I've been working on some little Christmas gifts that I can post. Every year I notice that postage is more expensive and I know I have to limit the number of parcels I post. The trouble is I love to send presents!
Last year I included in the blog a whole list of things H have found that are little gifts that will fit into a standard sized card and envelope. I am always thinking about this and watching out for ideas!
For gardening friends seed packets are really good. Especially if they grow into flowers or produce what a lovely present! I have added gift tags, craft labels, stickers, stamps, book marks, soap leaves, tea bags, emery boards and all kinds of things. A pretty hankie will often fit too with some very flat folding.
This year I saw tiny little notebooks. They are around the size of a passport and the same thickness. Big enough to be useful! mmm I thought they will fit into a card and ordinary envelope! So I have been decorating them to match the cards I have been making. This gives me another dozen little gifts I can send away for very little and included in my ordinary stamp.
Every woman needs a note book in her handbag I figure!
If you have anything you use for tiny gifts please let me know. I try and keep ideas for this. I have several pen friends and love to write letters and include something.
I know that gift giving doesn't have to be an expensive thing. A thoughtful card or letter is a beautiful thing in itself.
Little projects like these are something the kids could do and love making. Being able to give gifts they have made is a wonderful thing. FEELING they are contributing to Christmas and gifts is really important. My saved up scraps of trims and pictures gave me all kinds of odds and ends that look pretty together. Some of the trims were left over from when I sewed pretty edgings on to tea towels (dish towels) and other projects.
Today it is really cool and almost like we are back in winter. I am using this as a day working on projects and catching up on all the little things. I might make it to the sewing machine and start on some gingham serviettes I am dying to make sets of!
Have a wonderful rest of the week! xxx
I love the little note books idea! How did you cut out the flowers etc? Do you use small scissors like are used for decoupage? I am thinking of card recycling in the future! I have a small suitcase of Christmas cards (seriously!) that I purchase half price or less after Christmas. I got a bit carried away and found a box of them I'd forgotten from the year before! I have grouped them all together now. I have wrapping paper (new) in rolls that was free from an op shop after Christmas and have quite a few rolls of it! They near begged me to take what I could carry as no one wants it once the occasion is past. That is the time to buy or gather items though - out of season and when cheap or free.
ReplyDeleteWe need new blinds where a pergola was taken down but somehow I did not think to buy these in the winter (when likely half price) and now the summer is nearly upon us and I will have to find a temporary solution to the heat problem on those two windows *sigh* I will be on the lookout for one though!
Getting prepared is so fabulous in more ways than the obvious - potential savings. Thanks yet again for more inspiration Annabel xoxo You always have such fabulous ideas. One thing I love to put into a card (if it fits) is a bookmark or little inspirational card quote. These are things that we could make. A friend once made me a beautiful hand made tatted lace bookmark for Christmas - I loved it so much and it was in a card. Perfume sachets are also nice, but not always flat enough. I think your beautiful hand made cards are a gift in themself! So pretty and crafted with love. xo
Dear Kaye, thank you. Most of the pictures Ive used are scraps from a big pack I had from Spotlight. But mostly for cards etc I sit and cut out as the pics are from old books. I use small scissors and do cutting out when Im watching tv or a movie as it seems like a big slow job but its amazing how much you get done this way. I got wrapping paper for 50c a roll in January and like you put it away. It is so gorgeous... it was $6 a roll originally. Its coming up on a blog post.
DeleteFor your blinds... yes wait until autumn when they are really half price. Temporarily I have used bamboo blinds that roll up and down and got them from cheap shops. They work so well and last a couple of seasons at least. On the outside of the window is best to keep the sun off it. Just measure up and see what you can get. Otherwise a temporary shade cloth solution? In some cases a market umbrella can be placed so it protects a window too.
Thank you for the card present ideas! I love the perfumed sachet and bookmarks! Now you have me thinking about making perfumed drawer sachets! (stay tuned lol!)
Lots of love Annabel.xxx
Hello Annabel, I am still following along though I don't comment too often. I was thinking a needle holder, without the needles might fit in an envelope. I have one that was my aunts, a pretty picture ensconced in acetate and crocheted around with a folded piece of felt in the middle.
ReplyDeleteKaye I know what you mean by needing a blind for your summer. I hope a solution can be found. Have you thought of looking online? We used Beautiful Blinds and were thrilled with the price. It was less than half of what we were quoted. They were inside blinds not sure about outside but worth investigating.
Thank you Barb it is lovely to hear from you. I really like your idea and now Im thinking of sweet sewing notions and have thought of embroidery floss! Good for fellow embroiderers.... and I had not thought of these things! Thanks! I am trying to think for Kaye too re blinds... keeping the sun off the window makes such a big difference. Not looking forward to the heat... Lots of love, Annabel.xxx
DeleteAnnabel,
ReplyDeleteYou opened my eyes with inspiration regarding notecards and such to make, for sure. I love the gifts you are able to share pre-Christmas giving, and hope you're taking photos of the ones you'll only be able to share post-Christmas giving!
Hugs and happy week to you,
Kelley~
Kelley you made me smile... you have realised there are things I can't show as if I post pics I will give the game away on some important gifts!
DeleteSome of your scraps from your sewing could be used in cards, it only takes tiny bits to be really pretty. xxx
Annabel, those cards are beautiful. Have you thought of making them into a notebook. I often do this with purchased cards. All you need is some paper cut to size and use pamphlet stitch to stitch in place. A strong waxed linen thread or even crochet cotton will work for the stitching. Jacqui (in NZ).
ReplyDeleteAnnabel, you should have a look at Shiralee's blog http://vintagepapery.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/artful-letters.html as she is trying to revive the art of letter writing and has offered to send a letter to anyone who emails her. She just lives around the corner from me and comes to our Simple Living Toowoomba workshops and morning teas. She is very resourceful and does some lovely work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nanna Chel I am having a look her blog is so pretty. I think we might have a lot in common! xxx
DeleteMy daughter made me some bookmarks from flowers that she had pressed and dried and then sandwiched into clear contact plastic. The Prudent Homemaker website has some nice printables. I know she has a nice needle book and other pretty things.
ReplyDeleteLana I love the bookmarks with the dried flowers. Also I will look at the printables on The Prudent Homemaker as although I follow her I havent looked at these! Thank you! I am thinking I could use a laminator to make bookmarks, I mean laminator sheets and use the iron to make them stick!
DeleteDear Annabel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! I received a pen and a notebook from Kaye and I use them every day. They fit into my bible case and I jot down notes on scriptures.
Some suggestions are sending a favourite recipe, spare petrol discount coupons, a homemade coupon from yourself that they can redeem, or a craft pattern if you share an interest. Another idea is a small bag of dried herbs or loose tea. I'm sure there are many ideas if we look into it and it makes brightening someone's day very affordable. Love Helenx
Thank you Helen. I love your ideas! Dried herbs is brilliant, also useful patterns etc instruction sheets... all these are great. I need to make a master list! I keep a stationary box so I could add a heap of items in there ready to pop into letters.
ReplyDeleteThey have to add to the experience of getting a card or letter! xxx
What lovely ideas. A cute and fun present I received in an envelope once was a small jigsaw. It was only the size of a postcard when put together. I often send a couple hot chocolate sachets and have sent a choccie bar interstate with no dramas.
ReplyDeleteGarden Del the hot chocolate sachets are brilliant! This is good, I am getting a heap of new ideas I hadn't thought of, thank you!
DeleteA small coin purse. A laminated scripture / quote with a thin strip of magnetic tape on the back. A cloth coaster. Finger puppet for a child.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy... I have some scripture cards planned, somewhere between book marks and keep sakes that are really pretty. I thought they would be lovely to give and keep. I love your ideas thank you!
DeleteI've also been thinking of photographs. Especially if you send interstate or overseas to friends and family - we love getting these once a year. I know Facebook has replaced a lot of this now, but I love the photo postcards they get done for a baby gift thank you now. I put them on the fridge and pray for that family each time I see the photo. Flat fridge magnets with photos could be nice perhaps?
DeleteI agree Kaye and I often have spare photos or duplicates. A picture really does say a thousand words! xxx
DeleteAny chance you could link your post from last year where you list other gifts for posting, please Annabel. I have had quite a good look with no luck ( although I have bookmarked a heap of other wonderful posts!)
ReplyDeleteSweeeeeet! Lovely ideas too. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop xp
ReplyDelete