{Gifts} Krazy Kool Summer Gift with printable

Sometimes I have reeeeeeeeally good ideas.

Other times, I just copy other people's reeeeeeeeeally good ideas and transform them to make them my own.

This is an example of the latter.

I needed a gift for Olivia's classmates for the End-of-the-Year. Along with my sister, we scoured the internet Pinterest and happened upon this cute idea.

Totally precious.

So, we went about tracking down the necessary cups, which included trips to Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg and Boiling Springs. Just saying.

I decided I wanted more colorful tags since I had multiple colors of bottles. I also liked the taller bottles better than the short ones and I only wanted a single serving of Kool-Aid instead of a whole packet.

So I created my own tag. Printed them, cut them out, punched a hole and attached them with ribbon to the straw of the cup.

I only had to do that 20 times (*whew*) and they were ready to roll.

And, again, just because I love my blog friends, I made the tags into a printable for you to download and use!

Click here to find the download. Once you download, simply print on cardstock or heavy paper (8.5x11), cut out the tags and adhere them however you like (I tied mine with ribbons).

Edited to add: I've had lots of complaints about Scribd now taking subscriptions in order to download the printable. When I first uploaded it last year, everything was free. So, in an attempt to get the printable out at no cost, I am uploading it here. Simply right click and save to your computer and then print as usual. The printable is on a standard 8.5x11 sheet of paper and I suggest printing on heavy cardstock. Email me if you can't get the download to work! (leightheo (at) gmail (dot) com).

Good luck and happy end-of-the-year-ing!

{Fun Things} Halloween Treats

Have I mentioned that I loooooooove Halloween? I mean I love, love, love it.

I'm always looking for cute ideas on how to dress up my Halloween favors.

Here are a few fun ideas for serving up Halloween treats. These have all filtered across my computer screen at some point over the past few days and I just can't help but share them.

First up, Pumpkin Favor Pouches from Martha.



Surprise Balls from Charlotte's Fancy.



Jack O' Lantern in a Jar by the girls at eighteen25. Oh! For the love of cute. And the ribbon? Icing on the cake...errrr...cookie.





Halloween treat bags from The Twinery.



Sour cream containers by PaperVine? I think yes.



Frankenstein or ghost bags by Pink Texas Chick. I really like the updated Frankenstein with scarier eyebrows. So cute!




Friendly ghost bags by BHG? Yes, please.


And, last but not least, my very favorite of all - Monster Cello Bags by The Celebration Shoppe. SERIOUSLY. It doesn't get any cuter than this.


In fact, they're so cute, I think I'm going to do them as Halloween treats for the kids in my class. And, maybe the kids in my kids' classes. Of course, I'll change it up a little and put my spin on it. I'm not a fan of being a complete copy cat - just a partial one. But that's just me. Ha ha ha.

For more inspiration, check out my October-ish Board on Pinterest. Beware, though. Once you start, you can't stop.

So, go! Have fun and have yourself a spooky little October!

Happy treat giving!

{Gifts} Fall Teacher Treats

Finally! Some gifts for our favorite teachers!

We have some really cute, fun teachers this year and I thought the coming of Fall would be the perfect time to give them some pick-me-up treats.

I found cute fall-ish tins at Target.

I downloaded these distressed fall subway art printables and printed them really small (I got 9 per page by playing around with my printer's options). They ended up being about the size of a credit card - perfect!

I rounded the corners of the print outs and inked the edges with distress ink (something you really don't have to do, but that adds to the overall "look," I guess.)

Then I picked up some of my favorite fall-themed tissues and my very favorite fall nail polish (Chinchilly by Essie). What? You've never considered giving a nice nail polish? Why not? It's something most women like, but won't buy for themselves! Even if they don't paint their nails, I bet they'll use it on their toes?!?

Maybe?!?

Did I mention our teachers are young and hip?

Anyway - I also added some brown crinkle paper and some Hershey's kisses and voilá! A cute teacher gift!



I also made a few gifts where I changed out the nail polish for a fall candle. Still cute, I think!


So, there you go! I hope this inspires you to send your teacher something fun for fall!

Happy Fall!

Teacher Appreciation! Cupcakery

This is it! The last of our 2011 Teacher Appreciation Week gifts.

On Friday of last week, W&O took cupcakes to their fabulous teachers. When I had the teachers fill out their "Favorites Forms", I found out their favorite types of cupcakes. I had them made at Cakehead Bakeshop, a specialty bakery here in town.

The bakery packaged the cupcakes in a small box and I tagged them with cute toppers and labels. The topper is stamped with a digital stamp from Garden Party and the cupcake image is from Cupcakery, both by CD Muckosky.




So there you have it! Five fun days of goodies for our teachers!

Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you've enjoyed all the teacher appreciation ideas for this year!

Love and hugs everybody!

Teacher Appreciation! "Take Note"

Okay, so I got a little overwhelmed at the end of the week last week and never got around to posting our last two days of Teacher Appreciation Week gifts.

So here I am.

Ready to post!

On Thursday, the kids took these journals to their teachers.




I love journals and hope our teachers do, too!

I created the tag and wrap using Between the Pages by Kaye Wineicki and Re Kniepp. I also personalized them with a small cardstock initial at the bottom.

It wasn't until I saw my sweet friend Mel's post that I figured out how to word the tag! Mel is so fantastic and her gifts and designs are TO. DIE. FOR! Serious cuteness! And SOOOOO EASY! Love that! If you haven't checked out The Domesticated Lady, you totally should! Mel rocks!

Only one more day left to spoil our teachers! Stay tuned!

Teacher Appreciation! You ROCK!

Today my kids took these to school with them for their teachers.




I found each of the teachers' favorite candies and added an iTunes gift card in the basket.

I used Child of the 80's by Kate Hadfield and Piccadilly Paper Pack by Gina Miller to create the tags.

Spring(ish) Break Day 5

Last day!

Today I leave you with one last idea from Martha. It might just be my favorite idea yet! In fact, it wasn't originally a Teacher Appreciation idea at all. Martha thought these would make great Bridesmaid Goodie Boxes. But, I think they'd be perfect for your favorite teacher! We have these little differences of opinion every now and again! Pfffffft.

How. Cute. Is. This??


Seriously, I can't stand it!

You could fill it with your teacher's favorite fresh snacks and goodies or even a takeout lunch.

If I were doing this gift, I would probably get them takeout from a local specialty shop (Sparkle City peeps - I'm thinking Ice Creams and Coffee Beans or Gigi's Cafe). Then I'd re-wrap it in a cute container with a sweet tag and ribbon. {You know me, right? You should've seen that one coming.}

Or don't re-wrap it. It doesn't really matter. It's the thought lunch that counts!

Whatever you do, make sure you get something your teacher likes. You could give them a takeout menu and let them choose what they'd like to order. And, make sure you know what time of day is best to bring it, if you choose to bring them lunch. There's nothing worse than having a nice hot/fresh meal sitting there getting cold and stale while you wait an hour and a half for your planning period. Nothing.

I have a little something for you today. It's just a quirky little form I like to use to find out all of our teachers' favorite things. I use this every year so that I can make choices for things that they really like and I don't have to guess. I mean why buy your teacher an iTunes gift card if they'd rather have new books or movie tickets, right? Get them what they want!

To get a copy of the My Favorites form, just click here.

You can change it, re-write it, make it your own.

I hope you've enjoyed this little series of Teacher Appreciation Week ideas and I hope you've been inspired to do something nice for your teacher!

I may have a few more ideas between now and TA Week, but as of now, I'm moving on!

Happy Spring, people!

Spring(ish) Break Day 3

Today I bring you some fun, FREE printables to package up your Teacher Appreciation Week goodies.

They are totally cute and totally FREE!! You have NO REASON not to visit The Tip Junkie and download these right away! Did I mention they are FREE?




Head on over there and download the goodies! Don't forget to leave her a comment to show some thanks and gratitude! {And, tell her I sent ya, if you don't mind!}

Happy Wednesday, people!

Spring(ish) Break Day 2

I love this idea from Bee in our Bonnet.



Even though it is a First Day Survival Kit, you could easily change it into an End of the Year Survivial Kit and it would be just as cute!

Happy Tuesday, people!

Spring(ish) Break

Hey Lovelies!

It's Spring Break around here and I'm going to take the week off to get caught up and {*gasp*} possibly even ahead!

For the next few days I'll leave you with links to some of my favorite teacher appreciation gifts, since that's the topic we left off with on Friday!

The first is my post on The Girl Talk Blog with the freebie Sonic drink holder tag.



I hope you enjoy!

Happy Spring Break, people!

{Things I Love Thursday} Birthday Gifts

I love birthdays.

I double love birthday gifts.

And, I triple love birthday gifts that are thoughtful, quirky and awesome.

So, as you might've guessed, I BIG PUFFY HEART LOVE this birthday party in a box from You Are My Fave.





Everyone deserves a gift like this at some point in their lifetime.

It contains:
- a birthday crown (the classic Burger King one covered with paper)
- big round balloons
- felt ball garland
- yellow polka dot mini plates (found at Target last year)
- wooden forks
- party invites from Rifle Paper Company
- beeswax candles
- handmade cupcake toppers
- cupcake liners
- jimmies
- repackaged cake mix
- felt number flags
- glassine bags of confetti
- muslin favor bags

OH. MY. GOSH. The cuteness is killing me.

Head over to You Are My Fave and leave her some love for her original and wonderful birthday gift idea.

And, in her own words: Boomshakalaka my friends. Boomshakalaka.

{Made it Monday} Personalized Cupcake Courier

We've talked about my love for cupcakes.

So, it should come as no surprise that I have been in love with The Cupcake Courier for some time now. It's sleek, stylish and super-useful in transporting cupcakes to and fro. (Because we all like to go "to and fro" with our cupcakes, right? And the last time I went "to and fro" with my cupcakes in a regular container, I ended up with a hot mess. Mmm hmmm, that's a whole post for another time, sweet people.)

But, as sleek and stylish and useful as it is, I wasn't about to pay $35 for one (plus shipping).

So, when I saw this little happy place in our local Costco after Christmas, I almost died.



Once I zoomed in and got a look at the price, I did DIE. I DIED, y'all.



Then I swiftly put two in my cart and moseyed right up to the checkout line.

My first thought was to give this to a friend with children (and I still like that thought). But, my sister decided to give hers as a baby shower gift. I thought that was fantastic! I love gifts that are different and out of the ordinary. Her theory was that the new mom is about to be making cupcakes for the next 10 years (or longer), so why not give her something awesome to carry them in. LOVE IT!

When I got mine home, I decided to personalize it. (Hello. I'm Leigh. I have an addiction to personalizing things.)

I peeled the sticker off of the front.



I cut a vinyl letter using my Cricut Expression and stuck it on. I chose white vinyl for the letter (I'll tell you why in a minute).



Then I tied some fun ribbon on the handle. (Hi. I'm Leigh. I also have an addiction to tying ribbon onto everything I can.)



Now, here's why I chose white vinyl: for each holiday or occasion, I will change out my ribbon colors to match the event. With a white letter, it will always match! HA! HOW ABOUT THAT FOR "THINKING IT THROUGH?!?"

Plus, I think the white just looks classy. (Hi. I'm Leigh. One more thing: I'm addicted to classy.)

So, there you have it!



A great gift for a friend, new mom, old mom, mom with lots of kids, cupcake lover, muffin lover, just about anyone!

Oh, and just so you know, it comes with three removable cupcake/muffin trays and three flat sheets for cookies or cakes or pies! Yay!



I hope your local Costco carries them too.

And, I hope you have a membership there.

Or know someone with one.

Or whatever.

Happy cupcake carrying!

*UPDATE* - As of 3/20/2011, Costco STILL has the Cupcake Courier and has it marked down to $9.97. The manager at our Costco (Spartanburg, SC) told me that once they're gone, they're gone. RUN, people. Go get your Cupcake Courier for LESS THAN $10 while you still can!

Linking here:

{Funtastic Friday} St. Patrick's Day Ideas and Printables

TGLIFF, bloggies!!!

What? You've never seen it with an "L" in the middle and two "F's" at the end? Really?

That's just a little acronym I like to use instead of shouting Thank the GOOD LORD it's FINALLY FRIDAY!! *insert audience clapping*

So, next Thursday is St. Patrick's Day and the blogosphere is abuzz with lots of green ideas and fun freebies. Of course, most people don't constantly search the internet looking for cute ideas and freebies.

That's where I come in! *insert smile and wave here*

TomKat Studio has these darling printables you can use as cupcake toppers, gift tags, napkin rings and more!



Fiskars shows you how to make fun hair and photo accessories.


Anna and Blue Paperie also has cuuuuuute printables.



How cute is this rainbow cupcake from Cupcake Mania?? Too, too cute. That is the answer.


It Is What It Is created these adorable Pot O' Gold and Lucky bag toppers and gift ideas. You can download the toppers for free (my favorite price)!




How about some St. Patrick's Day Cookies? Just darling. I don't know one. single. kid. who would turn these down.


A Little Tipsy created this festive mantle of crafts.


The Hands-On Housewife created this image that can be printed and framed for a fun display.


The Artist Woman made these beautiful tissue paper rainbows.


One Charming Party whipped up this funky green smoothie.


Katherine Marie made a leprechaun hotel and about 40 other glorious green projects with her kiddos.


And, one more set of free tags from The Crafting Chicks. Love them!


I found these cute treat ideas at Pebbles in My Pocket.


So there you go! Consider yourself prepped and ready for St. Patty's Day!

Hope you guys (all three of you) have a wonderful weekend!

Big Green Hugs!