 60-inch width which is perfect for a scarf.

Step Two: Head Home with Your Fabric

Since the fabric store employee took care of starting off your scarf for you, now all you have to do is complete it. Finish off the edges by pulling them. Giving the fabric a little bit of a tug will cause it to roll as it stretches. This will make the edges look more finished off without having to pull out your sewing machine.

Step Three: Wrap Up Your Gift

Now that your scarf is made, wrap it up to get the gift ready to give. Your loved one will appreciate this new accessory that they’ll be able to throw on to compliment a variety of outfits since scarves are a hot must-have this winter season. Because the gift is so simple to make and affordable, consider wrapping up a collection of sixty second scarves. They’ll never know each scarf took just sixty seconds to make and cost less than $2!

Images courtesy of Alison Storm

photo courtesy of FLOR.com

FLOR’s innovative and beautiful squares offer a practical, flexible and eco‐friendly flooring solution perfect for homes and offices alike.

FLOR’s dedication to beautiful design includes a commitment to the environment: Truly great design is to create sustainable living solutions that are also beautiful for the Earth. Because FLOR cares about the planet and its future, it seriously considers the eco‐footprint of how to design, manufacture and ultimately recycle FLOR tiles to create new products. FLOR is part of Interface’s Mission Zero, a promise to eliminate any negative impact its family of companies may have on the environment by the year 2020. Learn more at FLOR.com/green.

About their products:

FLOR has a huge Collection of over 175 beautiful styles that come in a multitude of colors and patterns. They make the perfect gift for Baby Showers, Christmas and Halloween gifts! They add style to any student dorm, office, kitchen or bedroom.

• FLOR’s modular system is a flooring solution that makes sense for lives demanding customization, flexibility, mobility and fun
• FLOR’s modular system is expressive – you design it, you install it
• FLOR can be fashioned into area rugs, runners or wall‐to‐wall carpeting of any size and any design
• FLOR can be installed quickly and easily using FLORdots, non‐toxic adhesives that connect the tiles to one another and not to the floors underneath
• FLOR can be installed on any dry, smooth surface (hardwood, vinyl, laminate, concrete – but be sure to seal cement or concrete with a non‐solvent based solution first)

Location:
FLOR has recently opened a store in CHICAGO (1873 N. Clybourn Avenue). If you are not in Chicago, you can order online at www.FLOR.com

GIVEAWAY

This Giveaway is for US residents only.

Winners: one lucky reader will receive a 5×7 rug (12 tiles) in a design of their choice from the following styles:
•All Square
•All Bark No Bite
•Arachnophobia (Martha Stewart collection)
•Best of Both Wools
•Fez
•Pop Tartin
•Squared Silly

How to enter (required): Leave a comment telling us which is your favorite style from the New Arrivals category at flor.com

For additional entries (leave a new comment for each additional entry):
- one additional entry if you grab one of our buttons and post it on your blog, please post the link;
- one additional entry if you join us on Facebook;
- one additional entry if you follow us on Twitter;
- one additional entry if you send a tweet about this giveaway; make sure to include @1happyblogger. You may use the following to tweet: @1happyblogger Win a free rug! Go to http://www.1happycorner.com/new-fall-collection-from-flor-giveaway
- one additional entry if you blog about this Giveaway with a link back to 1HappyCorner.com and Flor.com;
- one additional entry if you follow 1HappyCorner.com via email.

The giveaway ends on Tuesday - September 22nd, 2009, at the end of day. Good luck!

*Please make sure you leave a comment for each additional entry so you get credited.
*Also, please make sure you typed in the correct email address.
*The winner will be announced on this page & via e-mail and has 2 days to get back to us or other name will be chosen.
*Incomplete entries will be disqualified & deleted.

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UPDATE (September 03): we had to remove Technorati Fave due to technical problems on Technorati website. All entries submitted before this problem appeared are VALID. Thank you for your support!

UPDATE (September 25): check out who the winner is!

Felt Doll (Lilly) on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com

I interviewed Ms. Sílvia Leite, creator of handmade dolls and miniature play food on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com. I asked her a few questions about her creations and the work she puts into her craft.

What made you start creating children’s toys and accessories?

To tell you the truth, this is something I wanted to do since my early childhood. I simply can’t get tired of small scale objects. I started to make my own toys when I was about my daughter’s age (she is 6). I used to build large mansions with furniture made from cardstock and homemade glue, and to populate them with happy families of paper dolls. I also sewed, knitted and crocheted for my dolls. My deep love for miniatures lead me to unwillingly kill two innocent bonsai trees, and also made me want to become an architect. I gave up this project when I understood that what I really wanted was to build 3D models and maquette- and that is not what architects do.

Latter in life, and even though I was able to follow another dream of mine (taking a degree in Art History), I found myself doing repetitive, administrative work, and forgot all about toys and miniatures. Till the day when my daughter asked me to make her favorite doll a birthday cake!

Then, in the beginning of this year I had a little spare time in my hands (I was in between jobs) and decided to give it a try. I made my first felt cakes, cookies and dolls for my friends’ children, and they were the ones who encouraged me to start selling.

Miniature Birthday Cake on LookMamaMadeIt.Etsy.com

What is your inspiration for your creations?

My daughter was my first client, and the main cause and inspiration for everything I’ve created since her birth. A lot of the toys and accessories I make are also based in memories from my own childhood. Of course, this means I am particularly at ease with girl’s toys! I believe children should play with good quality, beautiful objects. I design my products to be visually appealing, pleasant to the touch, and easy to play with. They must have the right size, feel and weight for children’s hands, and to be stimulating and suggestive enough to encourage pretend play. Finally, everything is carefully and lovingly crafted, and tested in my home lab (my daughter’s playroom)!

What kind of materials do you use for your handmade toys and accessories?

I use mainly felt. Just love this material! I choose a high quality, rich wool blend felt that I can buy in a wide range of lovely colors. I always try to use non-allergenic, all-natural materials, and also use recycled materials when possible.

How long does it typically take to make one of your creations? Small (e.g. a cupcake) and large (e.g. a doll)?

Well, with a 6-year-old child and a full time job I have very little spare time to craft. I mostly craft at night, or on weekends, though I also need to take time for my family. I usually cut several pieces in one crafting session, then sew them all in another session, and then make all finishing in yet another day, so it is hard to answer this question. But if I had to make a doll in a single session I would need
at least 5 hours to finish it whereas one cupcake would take me about 1-2 hours.

Do you take into account customer feedback and suggestions when you start a new creation?

Yes, by all means. Clients can customize almost anything from my shop, and I am always glad to have special orders, because they help my work to evolve. Feedback is very important, since I really want my clients to be satisfied. My toys are conceived to make people happy.

What is next for Sílvia Leite and her handmade children’s toys and accessories?

I don’t know. Maybe I should, but I am not really making plans. I love to craft, and would love to be able to do this full time, but the right moment hasn’t arrived yet. Anyway, a part of me likes to keep this business in small scale… like my toys. But I always have ideas for new products!

Tell me what you think of Sílvia Leite’s handmade children’s toy and accessories. Please leave your comments and let me know if you enjoy handmade and handcrafted gifts.

Korres Limited-Edition Sugar Plums Set

Korres Limited-Edition Sugar Plums Set

This limited-edition nature-inspired kit has all you need for a fresh and flawless look. Korres Sugar Plums Set comes with a lip butter, lip gloss, and a shimmering eyeshadow. The Plum Lip Butter is a mix of Shea Butter and Rice Wax that will melt on the lips and provides a shiny, tinted finish which will hydrate and add softness.  Plum Cherry Lip Gloss is a sheer, high-shine, color lip gloss.  Cherry oil hydrates the lips while vitamins E and C offer antioxidant protection. The Plum Shimmering Eyeshadow is very easy to apply and is infused with sunflower and evening primrose oils to nourish the sensitive eye area.

LAVANILA Three Wishes Healthy Body Trio

LAVANILA Three Wishes Healthy Body Trio

The trio of 100% pure Shea and cocoa butters are infused with super anti-oxidants Goji Berry and Kakadu Plum, for a healthy dose of 30 essential vitamins & minerals and 19 amino acids to feed the skin.  These naturally formulated and rich body butters deeply nourish and repair the skin. 

The LAVANILA Three Wishes Healthy Body Trio comes with a Pure Vanilla Body Butter, Vanilla Grapefruit Body Butter, and a Vanilla Blossom Body Butter, all in a beautiful signature gift box.

Tsi-La Organic Eau De Parfum Mini Collection

Tsi-La Organic Eau De Parfum Mini Collection

Delicate, sophisticated and 100% organic. Untouched by alcohol, preservatives, artificial fragrances or colorings, the Tsi-La Organic Eau De Parfum Mini Collection uses a moisturizing base of select coconut oil infused with botanical extracts of pink orchid flowers.

The 4 miniature bottles are perfect for travel and come packaged in a black lotus signature box. 

Comes with four fragrances: Fleur Sauvage, Kesu, Ilang Ilang , and Kizes.

Burt’s Bees Men’s Natural Grooming Kit

Burt's Bees Men's Natural Grooming Kit

We didn’t forget the men!  This collection of men’s grooming necessities is the perfect gift for guys on the go. Burt’s Bees Men’s Natural Grooming Kit is all you need to cleanse, moisturize, shave and invigorate your skin with natural botanicals including Sunflower, Coconut, Cyprus and Fir oils, Aloe and Vitamin E. Each kit contains aftershave, shave cream, body wash, bar soap, and a lip balm all in a men’s travel bag.

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Do you have any earth friendly bath & body products you would like to recommend?  Please leave a comment and share any ideas you have.

But no matter what you call them, they have the same effect on you: they make you smile!

 About the Artist

The creative mind behind all these unique products is Ms. Heidi Kenney. She finds inspiration in ordinary objects of every day life or nature and turns them into extraordinary pieces of art. Ms. Kenney regularly participates to Craft Shows and Galleries; you can check her upcoming shows on her BLOG.

 About the Artwork

They are all made by hand; the main material is soft and colorful plush. Most of them are intended as toys; however, there are a few pieces  of furniture (pillows), too! What I love the most about all these products is the character and colors.

I have to say that I had a hard time trying to decide which pictures I wanted for this post as they are all cute and special. You can see the whole collection and read more at MyPaperCrane.com. You can even BUY some of them. MyPaperCrane Store is updated every month with new, ingenious items.

And because they are so cheerful, I would recommend them as GET WELL gifts! Also, I would recommend the unique pillows as a perfect gift for a FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER.

 Let’s Talk

I’d love to hear your experience with this type of gift in comments below. Would you offer it to someone? Or yourself? And why. Happy reading!