Pretty Packages Party #6

Valentine's Day is fast approaching...I'm loving all the sweet valentine ideas out there. The pink packages I've found are just gorgeous. The elegantly wrapped gift above is from Sande Chase's most beautiful blog  A Gift Wrapped Life.  The flowers are actually from a package of invitations she never used. Isn't that silk ribbon just YUM?!?!



You had to know, Martha has some beautiful pink gifts, too!  The packages on top are from an all pink shower...sweet!  They're all a little different, but they look so beautiful together.  Did you notice the Neopolitan striped one? 

Aren't the flowers on the packages below gorgeous?!?  They are a gift all by themselves!!

Its a beautiful centerpiece and table.  (The pink walls don't hurt the overall effect either.)

Party Starters is chock full of sweet pink packaging ideas.

  The party favor cake boxes, the wine labels, the LOVE folding boxes and the little match box favors are all drool worthy!!

Now its time to share your pretty packages!

This is a PRETTY PACKAGES PARTY so what I'm looking for is beautifully, interestingly, creatively wrapped gifts. The gifts could range from individual gifts, to party favors, to food gifts to birthday presents, to any type of gift or packaging! At the end of the week (if I can wait that long,) I'll chose my favorites to share with everyone.

Please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then just copy and paste the address that shows up in the address bar at the top, into the "url" box for the picture linky. You'll also need to put your e-mail address in, but don't worry, it will not be visible to anyone.

It would be fantastic if you would include the Pretty Packages Party button in your post, to make it easy for others to find your Pretty Package post. To do that, just copy and paste the Pretty Packages Party button to your computer or grab the html code from underneath the Pretty Packages Party button on my sidebar. A text link under your post is great, too!



<a href="http://blackberryvine.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5023605241_1582ff7084_m.jpg" width="125" height="125" alt="The Blackberry Vine" /></a>

Please include a link in your Pretty Packages Party post back to the host blog, The Blackberry Vine. Why is this important? When you include a link back to The Blackberry Vine, it ensures your regular readers/visitors will find the other gorgeously wrapped gifts linked to the Pretty Packages Party. If everyone links back, this maximizes the opportunity for visits for all who participate.

Please do not add your link below, until your Pretty Packages Party post is actually published to your blog. Another helpful hint...DO NOT type in all caps...it makes it very difficult to read! Thanks!

Last, but certainly not least, please comment on the post in front of you and behind you (and any other post!!)...spread the comment love!

Have fun and thanks for stopping by!!!

Smiles!

Six Week Raisin Bran Muffins

Simple and simply delicious!

These are great for busy mornings.

Eat them at the table or send them out the door!!

We like them with an over-easy-egg on top!

1 (15 oz) box Raisin Bran

1 cup melted butter

3 cups sugar

4 eggs, fork beaten

1 qt buttermilk

5 cups flour

5 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

 Mix all ingredients together.  Bake at 350 degrees until brown.  (Freshly mixed will take less time than muffin mix out of fridge.)  Mixture will last 6 weeks in fridge.  (I put plastic wrap right on surface of mix to help with discoloration...does not affect muffins.)

Enjoy!

Looking for the Pretty Packages Party?!?

Come join us!

Smiles!!

Linking to:

Fun with Food Friday

Saturday Spotlight

Whatever Goes Wednesday

Get Your Craft On

Valentine Angels Pillow

As you could see from my Tuesday To-Do post, I was really wanting to make a pillow.

Since we are frozen in here, I couldn't just run down to the fabric store to get some felt so I had to make due with supplies I had on hand. (Left over fabric, freezer paper, ribbon and a printer.)

This adorable graphic was found at Old Pixels.  I uploaded it to Photoshop and added our initial.

Then I ironed the paper and freezer paper together.  Using a piece of 8.5" x 11.5" cardstock as my guide, I cut the fabric/freezer paper to fit the printer.  It was amazing out beautifully it worked!

***NEW***

Here's a link to printing on fabric using freezer paper!

I then made a simple ruffle with my ribbon & sewed it all together.  (I just love a little leopard!!!)

Anyway, if you haven't tried the whole freezer paper idea...do!  Its so fun!

Looking for the Pretty Packages Party?

Come Join Us!!!

Smiles!

Linking to:

Take A Look Tuesday

Handmade Tuesday

Anything Related

Whatever Goes Wednesday

Show and Tell

Hoos Got Talent

What Your Working With Wednesday

Strut Your Stuff

Show Off Your Stuff

Under $100

A Crafty Soiree

Furgal Friday

Friday Fun Finds

Its a Hodge Podge Friday

Feature Yourself Friday

Weekend Wrap-Up

Frugalicious Friday

Tuesday To-Do

Here are just a few ideas I don't want to forgot "to-do!"

(Be careful...they might just end up on YOUR to-do list, too!)

Garlic/Chili Roasted Broccoli by Let Birds Fly

Okie Chic Pillows

Gorgeous ruffled heart pillow at Copy Craft...YUM!

Hearts & Kisses Pillow by Ameroonie Designs

Heart Pillow at Sutton Grace

Kids heart hat at Kaboose

There was another idea I didn't want to forget, but my computer froze up when I was trying to add it to my post last week.  Now I can't remember what it was!  (Thus the Tuesday To-do posts!)

If I stopped by your blog last week and told you I was putting you on my Tuesday To-Do post and I didn't, please let me know!  I really want to remember!!!

Smiles!!!

100 Days of School

Its Sunday afternoon.  A mom is feeling really good about herself because she's actually making sure she has everything ready for school the night before.  She's going throught last week's notes, etc.  What's that?  100 days of school.  Bring a collection of 100 things uniquely displayed on Monday.

Mom goes searching through craft stuff.  There's that "H" that I haven't got around to doing anything with...what can we put on it?  Pom-poms? Too girly.  Beads?  Too girly.  Sequins?  Too girly.  (You can see where this is going?!?)  What else?

Manly copper (or copper-looking) pennies.

A hundred pennies will completely cover the front of the letter as well as a few left over to decorate the outside.  I actually kind of like the whole copper look. If you could find enough pennies of a person's birth year, it might be a neat little birthday gift, too.

Happy 100 Days of School!

Smiles!

Linking to:

Craftomaniac Monday

Get Your Craft On

Symphony Brownies

Yeah, yeah.  I know.  These are SOOO last decade!

But they are still SOOOO good.

Just in case you've never made a batch, here's how I do it.

2 brownie mixes (prepare according to package)

3 1/2 Hershey Symphony Bars with almond toffee

Spray 13" x 9" (actually my baking pans are either slightly smaller than 13" x 9" or slightly larger...I used the larger ones for this.) pan with cooking spray.

Mix up one brownie mix according to package directions.  Spread on bottom of pan.  For these I used Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate brownie mix for the bottom layer.

Next, layer candy bars on top of brownie mix.

Finally, prepare 2nd brownie mix (I used Ghiradelli Double Chocolate with Chocolate Chips) and cover candy bars.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes.

Let cool before cutting.

Yummers!

PS.  You can also make these with your favorite candy bar.  If your candy bar is thick, just chop it up and spread over first brownie mix...butterfingers, almond joy, mounds, snickers, mars, etc.

Enjoy!!

Smiles!

Linking to:

Frugal Friday
Friday Fun Finds
Its a Hodge Podge Friday
Feature yourself Friday
Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Meal for Friends

Most of us have received a meal at some point in our lives after some major event in our life...birth of a baby, loss of a loved one, or extended illness. 

 We've probably all taken a meal or two as well!

Recently I had the honor of taking a meal and it reminded me of a combination of meals delivered to me by loving, caring friends.  I thought I'd share with you some of the ideas and tips I've learned over the years.

One thing that I LOVED when a friend brought me a meal was a large container of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese already made.  The children could have it for dinner if they didn't like the delivered meal.  It also was an easy option for the children's lunch the next day...just heat it up and lunch is ready!

Another idea I really liked was fresh fruit already washed & prepared to eat.  When Jack was born, Haden was only 18 months old.  One friend sent a huge plastic container with grapes already sliced in two...an incredible time saver for a new mom.

Also, never send anything that has to be returned.  You can buy aluminum entree pans in bulk at Sam's for only a few dollars.  Also, many items can be easily packaged in gallon-size Ziploc bags.  There are always the Glad or Ziploc plastic containers.  Be sure to tell the recipient of your meal to just throw away or keep the containers.  (It used to drive me crazy when my friends would return those plastic Glad containers!)  Another idea for taking food is use old plates or dishes from the thrift store.  There are plenty of cute ideas out there for decorating them so people know to pass them on.  (Simply putting a note in the bag to let your recipient know to reuse the dishes will also do!)

A nice touch is to also send something for their breakfast.  Somethings I've taken with a meal are assorted bagels & cream cheeses, breakfast casseroles, and cinnamon rolls.  (For more on how I prepare the cinnamon rolls for delivery, click here.)

Oh! I almost forgot!  Sometimes you have a friend that needs meals for an extended period of time.  Dropping by a fresh salad and having their favorite pizza delivered is a nice idea.  Also, gift cards to restaurants that deliver (or that have a drive thru!!! :-) ) are also greatly appreciated.

It is always nice to put a little menu on the bag...it dresses the bag up just a bit and it also lets your friends know what's inside.  Click here for a blank menu page.

Hope you found some of these ideas helpful.

What are your best ideas?

Smiles!

Linking to:

Strut Your Stuff

Its a Hodge Podge Friday

Frugal Friday