Decorating Christmas Packages and 2010 Post Office Shipping Deadlines

If you're going to send packages this Christmas, add a little pizazz, and get them to the post office soon! Here are some important deadlines if want your Christmas packages delivered before December 25th via the US Postal Service.

Post Office Christmas Package deadlines:

• Monday, December 20 - First Class Mail
  (cheaper option, maximum weight of 13 oz)
• Tuesday, December 21 - Priority Mail

More USPS shipping details.

When shipping personal packages, I always like to make them festive.  One of my favorite ways to do this is with paper doilies.  I usually get mine at the Dollar Tree, and I use them for the address labels and as decorative touches.

Using circle doilies as labels are fun because you can write your return address in an arc around the top edge of the doily for a super unique presentation.

You'll notice that my boxes are drenched in packing tape. It's really important to cover your entire doily with tape to make sure none of the intricate details get snagged in transit.

To cover ugly labels or old bar codes on my recycled boxes, I like to use scraps of leftover wrapping paper, which can add another pop of color.  This box definitely looks homemade!

Loaded up in the car and ready to go to post!

Do you have any tips for making holiday packages festive?

Box of Christmas Cheer

I have a friend who has had a lot going on lately, and it's really taken a toll on her ability to get in the Christmas spirit.  It was breaking my heart to see her feeling so down, so I knew I had to do something and fast!

That's how I came up with the idea for a Box of Christmas Cheer. I spent a night gathering up fun little Christmas things at Target in bright and cheerful colors. I also made a "Merry" party banner and some new-to-my-collection Christmas ornament gift tags.  I would have liked to have made more items by hand, but I wanted to get the box sent ASAP.  Right from the beginning, I decided that I would only include what I could buy or make before bed time in order to have the box ready to ship the next morning.

Box of Christmas Cheer Contents:

• Pepperidge Farm Gingerman cookies (So yummy dipped in Cool Whip!)
• Pepperidge Farm Almond wreath cookies
• Puffs tissues in Christmas hologram box
• Penguin cookie plate
• Snowman 3D straws
• Bright Christmas napkins
• "Merry" party banner by Belly Feathers
• Hand-stamped ornament gift tags by Belly Feathers
• Ornaments and Christmas soaps from Michael's (not pictured)
• Snowflake sucker from Dollar Tree (not pictured)

I packaged it all up with bright green tissue paper in a USPS priority mail box for fast delivery.  Who wouldn't be able to smile upon opening such a colorful box!!  Of course, to sprinkle on a little extra love, I drew Christmas-y messages all over the box with Sharpies.  I'm not a very good drawer, so they definitely looked homemade.

The package arrived two days later at a much needed time, and I think it did just the trick! With the busy hustle of the holidays, it's so easy overlook those that need a little extra love this time of year.  I'm so grateful for all of my blessings and hope that I can continue to keep my eyes, ears, and heart open this holiday season and throughout the year.

Happy Holidays!

Graceful Hostess Tip: When Asked, Bring Your Signature Dish

Ideas for hosting with style and elegance

At pot-luck events, you have the opportunity to exhibit graceful hostess skills even if you're not the organizer. This is especially true when you're asked to bring one of your signature dishes.  If at all possible, say, "Yes!"

If someone makes a special request, it's because they love your dish, the way you present it, and possibly even how it livens the crowd.  So, be flattered, and try to oblige.

Yesterday was our Thanksgiving lunch at work, and I was asked to bring my famous Fruit Tea by the lunch's organizer, Linda.  Fruit Tea is not exactly a perfect fit for a fall gathering, but I was thrilled to receive the special request.  I found a way to make the tea fit in with the festivities by decorating my dispenser with a cute little fall label that I hand-stamped with a little acorn in fall colors.

I wish you could see how excited my co-worker Linda is on days when I bring in Fruit Tea!  There's a lot of clapping. giggling with excitement, and a special Fruit Tea dance....that's right, a Fruit Tea DANCE!!!  This time I wanted to do something a special to make the Fruit Tea happiness last a few days longer.  I made a little gift pitcher for Linda, so she could take home all of the leftover Fruit Tea.

My husband used a Dremel to drill a small hole in the pitcher's handle big enough for a binder clip.  I thought a binder clip would be a perfect way to attach the sparkly handmade "Property of" tag to the pitcher, so it could be easily removed when the pitcher needs to be washed.  Plus, the clip will let Linda attach the tag to whatever she needs (luggage, cake carrier, etc.).  I also had the tag laminated, so it won't get damaged by condensation or drips.

So, what's your signature dish?

Gourd-geous Fall Front Porch

The day before Halloween, my husband and I took a trip to the local farmers' market, where we picked up 10 unique ornamental gourds for under $10. I piled them up in a planter on my front porch in front of what was left of my geraniums. I think the result is gourd-geous!

Best of all, after Thanksgiving, we can kick them to the curb with our bags of fall leaves for pick up! How easy is that?!

Mini Cake Bunting: Oh So Cute!

Yesterday was my sweet husband's birthday, and he wanted oatmeal cookies as his birthday treat instead of cake. It's a little hard to make cookies festive in the same way as birthday cake or cupcakes, but I think a found a fun way with this Birthday Mini Cake Bunting.

I just don't think it gets any cuter!   It couldn't be simpler to create this mini cake bunting either.

How to Make Cake Bunting
I used two medium-sized bamboo skewers (available at Publix) for the posts.  I cut 2 x 0.75" strips of paper out of patterned paper and folded them in half.  Then I cut the edges of the folded paper at a diagonal on each side.  All of the triangles were slightly different and definitely not perfect, but I think that suits the homey style of the cake bunting just right.  Then I glued them to some baker's twine. Finally, I stuck the posts into the pile of cookies on my favorite cake pedestal and tied the cake bunting to the posts.

I wish I knew who started the trend of cake bunting.  I've been seeing it on all sorts of blogs for quite some time, and I'm so glad the opportunity presented itself for me to try it out.  It looked precious as the backdrop to three lit birthday candles, too!

What do you think of cake bunting?  I'd love to see your photos if you try it out!

Here's another fun birthday cookie idea from my mother-in-law.

Happy Handmade Halloween

Today was a great Halloween!  I stayed up a little late the night before making this Halloween Trick or Treat Party Banner, Candy Corn Popcorn Balls, and Candy Corn Cookie Bark.  I couldn't help but get carried away in last-minute holiday preparations. I broke out all of my Halloween stamps and had a blast crafting and cooking the night away.

I thought these hand-stamped skeletons were the perfect addition to the banner, which also featured hand-stamped spiderwebs.  They looked so good colored in with a white colored pencil!

These Candy Corn Popcorn Balls are so easy to make! Plus, they're absolutely adorable and because the recipe comes from Cooking Light magazine, they're not too bad on the waistline either!!  This Halloween, I made a half batch using a 100-Calorie bag of microwave popcorn, which made about 12 balls. Just right!

I absolutely love making this Candy Corn Cookie Bark by Your Homebased Mom! It's the perfect combination of salty and sweet.  It looks perfect in my candy corn bowl that I got at Target a few years ago.

I couldn't resist making something with this cute vintage card stamp!  I turned her into a little sign to put in the Candy Corn Cookie Bark.

We had a pretty good turn out for trick-or-treating at our house, too, and are only left with two small handfuls of candy.  I'd say that's a pretty good night!  My favorite costumes this year were Poseidon, a member of the Monster High crew, and a very enthusiastic Iron Man.  I wish you could have seen him flex his muscles!!

Featured Handmade Items by Belly Feathers
Trick or Treat Pennant Party Banner
Halloween Party Favor Tags
Hand-stamped Halloween Sign

Carnival Party Ideas: Caden's 2nd Birthday Party Carnival

Seeing these Carnival Party photos from Caden's 2nd birthday party in Opp, AL, has been such a treat!  Caden's grandma Lisha (you may remember her Ladies High Tea Party) purchased my Circus Party Planning Guide to help plan this carnival party, as many of the circus party ideas and highlighted products in the guide work well for a carnival parties, too.  I heard Caden's mommy Morgan kept it with her at all times!

Caden is the little clown in the center.  Isn't this a fun photo!

I just love this Carnival Ticket Booth, which was made by painting a cardboard box.  A simple project with a huge impact!

If you are looking for Carnival Birthday Cake ideas, it doesn't get any cuter than this!  The Carnival Cupcakes look like little containers of popcorn, which perfectly coordinate with the popcorn box on top of the big Carnival Cake.

Little Caden can't wait to get a taste of his Carnival Birthday Cake!

What would a birthday party carnival be without Carnival Party Games?!  Check out all of the fun games in these photos, including a ring toss, buried treasure hunt, duck pond, carnival pinata, and face painting to name a few.

There was even a Carnival Candy Buffet full of sweet treats.

Nothing will grab your guests attention more than the smell of freshly popped popcorn and get them in the mood for fun.  That's why I think a popcorn machine is always worth a splurge for parties like this. Lisha and Morgan went all out with popcorn balls and caramel apples, too.  YUM!!

No detail was over looked at Caden's Carnival Birthday Party.  Even the favor boxes were a perfect fit!

In addition to providing the Party Planning Guide, I also designed this Carnival Party Banner for Caden's big day. It says, "The Caden Carnival".

This last picture is just too cute to leave out!

Lisha and Morgan thank you so much for letting me help with Caden's Carnival Birthday Party and being able to share these festive pictures. It looked like everyone had such a blast! You both have creativity beyond bounds, and I love that you were able to take ideas from my Circus Party Planning Guide and run with them.  You've given me so many wonderful ideas!

Featured Handmade Items by Belly Feathers
Pennant Party Banner
Circus Party Planning Guide 

UPDATE: I have a new line of Circus/Carnival party products!

You might also like these posts:
Big-Top Circus Birthday Party for Marley & Kelsey (Party Photos)
Handmade Circus Birthday Party: Let Your Birthday Boy Be the Ringleader (Party Ideas)
Circus Party Theme: Joshua's Two Ring Circus Birthday Party (Party Photos)