Category Archives: gift ideas for all occasions

Gift ideas for all occasions.

10 Jellies, Jams and Other Canned Creations

Canning isn’t just for pickling…you can make delicious jams, jellies, butters and even salsas using the ol’ trusty mason jar.

Not only is this a great way to use fruits and veggies that are nearing season’s end, but these canned creations make great gifts for the holidays.

Surprise the hostess with the mostess with some homemade apple butter, or fill holiday stockings with a can of homemade salsa. Thrifty and fun to assemble, these canned jellies, jams and butters will help you clean out your produce stash in no time!

10 Jellies, Jams and Other Canned Creations

jellies-and-james

  1. Canned Apple Pie Filling
  2. Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles
  3. Old Fashioned Apple Butter
  4. Homemade Salsa
  5. Bourbon Soaked Cherries
  6. Pumpkin Ginger Jam
  7. 5-Minute Lime Curd
  8. Blackberry Jam
  9. Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
  10. Vanilla Spiced Pear Butter

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips. 

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15 Stocking Stuffers for Book Lovers

Ok guys, Christmas is coming but THERE’S STILL TIME to get your favorite bookworm a little something special for their stocking…

stocking-stuffers-for-book-lovers

Some think that shopping for a reader is difficult, since you don’t know what books are on their shelves already…but you can still please your favorite Jane Austen, Harry Potter, or Mark Twain fan without having to step foot in a bookstore!  Here are 15 Stocking Stuffers for Book Lovers that you can buy right from the comfort of your own home (thanks, Amazon!).

15 Stocking Stuffers for Book Lovers

A page a day keeps the bordem away…

Wear your love of books on your sleeve…or arm or leg or face…

The perfect gift for those trying to keep track of their reading list.

Cook recipes from your favorite stories (I have this book and it’s adorable).

Not EVERY book lover loves tea…but almost every book lover loves a novel pun…

Novel Teas contains 25 teabags individually tagged with literary quotes from the world over, made with the finest English Breakfast tea.

Speaking of puns…

Every great book usually grabs you with the first line…

A little cushion for those long reading nights…

Every book reader needs this sign!

Keep on coastin’ with these Jane Austen coasters…

I always thought Quidditch was a deadly game…

Great for late-night reading…

If your book lover needs some tunage to set the mood, try this relaxing CD…

Music for Book Lovers

Or make your entire room smell like a bookstore…

Finally, this book and wine caddy is perfect for reading in bed, in the tub, or just on the couch curled up in a Snuggie…

Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.

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12 Unique DIY Advent Calendars

Whether you’re counting down the days to Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, a wedding or a baby being born, an Advent Calendar is a fun way to help the time go by!

These 12 Unique DIY Advent Calendars are great for families looking for a fun way to count down the days until Christmas.  Opening one little gift every day was one of my favorite family traditions, and I can’t wait to use some of these ideas with my family!

advent-calendars

12 Unique DIY Advent Calendars

Gather up some Christmas-colored baby socks for a Stocking Sock Calendar. Fill each sock with candies or small trinkets. This would also be a cute way to count down the days to a baby’s birth or gender reveal!

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This Punch Board Advent Calendar is great for kids! Fill each hole with candies or little toys to help them count down the days to Christmas, a birthday, or New Year’s.

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Not all advent calendars have to have gifts. This Printable Advent Chain encourages families to spend time together with different daily activities. Once you’re done with that day’s task, add it to the paper chain for a fun Christmas decoration filled with memories.

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Hang paper cups filled with goodies from the ceiling with this Paper Cup Advent Calendar.

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This Balloon Calendar is great for counting down the days or hours until New Year’s Eve!

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I love this Rustic Advent Calendar.  This doesn’t have a tutorial, but you could easily wrap small gifts and attach them to a strong branch for the same effect.

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Turn an over-the-door shoe storage container into a countdown calendar with this Woodland Inspired Advent Calendar.

Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer Advent Calendar

If you don’t have the room to display a full advent calendar, you can arrange your gifts in a bucket for a similar, adorable effect.

christmas-advent-boyfriend-gifts

Mini muffin pans are just begging to be advent calendars!  This Muffin Pan Advent Calendar is great for bakers.

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This book advent calendar is one of my favorites. Wrap 24 books and put them under the tree. Unwrap one a night and read it together as a family.

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This Ornament Advent Calendar gives you a cute decorated tree just in time for Christmas!

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If you’re a house of adults, this Pringles Advent Calendar is just the vessel to fill with mini alcohol bottles, beer bottles, or wine!

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Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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Pre-Holiday ETSY Sale!

IT’S NOVEMBER.

HOW HAS THIS YEAR FLOWN BY SO QUICKLY?!

You know that once November hits, December is only a hop, skip and a jump away…and if you want to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping, I’m here to help!

sale

I’m having a pre-holiday sale on EVERYTHING in my ETSY shop.  To help make room for new inventory, everything (EVERYTHING) is 50% off!  Stock up on cards, gifts, and all the Harry Potter merch you can handle!

Shop Between the Pages between now and November 28th for great deals on holiday gifts!

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DIY Notepad

I’m a sucker for notebooks and notepads.  Though I haven’t kept a journal in several years, I like the IDEA of having a journal…and I certainly have enough blank ones to just get started already.

I also love making (and crossing things off of) lists.  I have grocery lists, to do lists, lists of books to read, lists of things to buy…it helps keep my brain organized and I can’t help but feel just a little accomplished when I finally get to cross something off!

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Before I started making my own notepads, I just had a purse full of receipts and post-its with various lists on them…but these cute little DIY Notepads are so easy to make that you’ll have your life organized in no time!

DIY Notepad

Materials:

  • 30 sheets of white computer paper
  • Ruler
  • Scissors (or a paper trimmer if you have one)
  • Stamps and ink pad (optional)
  • 2 sheets scrapbook paper
  • 2 binder clips
  • Paint brush
  • Mod Podge
  • Cardboard (optional)
  • Embellishments

Instructions:

Cut your computer paper (or cardstock if you want thicker sheets) into 5 in. x 7 in. rectangles.  Do the same with the scrapbook paper you want to use as the cover of your notepad.

cut-paper

Gather all the pages together and secure with binder clips on the 5 in. end.

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If you want to decorate the pages with stamps, do that before securing with binder clips.  

Using paint brush, apply a generous coat of Mod Podge glue on the 5 in. end to hold all the pages together.  Once that coat has dried, apply one more coat.  Let dry fully.

In the meantime, cut your cardboard, if you’re using it, into a 5 in. x 7 in. rectangle.

Cut the second sheet of scrapbook paper (I just used a scrap piece, honestly…or you can use the flip side if your paper is double-sided) into a 7 in. x 3 in. rectangle.  This will be the binding cover.

journal pieces

Once your binding has dried, remove the binder clips.  Use Mod Podge to glue your paper pad onto your sheet of cardboard.  Place cover on top of pages.  Glue backside of 3 in. rectangle and carefully attach over binding.  Let dry completely.

Once that’s done, you can decorate your notepad cover to look however you’d like!

And there you have it!  A cute little notepad with removeable sheets that’s great for gift-giving and keeping your life organized!

diy-notepad

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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14 Cozy Fall Must-Have’s for Book Lovers

Fall is the season for book lovers.  Brisk winds howling through the trees, a hot pot of tea bubbling on the stove, and a cozy blanket that smells like your grandma’s attic…it’s the dream for most bookworms – at least for me! – and I look forward to this time of year pretty much all the damn time.

There are few things that could add to a blustery fall day complete with a good book and a good cup of coffee, but these fall must-have’s might be worth trying!  So put another log on the fire and have fun shopping these 14 Fall Must-Have’s for Book Lovers!

ideas for book lovers

14 Cozy Fall Must-Have’s for Book Lovers

YES PLEASE.

The perfect bag for running to the library.

Cozy up by the fire with this Hamlet whisky glass.

Show off your favorite quotes with these text printed leggings.

Are you brimming with madness?  You will be if you don’t get this awesome Cheshire Cat-inspired cuff!

You’re not a book WORM, you’re a book DRAGON.

Cute coasters for your coffee, tea, whisky…you know, whatever warms your soul!

You know you belong in Ravenclaw if you’re reading this list…

Wear your love around your neck.

Set the mood with this amazing Shire candle.

Spooky wall art for Halloween…

Cozy socks for Wonderland…

A trinket bowl for all your little nick nacks.

Take a walk in the woods with this book print scarf.

Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.

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14 Painted Rock Ideas to Liven Up the World

Let’s face facts…sometimes the world sucks.

There’s no avoiding it…there’s no denying it.  But, there might be something you can do to help spread some cheer throughout the year!

Whether you want to brighten up your garden, your neighborhood, or your community, these painted rocks are sure to bring just a little joy into someone’s life.  Scatter them around your home, in your garden, or spread them around your local park or forest preserve.  A little joke can go a long way, and these painted rocks might just be the motivation your friend or neighbor needs to keep on truckin’!

14 Painted Rock Ideas to Liven Up the World

painted rock ideas

  1. Monster Rocks
  2. Weather Rock
  3. Scripted LOVE Rock
  4. Heart Balloons Rock
  5. Not All Who Wander Rock
  6. Inspirational Rocks
  7. Owl Rocks
  8. Rainbow Rocks
  9. Jawa Star Wars Rocks
  10. Cactus Rocks
  11. Minions Rocks
  12. Potted Rocks
  13. Garden Rocks
  14. Gold Rocks

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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12 Luxurious Bath Bomb Recipes

Reward yourself for making it through the day with a fragrant, relaxing bubble bath, enhanced with a fun bath bomb!

bath-bomb-recipes

All the rage on Pinterest and Etsy, bath bombs are a great way to make bath time way more enjoyable…and there are recipes all over the Interwebs for making your own bath bombs…thankfully, I’ve collected 12 of the prettiest ones right here for your viewing pleasure!

Most bath bombs can be made with ingredients you can easily find at your local drug store or craft store (baking soda, Epsom salt, corn starch, essential oils, food coloring) and you can use almost any silicone or plastic mold to create bath bombs in any shape, size, and style.

Package these for friends and give as gifts for weddings, showers, birthdays, Christmas, or just for making it to Friday!

12 Luxurious Bath Bomb Recipes

Mermaid Bath Bomb
beautycrafter.com
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Cupcake Bath Bomb
apumpkinandaprincess.com
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Lemon Lavender Bath Bomb
girllovesglam.com
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Rose Bath Bomb
happygoluckyblog.com
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Fish Bath Bomb
beautycrafter.com
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Doughnut Bath Bomb
apumpkinandaprincess.com
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Orange Bath Bomb
southernmomloves.com
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Sprinkled Bath Bomb
yesmissy.com
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Valentine Bath Bomb
jojotastic.com
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Rainbow Bath Bomb
abeautifulmess.com
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Green Tea Bath Bomb
thirstyfortea.com
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Red Rose Bath Bomb
apumpkinandaprincess.com
beauty-and-the-beast-bath-bomb

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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The Princess Bride Coasters

HOW STINKIN’ CUTE ARE THESE PRINCESS BRIDE COASTERS?

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Made using artwork I found online by Nathan Pyle (check out his art…it’s pretty awesome!), these coasters are perfect for your next Princess Bride-themed movie night.

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The Princess Bride Coasters

Materials:

Instructions:

First, paint your coasters.  These are just painted with one coat of paint.  You can add another coat for a richer color, but I just stopped after 1 coat.

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Cut out your images.  I edited mine using a photo editing software to be a 3 in. x 3 in. square.

Paint a LIGHT coat of Mod Podge on your coaster.  Adhere the image.  Paint over with Mod Podge to secure.  You can cover the entire coaster with Mod Podge to protect the paint layer, too.

If desired, add felt feet on bottom of coaster.

Pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy watching The Princess Bride!

princess-bride-coasters4

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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17 Gifts Dad Will Actually Want

Father’s Day is right around the corner…If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for dad, fear not…these adorable Etsy finds are great for whatever type of dad you have!

Whether your dad loves sports, music, beer, cars, or a good dad joke, these Father’s Day gifts are a clever and fun way to show dad how much you care.  And don’t forget grandpas, uncles, and brothers, too!

fathers-day-gifts

17 Gifts Dad Will Actually Want

For the Sporty Dad
Baseball Coach Gift - Baseball Love, Love Baseball Wood Sign, Baseball Team Gifts, Gifts for Coaches, Baseball Decor, Sports Gifts, Letters

For the Dad Who Loves Music
Any Song Sound Wave Print Fully Personalized Soundwave Picture - Any Colour Background - Any Message - A4 A5 A3 PP77

For the Grill Master

For the Gamer Dad
Nintendo Controller Printable 11"X14" Set, Nintendo Art, NES Controller print, Geek Chic, Geeky Nordic Print, Retro Video Game, Gift For Him

For the Techy Dad
iPhone Stand - Mobile phone & tablet Docking Station - Charging Station - Bedside or Desk Tidy -  Smart Phone Samsung - Mothers Day Gift

For the Dad Who Loves Nerdery
Father's Day Whiskey Glasses - Geek Fathers Day Gift For Dad  - Nerd Dad Gift Ideas - Nerd Dad Birthday Gifts - Geek Dad Birthday Gift

For the New Dad
New dad gift for dad fathers day gift dad husband gift first fathers day dad to be gift for new dad new daddy dad gift pregnancy mug

For the Beer Lover
USA Beer Cap Map Craft Beer Caps USA Map Beer Bottle Cap USA Map State Beer Cap Maps State  usa Shape Cap Map us craft beer cap map gift

For the Whisky Drinker

For the Crafty Dad
SAWDUST is MAN GLITTER Mug

For the Auto Enthusiast
Mechanic Gifts, Man Candle, Fathers Day Gift, Car Gifts, Soy Candle, Manly Gift, Boyfriend Gift, Husband Gift, Gifts For Him, Gifts For Dad

For the Active Dad

For the Bookworm
T-Rex Attack Metal Art Bookends - Free USA Shipping

For the Dad Who Loves to Fish
Fathers Day Fishing Lure - Personalized Hand Stamped Key Chain - My Greatest Catch - Mens Gift - Baby Weight - Fish Fishing Dad

For the Dad with Wanderlust
Whiskey Leather Toiletry Bag Travel Shaving Dopp Kit with Free Monogram and Optional Interior Message Gift for Man Groomsmen Groom Wedding

For the Family-Centric Dad
Lego family gift frame - personalised!

For the Dad Who Loves a Good Joke
Funny Dad mug, fathers day, sperm jokes, gifts for dad, rude mug, sarcasm, adult humor, funny mug, pull out, thanks dad, sex humor, snarky

Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.

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