{Gifts, Paper} Gocco Note Cards

I've been dying to get my hands dirty on something other than a mouse, so I busted out the 'ole gocco printer to whip up a fast, personalized present for a friend's birthday party. I had a more elaborate design planned, but the screen didn't burn correctly. I couldn't bare to waste precious gocco supplies like that, so I cropped out the design for a minimalist set of personalized stationary.

I paired the cards with envelopes in an array of preppy colors.



I also included a white gel pen for writing on the dark envelopes and these cute postage stamps that will look great with all of the envelope colors.

In case you're curious, this was my failed design. Andy said he liked the final result better than the intended design.

I considered playing aroud with some washi tape, but decided to quit while I was somewhat ahead.

Not working with the gocco for a few years seems to have voided my memory of what a pain in the ass it can be. I thought this would take me 30 minutes or, you know, an hour and a half. GOCCO! Click here if you'd like to see my Gocco of Years Past.

Gifts for a Woodsy Wino

As you probably guessed from last week's 366 photos, Andy's Aunt Ruth bought a new vacation home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

Lucky her! (And us, huh?) While she's embracing the log cabin theme with gusto, we couldn't resist getting her some fancy wine stuff to help her remember her roots!

I ordered some woodburned wine charms cut from a fallen spruce tree branch from Etsy seller, The Hickory Tree. I asked her to attach some silver rings for me to insert the charm loop. Then I picked up some earth-toned beads at Caravan Beads for embellishment. Each family member and a few of AR's "Wine Diva" friends received a charm.

My sister-in-law, April, looooves the bling, so her charm had some fancy crystals instead.

I packaged all of the charms in a sturdy gift box from Paper Source that could be left out on a counter for easy access.

That went into a box with an electric wine opener, a bottle of a family favorite wine for special occasions, and other accoutrement that are fun must-haves for any wine-lover on vacation. 

{Paper + Parties} Nursery-Inspired Gift Wrap

When celebrating friends, I like to wrap their packages in their favorite colors or try match the event's theme. (Remember these Crate & Barrel boxes from my friend's weddings in 2010 and 2011?)

For my friend Tara's baby shower this past weekend, I was inspired by her recent nursery blog post when selecting the packaging for her gifts:

{"Nursery Ideas" from In This Instance}

What a happy, sunshiny place for a little babe! To mimic the feeling for our group gift, I selected some beautiful handmade paper, a Snow & Graham favorite picked up at a cute neighborhood shop, hangar 18, and shiny satin ribbons.

{Photo by Ami of Elizabeth Anne Designs and Entouriste)

Running around the city looking for the perfect gift wrap may be ridiculous, but what fun it is!

Quick Valentine's for My Lady Loves

I was itchin' for a paper detox last week, so I whipped some Valentine's Gifts for my girlfriends. I filled monogrammed mugs with heart-shaped candy and added some "love notes" to them.

I added some tags with hand-cut hearts.

Then I wrapped them all in cellophane Easter basket bags from the dollar store that I cut in half.

As can see, I still don't have my good camera. :( 

A Pretty Crate & Barrel Box

I've mentioned before how the Crate & Barrel box has been my nemesis through 16 wedding seasons. (Yikes! Am I that old?) I once again triumphed in the fall, with a fun package that I prettied up for my friend's September bridal shower.

I used pretty green paper to cover the Crate & Barrel name, then stabled peach tissue paper that I had from my own incomplete wedding projects around the perimeter for frilly goodness.

Incidentally, I believe this package led to me tying 90 party favors for her October wedding. Lucky me.

{Gifts} Chicago-Themed Kids Gifts

One of my best friends from college got in touch with me via LinkedIn back in January. I am so excited as he is one of my most favorite people in the world.

I had a chance to see my old friend and meet his wife and incredibly smart daughters last month, when Andy and I met him at the Shedd Aquarium. I'm always excited when guests come to Chicago, so I welcomed them with some Chicago treats in hopes of wooing them back with awesomeness.

The only thing that I knew about his daughters is that they love dinosaurs and fish. I used some photocopied scrapbook paper to dress some some plain gift backs with designs cut with my Silhouette SD.

I filled the bags with a Chicago coloring book and crayons, a chocolate sucker from Fannie May, and little snack size bags of Garrett's popcorn. 

I can't find the Chicago coloring book online to show you the inside, but it's pretty cute. You can find coloring books for Chicago and other cities on Amazon. My friend said his daughters really liked them.

We're counting our vacation pennies, so I cut myself off there. I would have liked to include the Count to Sleep Chicago book for his younger daughter and this wonderful Larry Gets Lost in Chicago book for his oldest daughter.

 

I usually use stickers to mark our office location. Please don't kill us.

{Source}

For more ideas on assembling Chicago-style treats, see the Out-of-Town bags from our October 2008 wedding.

{Gifts} Chicago-Themed Baby Gifts

In most of my social interactions, I am the only true-blue Chicagoan in the group. Actually, in all of my extended, post-college and work social groups, I have only one friend that I can think of who grew up with a 606XX zip code. Given this, I like to recruit some fresh blood to the city whenever I attend a baby shower. Here are some of my Go-To Chicago-Style baby gifts. Notice that none of them mention the phrase "Chi-Town." That's because nooneshouldeverusethephraseChi-TownasitmakesyousoundlikeadouchebagoraDJorworseaDoucheyDJ. 

Good Night Chicago

{Source}

1-2-3 Chicago

 

{Source}

Count to Sleep Chicago

{Source}

There are a few other books on the market, but I like to save a few of those for when they get older.

Chicago Onesie

Depending on the gifting scenario, I also try to include a little Chicago t-shirt or onesie or two. My all-time favorite go-to, which was recently discontinued, is this hot dog and mustard onesie, modeled by a throw-back Eddie.

I have a matching t-shirt because I like to be THAT aunt. I know it's technically not a "Chicago" onesie, but any real Chicagoan would get it and love it.

{Paper} Customized Gift Bags

As you know, I am v popular with the Under 2 set these days. I've been trying to uphold my status as a Favorite Mom Friend and encourage a discerning party eye in them by using my Silhouette SD to design custom gift bags to match their party themes.

Genevieve received a caterpillar bag made from some project remnants and a shopping bag that I had laying around the house.

For Lucas' car themed party, I used the patterned paper that we designed for the flags to create some bag decorations, which Andy deemed "not very masculine."

Lucas can pretty much count on me cashing in my 401K for his college fund as a result of his reaction to my flag envelope.

Photo blogged with permission from Lucas' mom

Last-Minute Father's Day Packaging

I think that Father's Day is a million times easier to shop for than Mother's Day:

1. Card? Check!
2. Lottery Ticket? (Ooops. Forgot this one.)
3. Dunkin' Donuts Gift Card? Check!
4. Meat? Check!

I only had a few minutes to wrap my dad's gift yesterday morning. I did a quick scan of my desk for ideas and noticed the black-and-white rubber band ball. Done!

I am pretty sure that my dad has NEVER noticed packaging. He picked up his gift yesterday and said to my sister, jokingly, I think, "Look at this, Bay-e. Your sister couldn't even wrap my present! She cut up a paper bag and put rubberbands on it." As he said this, my mother walked out and said, "Did you notice the packaging? Isn't that clever?" 

I made more paint chip confetti to fill his box.



Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. I'm taking the afternoon off to meet her for lunch. Andy and I went to dinner and a movie with her on Saturday and presented her gifts.

My mom's been unemployed for a few years now, so all she ever wants is Visa gift cards that she can use to treat herself to the occasional T.J. Maxx trip or haircut. (Well, she also wants hardwood floors, as she is tired of sitting in the house and staring at her carpets. But I think her odds are better for Visa gift cards.)

I can never give myself to give just cash as gifts, so I try to mix it up with fun, inexpensive gifts when I can.

Earrings and Necklace Set from Macy's

I had some extra Macy's boxes, so I snuck in some extra treats:

"Custom-Wrapped" Fannie May Candy

BTW, I was 2 out of 3 on the candy.
My mother likes chocolate-covered ALMONDS, not peanuts.

Cold, Hard Cash

wrapped in orange twine and confetti made from the 4,000 paint swatches
that I seem to always have around the house.

You know that she probably saw these boxes and thought, "Oh great. A bunch of costume jewelry that I don't need." Surprise!