blog hop

Tonight's my first night for the Papertrey Ink blog hop and I won't be around until late (darn).  But the challenge was too inspiring to pass up - Grab & Go Gifts.  I wanted something for upcoming St. Nicolas day (Dec. 6th) - I lived in Germany when I was young and we always left wooden shoes out which St. Nicolas would fill with oranges, candy and goodies.  

We're trying the same tradition with our little one.  Plus I want to have a few yummy small gifts to take on-the-go to the O.B. Christmas parade & December Nights ('Christmas on the Prado').  The added bonus is the ripe citrus fruits just outside our front door - Christmas in So. Cal. means citrus!  Lemons & limes make gifts for parents and goodie bags are for the kids.

The card and a piece of custom-stamped vintage cream cardstock (so cute!) came first - crafted with love when I had more time.  (The back of the card has 'Handmade with Love' stamped in cream.)  For the bag, I needed something to literally grab & go from the cupboard in a snap - Unbleached Natural Waxed Paper Bags, small chocolate pretzels, tiny candy canes, a Cutie tangerine, and a tiny organic apple - whammo - stapled shut (with a few finishes on the tag).

I'll save this one for us for St. Nicolas Day.  And I have five more pieces of my custom paper for gifts for friends we meet up with at outdoor holiday events - perfect snacks to keep you refreshed & away from pricey food vendors.  I can make more cards if there's time, or add a quick sentiment to the bottom of the tag on the gift.  I'm lovin' it.

SUPPLIES:
stamps - PTI Holiday Button Bits, Fruitful, Fruitful Sentiments, Borders & Corners - Square, Background Basics: Retro (candy cane stamps source unknown - cheap-os)

paper - PTI chocolate, scarlet, cream 
ink - PTI chocolate, scarlet, orangerie, sunset, leaf, chartreuse, cream; Tim Holtz linen distress ink 
ribbon - PTI scarlet saddle stitch, scarlet satin, cream twill; vintage cream twine
accents - PTI vintage orange & leaf buttons

tools - Marvy giga scalloped square punch; Cutterbee scissors; Glue dots; Tombow mono adhesive; foam dimensionals; stapler; Copic markers