Did you used to ask your parents the “How many more sleeps” question about a million times in the months leading up to Christmas? Well we still have a few more sleeps before the big man comes to deliver down our chimneys, but in the meantime we have a few Christmas ideas to start you thinking about what you can be doing ahead of time for Christmas! YES - it’s time for another ESAD Christmas Blog Hop!!!
What is ESAD?
ESAD stands for Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators and it is an online group just for Australian and New Zealand demonstrators for Stampin’ Up!
We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love for what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help and support each other when its needed.
So if you are a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.
You might have just arrived here from Jan McAnulty’s blog if you are doing the rounds of the Blog Hop, the great thing is that you can just keep going around the circle until you get back to where ever you started from.
ON TO THE CHRISTMAS STUFF …
I love wrapping gifts! The really great thing about gift packaging is that is can take a “nice” gift and make it look really special with some pretty packaging. So I hope that these simple packaging ideas will give you some inspiration to think about how you can take your gifts up a notch to make them special for the person receiving them.
When you think about all the people in our lives that we want to recognize without breaking the bank, these sorts of ideas are a real life-saver. I would have shown them with truffles or yummy hand-made candies etc in them, but then I would have had to eat them and that wouldn’t be good …
This is just a black lunch bag decorated up with cardstock, designer paper and a bit of satin ribbon. What a pretty and economical way to give a bag of yummy things to your kids teacher without it costing too much …
Don’t forget - Delightful Decorations and the Ornament punch I have used here are one of the bundles were you can get $26 worth of free ribbon right now! Check out the details HERE
I think vellum and satin ribbon are just such a classy combination. Add in a little bling with some Stampin’ Up! self-adhesive rhinestones and you have a super easy box that looks like a million bucks!!
The Big Shot Fancy Favour Box die makes creating boxes a 1-step process! Just run your cardstock through and in a turn of your handle you have a cut and scored box ready to decorate – you can pump out a ton of these in no time flat!!
Don’t have Christmas stamps? Not a problem, just use what you have got. Here I’ve used the French Filigree background and a Christmas stamp out of Perfect Punches (it has a variety of different occasions stamps). There’s no reason why you can’t create Christmas boxes that look professional but take only moments to make.
Of course we also want something yummy to put in the boxes, so here is a recipe for super easy Rum Balls, this is one from an American demonstrator that I’ve had for ages. Yummy and easy (just like the boxes!). Hope you enjoy …
________________________________________
EASY RUM BALL MIX
* 2 Packets of your Favourite Biscuits (plain, chocolate, coconut - whatever!) finely chop biscuits in food processor or crumble in plastic bag with a rolling pin
* 1 can on condensed Milk
* 1 cup of coconut
* 1/2 to 1 cup of cocoa
* 1/2 a packet of mixed dried fruit no peel if you can find it (you can omit this if you don't like fruit or reduce the amount just remember that you will not need as much dry ingredients if not using fruit)
* enough Bundy Rum to soak fruit or to taste if not using fruit
Soak the fruit at least 24 hours or longer if you can.
Add all ingredients in to a large bowl and mix together. Take teaspoon fulls and roll into balls. You can then roll in coconut or cocoa to finish.
Refrigerate to set. For a richer chocolate flavour you can add a block of good quality cooking chocolate melted of course whether it be milk or dark I find dark works better.
Petra
________________________________________
Now jump on over to Kim Conway’s blog for some more great Christmas ideas!
Just in case you need it, here is a list of all the demonstrators participating in this blog hop with links to their blogs:
1. Sharlene Torres
2. Kim Conway
3. Andrea Lowcock
4. Jo Weedon
5. Narelle Hodges
6. Leonie Schroder
7. Pauline Bennetts
8. Aly Adcock
9. Tanya Bell
10. Monique Fielder
11. Julie Fettes
12. Jane Norrish
13. Keryn Campbell
14. Bev Watt
15. Jan McAnulty
What are you waiting for – get stamping now so you’re ready for Christmas early this year!!
11 comments:
Love your pretty packaging ideas Sharlene, the vellum box is super classy, love it
Sharlene that vellum box looks amazing and very classy. I am a big fan of giving home made treats at Christmas and these bags and boxes are just the thing! Thanks.
You're right Sharlene .. presentation means so much, and you've shown us some fantastic ways to dress up gifts. Will be casing you for sure! lol especially the vellum box ... beautiful design, and so stylish.
And a huge THANK YOU for organising this blog hop :) Very well done.
Cannot go past the Vellum lid...it looks devine. Congrats on a fab range of packaging ideas....oooo yes..and the rum balls recipe too. I cook for the kid's teachers every year and I think these will make a nice change.
Thanks for sharing your great Christmas packaging ideas!
-Gabbi
oh i love that vellum box! Now i have never seen black lunch bags however i was thinking you'd fit quite a few coffee beans in that bag!!! lol Might have to try that rum ball recipe ;) Oh and I think you did buy those chockies to put in th ebag and you did eat them all while creating and thats why there werent any in the bag!!
The black bag is just so striking. Thanks so much for organising the blog hop.
Love your packaging ideas Sharlene, I will be making sure I buy smaller presents this year so that I can use them. Thanks also for the recipe, will give it a try very soon.
Jane ;-)
Ooooh! Love these gorgeous projects. I wonder where we can get hold of those black lunch bags. And ... that vellum box is 'TO DIE FOR'!!! Thanks for the recipe. I do this one ... but without the rum & the fruit! Giggle! (Don't like either!) So ... I guess I should call them non-alcoholic rum balls! Giggle! FAB ideas, Sharlene. Hugs xxaxx
Yummy recipe.......the boxes look terrific too!
Diana
Love these ideas Sharlene, particularly loved what you've done with the vellum; will be casing this for some yummies I will be giving a few people for Christmas! Thanks so much too for organising the blog.
Post a Comment