All Wrapped Up: 12 DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

It's time to wrap! If you're like me, you're just starting your gift wrapping today and I thought I would share some amazing DIY gift wrap ideas I have found this year. You are bound to find one that matches your holiday wrapping perfectly. I found all of these ideas (and many more) on a cute little blog called The Sweetest Occasion.

A big red duct tape bow makes a perfect holiday gift topper. See how here
Photo: Alice G. Patterson

I love these modern black and white holiday tags. Download them at Almost Made Perfect 
Photo: Almost Makes Perfect

Kraft paper is one of my favorite go-to wrapping options. Fancy it up with washi tape, ribbon and other embellishments to make it shine. Get inspired at Aprons and Camera Straps 
Photo: Aprons and Camera Straps

Little kraft paper boxes go from so-so to awesome when topped with a bit of glitter ribbon. Get the how to here
Photo: Alice G. Patterson

 A couple of jingle bells and some bakers twine make a package so adorable! See how at Sweet Paul
Photo: Sweet Paul

More kraft paper and bakers twine and you can consider me in gift wrap heaven. Chalkboard tags make the perfect finishing touch! Get the how-to at Poppytalk
Photo: Poppytalk

Simple and awesome! Tissue paper paired with ribbon is both funky and festive. Get the how-to here

Photo: Hank + Hunt

Why not top your packages with wintery scenes this season? So pretty! See how at Design*Sponge
Photo: Mandy Pellegrin

Little black Christmas trees mix modern with the traditional. I love this idea! See it at Henry Happened

Photo: Henry Happened

Always a fan of chalkboard inspired details, I love how this printable wrapping paper dresses up these holiday packages! Download this gift wrap at Lia Griffith
Photo: Lia Griffith

 Just a little bit os seasonal greenery and twine. Why not? Get the how-to at Odessa May Society
Photo: Odessa May Society

Here, washi tape and printable gift tags look smashing! Download the printables here

Photo: 6 Bittersweets

Great designs right?

If you use any, we would love for you to share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest...and use the hashtag #pebblesinmypocket!

Supplies Found At Pebbles

Washi Tape  |  Bakers Twine  |  Jingle Bells

Last Minute Thanksgiving Decorations

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Can you believe it is this week? If you need a few last minute decorations, be sure to visit our website here!

 Garlands & Banners  |  Acorn    Fall Leaf    Thankful    Memory

 Pillow Boxes  |  Fall Leaf    Krafty Owl    Dictionary Print Owl

 Pockets  |  Utensil    Treats

 Tags & Place Cards  |  Fall Photo    Pumpkin Tags    Scalloped Pumpkin

Treat Boxes  |  Pilgrims and Indian    Turkey    Owl    Dictionary Owl

Happy Thanksgiving!

Count Your Many Blessings : Pebbles Pockets

In my house, taking time to count ones blessings has become a November tradition. We usually count them with popcorn seeds. Each evening after dinner, everyone takes a turn naming a blessing from that day, then drops a seed into a jar. One seed per blessing, but there is no limit on the number of blessing that can be named. It's good for the soul to watch the jar fill up as the days go by. Charles Dickens once wrote:

Reflect upon your present blessings--of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

Now you know the background of my Thankful Pockets creations. All of them are just $1.99. They are perfect for place settings or as quick gifts (a gift card or note can easily be slipped into the pocket). A due date slip is included as a place to write a note.

Thankful Pebbles Pockets  |  Today I Am Thankful For     Thankful Sampler 

What are you thankful for?

Personalize The Season : Customized Tags

Happy Friday everyone!  I can't wait to get out and enjoy some of the weather before it gets too cold. In the past 2 days I've spotted several pumpkin "for sale" stands and the colors outside are simply glorious! Fall is here and I intend to enjoy every minute of it. Today I am sharing 3 unique tags created to help you personalize this holiday season.

Make a really cute "gratitude tree" with these Photo Kraft Dictionary Tags and some paper leaf cut-outs. Simply collect branches, cut out leaves, make tags and assemble!

"Give Thanks In All Things".  These darling little Pumpkin Tags make perfect gratitude notes on a Thanksgiving table.  Ask your guests to take a minute and jot down something they are grateful for! 

For a blast from the past, use these Polaroid Frames to create memorable frames for your pictures. I especially like to use these as frames for pictures of my family's earlier years.

The way I see it, any type of holiday decor is much more interesting when personalized. It makes everyone feel welcome and remembered.  Who doesn't love that?

Photo Kraft Dictionary Tags  |     KIT     On Silhouette

Pumpkin Tags  |     KIT     Pre-Made     On Silhouette

Polaroid Frames  |      KIT     On Silhouette

Have a great weekend!

DIY : Halloween Treat Bag

In case you were wondering, there is exactly 54 days until Halloween.  If it is your favorite holiday, I am sure you knew that already.  If not...why not?  Halloween is one giant pretend party where everyone can dress up and be what they want, regardless of their age, with free treats for all!  What is not to like?

Speaking of treats, here is one of our newest little DIY goodie bags.  We call it our Halloween Treat Bag.  You can find it on our website here.  My favorite thing about this one is its' colors.  Still Halloween-ish, but with a touch of whimsy.  In this kit, the bags come pre-made.  So, the only thing I think you will need some guidance on is the bow.  Check out our tutorial below.

Assembly Instructions for Halloween Treat Bag

Fill bag with your favorite treat of gift.  Carefully place the 2 slits together on the bow cutout.

Push the center of bow fold inward.  Fold the top edge of bag over in the back, place folded doily on top, followed by the center of the bow.  Staple all layers together.

Attach rhinestone on top of bow for embellishment.

Make yourself a beautiful Halloween!

Pebble Pockets Fathers Day

Pebble Pocket's make the handiest dandiest quick gifts for everyone in your life.  They are perfect for birthdays or as thank you, get well, friendship, neighbor and just plain "thinking of you" gifts. Here, we've used them to create a quick Fathers Day remembrance.  These are sure to make his day, and this week, they are all 20% off!  Pockets come assembled and ready to be filled with your favorite gifts, cards, pictures, notes and treats.  Regular price: $.99 each.

Kraft Pillow Boxes Tutorial

Finally!  The tutorial for those darling little Kraft Pillow Boxes I blogged about last week.  Didn't I tell you they were easy?  I don't know about you but the last thing I want, when I am hosting a party, is to have my time monopolized by party favors.  Rather, I want my favors to be cute, unique and EASY to make.  The assembly for these is so simple,  it could easily be delegated to any little helpers that are hanging around.
Supplies:  die-cuts, American Crafts White Galaxy Marker (medium tip),  and your favorite double-sided craft tape.
Assembly:  Write or draw your message on the box with the American Crafts marker, fold scored edges to prep, place double-sided tape on side flap (as shown) and stick to matching side.  Fold in ends, fill and close.  Done!

Kraft Pillow Boxes

One of the things I love about a good gathering is the favors.  They can set the mood, add to the decor and are just a simple way to graciously thank guests.  We created these darling little pillow boxes just for such an event.  Be it a wedding, shower, party, end-of-year teacher gift, these boxes are the perfect way to express thanks or brighten someones day.  Made with quality card stock from American Crafts.  Pebbles is selling them for only the price of paper, plus .15¢ per shape, no matter the size!  Contact Pebbles in my Pocket for more pillow box pricing.  They are also easy to make and fill.  Tutorial soon to follow.

chalkboard pillow box tutorial

The creations we can make with our die-cuts are endless.  Take this cute little pillow box, for example.   We cut it out in American Crafts Smooth Card stock, then used an American Crafts White Galaxy Marker (medium tip) to write the message, creating a fun, chalkboard-style, gift box.  Can't you just see these as party favors for a wedding?  Other ideas: teacher gifts, a 50th birthday bash or as a surprise treat box in your kids lunch!  The great news is that it only costs the price of the paper, plus .15¢ per shape, no matter the size... quick turn around and super affordable!  Please contact Pebbles in my Pocket for more pillow box pricing.

Making a Family Recipe Book

How many times have you told yourself you are going to type up those delicious recipes your family loves? You're probably saying you don't have the time, right? Well, I'm here to show you how cute it can be and how much you will cherish this easy project. ALSO, it can be duplicated almost instantly!! So stop saying you're going to do it and do it! It is such a perfect gift idea for:

- Newlyweds (who don't know how to cook and NEED those recipes)
- Nieces/Nephews/Your children (maybe just leaving home for the first time and won't have Mommy to cook for them)
- Grandmother's (Christmas, Her Birthday, Mother's Day, no reason at all - come on! She'll love it!)
- Neighborhood/Girlfriend recipe swap (each neighbor creates 1 page with their favorite recipe and story about why it is so special to them)


What makes this project so easy is that you have the option to simply type the recipes out in Word, add picture of your family with the yummy dish or a family member making the dish, print and slide it in a sheet protector!

Our favorite thing is to add is a significant story about what makes this dish special. Why do you like it? Where did you learn how to make it? Who loves/hates it in your family? Was there a special holiday that this dish was reserved for?

So much about this project will be loved and cherished by everyone who uses it!

{below} personalized category dividers with your favorite paper

{below} 8x8 photo & 8x8 recipe page placed side by side

8x8 sheet protectors
here
here

{below} 8.5x11 sheet protector (easiest for multiple gifts)

8.5x11 sheet protectors
here

{below} 8x8 divided sheet protector

8x8 divided sheet protectors
here
here

Albums used: Doodlebug 8x8 Tangerine album & We R Memory Keepers 8.5x11 Kiwi album

Handprint Bouquet

I wish I knew where this magical little idea came from. Pass it on to me if you know, so I can give them credit. Meanwhile we did create a little instruction sheet, to help you along. Trace & cut your kids hands out of cardstock and hot glue onto wooden skewers to create the bouquet. Would be cute using printed paper too! Give or send it to the Grandparents on Grandparents Day Sunday, September 12th... and imagine their joy! This is a gift they will keep through the years... they will feel LOVED!

If you do make a bouquet, be sure to take a picture of it and upload to our Pebbles in my Pocket Facebook account... become a friend too! We would love to see how yours turned out.

Mother's Day Gift Idea

When I was little all my gifts to family for any occasion were always handmade. Every once in a while my mom, grandma or aunt will pull out a handmade gift I gave them 15+ years ago. These are the kinds of gifts we all treasure. Ones from the heart that are given out of love. I know these Fingerprint Flowers will be kept for years to come as a constant reminder of the pure love of the little child's hand that made them.

Memory Game

If you're like the million other scrapbookers out there, you have tons of scraps out of your favorite papers from all your projects that you don't know what to do with. This memory game is the perfect way to use those scraps laying around. You and your kids will have so much fun creating this game for the whole family to play. The scraps can be cut and mounted in any shape and size, uniquely created by each person. Enjoy your family time together!


If you have any other fun family paper crafts you want to share, please comment and leave a link. We'd love to see all your creativity.

Memory Jars

Welcome back! I know it has been too long since I have written... juggling the Christmas Holidays and work is always a challenge for me even though we keep things very simple.
You can all look forward to some wonderful surprises for our LDS blog this coming year ... come visit often!

This Christmas I made each of our girls a memory jar with an old spice jar (any container will do!) and filled them with idea strips of free / inexpensive things we can do together throughout the year... some are the same, some are as different as each of the girls. Life is made of only a certain amount of moments and I want/need to spend more one on one time with each of them... sometimes we need a reminder to make time for the things we value most.

Some of the ideas I put in are:
Puzzletime
Sleepover
Watch Movie & Snuggle
Work out together
Make a meal from food network
Go shopping
Game time
Go for a walk in the rain
Work on our blogs together
Stitch together
Crochet together, Lunch?
Paint toenails
Your Choice
Bike ride
Do a surprise service for someone else together
Go practice drive
Make cookies
Visit an older neighbor together
... make it personal for each of your children and have fun together!
-Brenda

Gifts from your heart at Pebbles

Make your Christmas memorable...
We are here to help you create gifts from your heart for the people you love. Affordable. One of a kind. Priceless.
-Brenda

YW Value Magnets

A fun activity and affordable craft for the young women to make... Perfect for all metal surfaces, refrigerators and school lockers or can be scattered on a dresser or shelf without the magnets :) Simply modge podge onto the back of clear pebbles and attach a strong magnet. Design comes in one assorted sheet or sheets of 30 of one theme. Available at Pebbles in my Pocket stores and online at www.pebblesinmypocket.com
Have fun!
-Brenda