I know the new year has arrived, but everyone can always use gift giving ideas. This past Christmas, we gave gift cards for gifts. Most think this is pretty boring. I find it fun to find new and creative ways to camouflage gift cards. I have attached to boxes of Movie candy, to DVDs, to boxes of chocolates, wrapped in boxes, placed in greeting cards (the more traditional way of giving a gift card), even placed in stockings…well, you get the picture.

This year I gave out several gift cards presented in the combination snack/gift card boxes I created using SU! Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the 2016 Holiday Catalog. See my Anything But A Card post from November, if you haven’t seen this gift giving idea.

For our family members, I created a matchbook style card with a gift card holder inside (from a beautiful card idea I CASE’d from SU! Demonstrator, Patty Bennett). I then wrapped some Hershey’s Nuggets (the toffee and almond ones) in coordinating DSP paper, then wrapped both items together in a 6″ x 6″ x 1.5″ box using some beautiful glimmering silver wrapping paper I found at our new Container Store. You’ll also notice I created a coordinating tag to include on the outside of each present. Everything about this past year’s gifts coordinated together.

Can you believe I cut out and assembled 40 sets of all the materials to make these cards and nugget holders? A co-worker and I led a team-building activity at work and those that could join us (18, I believe) each made a card and the treat holder. Turned out to be a really fun activity and we made the materials available for a few days afterward for those who could not make it, to assemble their goodies. What creative ways have you used to camouflage your gift cards? Share your thoughts by adding a comment below.

Now, I have to share with you yesterday (January 1) was a special day in our house as our Panda celebrated her 2nd Birthday. We originally planned to celebrate by taking her to the Three Dog Bakery near our home for a special treat. However, the bakery was not open yesterday. Not to worry, we made our special trip today and she enjoyed a delicious Mutter Butter Cookie. Here is a picture of Panda on Christmas Day, playing with a new Santa toy she received from her Uncle Scott and Aunt Marcy. She loves this new toy!

2017 is here and with a new year, brings the new Occasions catalog and a new Sale-A-Bration catalog. Both catalogs go live on Wednesday, January 4, and I am so excited to share items from the new mini catalogs with you. Subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss my posts. Just enter your email address in the box to the right and click on Follow Me Now.

Here is a sneak peek of the covers of each of these new catalogs! Check back on Wednesday to take a look at the full catalog PDFs. What I love about Sale-A-Bration is all the FREE items you can earn! For every $50 in product you order each time you place an order, you get to choose one FREE Sale-A-Bration item!  Sale-A-Bration begins January 4 and ends March 31…don’t miss out!!

Blessings,

Lynn