But like all good things that make the A-list, this too was soon almost but forgotten. You can still spot them here and there, but they no longer take the center stage between elegant sweets. Yet I sure didn't forget or more accurately couldn't forget, for back then when macarons were all the hype I did take a try or two at this delicate confection, after all I named it the home bakers envy!! All I got were cracked and empty flat shells. The defeat was too great to bear. Finally after years the nagging in the back of my brain won me over and I took another chance. To my delight they came out as perfect as I could have hoped for. So when you get such great luck you up the challenge. This time I made it heart shaped. It's February after all and it's for a very special birthday girl.
But the story doesn't end here. After the macarons were baked, filled and safely stored in the freezer (yes they are extremely freezer friendly) my birthday girl mentioned that she really dislikes macarons. Being the great mother that I am I baked her new favorite cookie in heart shape with fun toppings. And then feeling that wasn't enough we baked cinnamon buns in the shape of hearts sticking to the theme.
Mom was happy with the results and birthday girl with the attention! A real win win.
For the macarons I used Martha Stewarts recipe. With the cream cheese filling below:
• 4 oz cream cheese
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp salted butter
• ½ tsp clear vanilla extract
Add a center squeeze of strawberry jam for ultimate flavor.
For a simple yet tasty cookie try these. Play around with the toppings.
Paula Deen's Cinnamon Rolls are a family favorite. For the heart shape simply roll both sides to the center, cut to size and squeeze end.
I sometimes do 2 small changes.
Instead of 1-1/2 cups sugar I replace 1/2 cup with brown sugar.
For the glaze I add 2 tablespoon cream cheese for a creamier texture.
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With the holiday season coming up shopping season is here. Below are some of the cutest, entertaining, gifts for kids of all ages.
This toy makes bath time so fun.
It might just become your child's favorite time of day.
Still a fan favorite. This journal offers kids a safe space to express themselves and get in touch with their emotions.
Make No Mistake Erasable Markers
While it may seem like a simple product these erasable markers allow for so much added creativity when coloring. It's a great add on to They Story Of Me Journal.
You can never go wrong with a good game. This award winning game is sure to bring hours of competitive fun.
An updated Lite Brite without pegs offers endless creativity with great portability. Perfect for traveling.
The paint where young kids can enjoy painting freely without mom worrying of a paint or water mess.
Todays teens are hard to please. With their high expectations and addiction to technology it takes a lot to stimulate and excite them. Below are simple ideas that might just hit the mark.
For the fitness lover - the perfect activity and fitness tracker. Slim, smart activity tracker blends fashionable design with stylish metal accents and a bright, easy to read display.
Need a push to work out? Turn it into a game. The Blaze Pod does just that.
Who ever really outgrows legos? This set is so pretty, your teen will proudly display it.
Your teen will only be underwhelmed until they try these. The Doodle Dazzle Shimmer Markers are addictive to the doodling teen.
Vintage Board Game Vintage Bookshelf Collection
More often then not teens are bored not because they don't have what to do but because they are lazy to think of what to do. These board games look great displayed on a bookshelf thereby serving as a reminder there is nothing like playing an old classic with family and friends.
Patch letters are all the rage. Combined with bright funky colors this cosmetic bags are a favorite.
The gifts we all want.
Set the mood of the party with the instant print camera by kodak.
Who doesn't love snow cones. Now you can easily make it at home.
For the student that wants a diagrams handy on her notes, the scrapbooker that wants an extra embellishment, the homemaker that wants to label her food, this makes a great gift for just about anyone.
A handy tool to remove lint from your clothes. Fits right in your purse.
2 in 1 Mini Bag Sealer and Cutter
This simple tool changes everything.
The stress balls for real stress relief.
an organized home or office is an organized brain. These silicon slap bands are the perfect little gift you didn't know you need but will change your life.
Keep your bag clean at all times with this dirt collector.
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My little one turned 2 this week. Oh how these 2 years flew by. But so did the summer and I didn't yet have the chance to take a break. So I was more than pleased when my young teen decided to dabble in a little baking and cake decorating. I was pleased that I won't have to prepare something myself but more than that I was excited that she was finally willing to try something new that is not just fun and may even be challenging for a beginner. Many teens today are a bit lazy. They are only stimulated by things that are fun and that often translates to silliness, and of course when crafting they'll be drawn to things that are simple and don't require much skill. These things give people immediate satisfaction but doesn’t bring on any growth or true feeling of accomplishment. While it takes self love and inner work to build on self esteem, learning a craft and becoming good at it gives teens the confidence they so need.
We decided to do a favorite summer treat - sandwich ice creams in the shape of a 2.
My daughter flattened soft bite cookie dough and baked them as flat sheets. She then spread store bought ice cream for the center. Once frozen she cut it into 2's using a number shaped cookie cutter. They were covered in melted chocolate with some added nut crunch for texture. Pretty cute if I may say.
But that wasn't enough for everyones favorite 2 year old. We then baked a sweet little birthday cake, for what is a birthday celebration without cake? We decorated the cake with buttercream and my daughter piped some flowers. Pretty impressive for a first try.
What can I say - I'm proud of her, but more importantly I think she’s proud of herself too.
Now that is something.
Blima
]]>I say: if you can, why not?
Something as simple as receiving a written letter or small package from home feels special. It's like getting a virtual hug. Yet let's not forget what a spoiled generation our kids are being raised in. We need to be mindful to make it a meaningful experience and be careful not to overdo it.
I choose to include 3 things:
• Something to eat
• Something to do
• Something to grow
Something to eat:
Todays kids are not really hungry for food, they're hungry for connection. But who can deny that food makes the mood. I try to include a sweet message with each food item. See free printable for inspiration.
Something to do:
Pom poms are a great colorful packaging filler. They also double as a fun craft to do during their downtime. A simple wooden frame some glue and pom poms make the cutest frame. Include a photo of the family and kids will love having a framed photo for the moments they feel homesick or want to show off their family to their friends.
Something to grow:
While camp is a great place for fun and entertainment it's also a great environment for growth. A stationery set can be just the little nudge they need to spend more time being mindful. Remind them to send letters to their siblings and grandparents but even more, encourage them to build meaningful connections by showing appreciation to those that spend time caring for them like the good friend that's always at their side, a counselor that does something nice or a bunkmate that needs a little support.
Here's the finished product. If you are inspired to recreate make it your own. This works for birthdays (specifically a sweet 16) or other celebrations as well. I included additional sticker printables for that. Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Blima
Supplies used:
Printable Downloads:
For tags I mount stickers to chip board or any other thick paper I have on hand.
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As soon as my first child was born fatigue and sleep deprivation set in. From the very beginning I wasn't the calm energetic version of myself I had envisioned. It was real life. Shortly after I learned that the stamina of a toddler easily overtakes that of a healthy young adult. As kids grow they learn to challenge, and challenge they did especially during my most vulnerable moments. All that was while they were still very young.
Now as they are getting older they are developing individual needs that are rapidly changing. Surprisingly I'm not as quick at picking up on their cues as the times I observed and judged moms with their teens in social settings.
Basically I felt like I was failing at motherhood. My kids have their fair share of tantrums and I'm not always perfectly poised in my response, if ever. My vision of my perfect family wasn't happening. It's therefor that I'm grateful that I came across this true quote by Jill Churchill - "There is no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one."
I put too much emphasis on being the perfect mother and when that failed I felt betrayed and stopped living. Children are a blessing but can also be a challenge and there really is no perfect way of navigating this challenge. Our kids are here to make us grow and dealing with them is a constant reminder to better ourselves. As long as we are trying we are being a good mother.
I feel empowered.
Enjoy the free printable of the quote.
Mother Quote 5"x 7" Download Colored
I printed this on a sticker sheet and attached it to a cardstock since my home printer doesn't feed thicker sheets. It looks perfect.
Sticker Sheets
I used this simple fiskars cutter to cut prints to size.
Paper cutter
Blima
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To get this look you will need:
1. Quality wrapping paper. shop striped sheets here.
2. Pretty ribbon. shop ribbon.
3. Scissors.
4. Glue or tape. I prefer glue gun. shop glue gun
5. Tag (optional) shop tag.
Start by drawing a large circle on your wrapping paper sheets. You can use a plate to help you get the right shape. I used a 7" and 12" plate.
Cut out the circle.
Fold Into even pleats.
Fold the pleated sheet in half and pinch center.
Use glue to apply to wrapped box. Embelish with coordinating ribbons.
Add a tag and small note for the finishing personal touch.
And that's a wrap!!
Enjoy crafting and leave us a comment or share your work.
Blima
]]>Last summer I gave my kids this great tote so they can prepare their snacks and drinks, and carry them on their own. Besides the physical weight off my shoulder these outings became all the more pleasant. No more worrying who got more, no more cries of I'm hungry. Because the bag can be worn over the shoulder it worked great for outdoor activities like bike riding and hiking. There was only one small problem I needed to solve, they all had the same bag, so when more then one bag was put down at the same time drama ensued over which bag belongs to whom. I figured since lapel pins are all the rage now I'll get each of my kids different enamel pins to adorn their already fun bag.
While googling for their favorite designs I came across some blogs showing how you can get a similar look using shrink film. Aside from being totally custom and cute, we had a great time creating our designs and spent a lazy Sunday doing a fun craft. (how's that for "what can I do?".)
While these pins are not as perfect as enamel pins we had a great time experimenting with our own designs, and they sure look great on the bag.
Supplies used:
Shrink Film Clear
Shrink Film White (won't work for tracing.)
Sharpie Markers
Mod Podge
Pins
Instructions:
Print summer themed designs on shrink film sheets. You can use my free printable below.
Summer Fun
Summer Treats
Color the printed sheets with sharpies. (If you can't print directly on the film you can print on standard paper and trace the designs, or draw your own.)
Cut out shapes and Bake on 325º until shrinks to size. Sheets may curl while shrinking but should flatten on its own. If it's not totally flat when you remove the film, use a hard object to flatten while warm.
Finish with mod podge for a smoother finish. Let sit for 24 hours.
Use glue gun to glue the pins to the film.
Enjoy crafting.
Share your finished products, I'd love to see your work!
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Perhaps the mix of real life chaos and moments of calm crafting is in itself its own form of perfection, but until I'm ready to accept that I'll have this tray I put together to be proud of.
For a food board I like to start with an attractive wood cutting board. This one is from World Market. Start layering with your favorite desserts. I like to put smaller components on creased brown Parchment Sheets for a neater look.
Desserts I made:
- turtle cookies ( they’re always a winner.)
- candied oranges and orange peels ( they may look intimidating but are really simple to make and special to taste.)
- rum balls coated in cocoa powder
- vanilla cookies with chocolate drizzle and crushed pistachios.
Let me know if you want any of the recipes or instructions.
Blima
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Being a soft spoken, pleasant child with a sweet personality my daughter is easily likable and not surprisingly the recipient of quite a few letters. She loves reading them aloud and it certainly entertains me as I listen. They are comprised of basic words written with innocence and include simple statements like the ones below.
-I love you so much.
-I really like being your friend.
-I want to be your best friend.
-I like spending time with you.
The notes, written with so much purity, show their vulnerability. They feel it, they write it and they share it. How sweet is it that they can let you know what they want and hint on where they want the relationship to go without obscuring their feelings due to insecurities and masked emotions. How beautiful it is to see these truths on paper. How special it feels to receive such notes.
It got me thinking, how many times do we as adults think kindly of someone and hold back sharing it with the person due to our own self consciousness. How often do we neglect letting people know how much they matter for fear of appearing to be too vulnerable. Isn't it sad that a lifetime can pass without people showing true appreciation and love by hiding our emotions for fear of being judged?
We all have people we admire, friends we haven't spoken to in a while but think of constantly, children we are proud of and parents and spouses we are thankful for. Why not let them know. The biggest risk is that the world will become a nicer place and that's definitely something worth risking.
I'm committing to allow myself to be vulnerable and sharing more, what about you? Let me know what you think.
Blima
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I'm a big fan of showing gratitude and appreciation. I believe it’s at the core of humanity. Showing attention and love, now that is the ultimate form of gratitude.
It's wonderful that we still stick to the old romantic tradition and set aside a day to show appreciation and treat those that matter to us in a loving way. Candy, flowers, chocolate and pretty cards all have the power to make us feel good.
With Valentines day coming up the shops are starting to fill with red and pink heart shaped gifts and desserts. While shopping for your valentine's special something, get a few extra treats to present to them when you'r feeling extra grateful. We all know the power of the unexpected. It makes things feel so special.
Here's a free download to my floral heart greeting card and floral heart adult coloring greeting card to enjoy now or save for the right occasion.
Happy Valentines,
Blima
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This is exactly how I felt a while back when my 6 year old was going through a challenging period. While he was a sweet and good kid, his lack of social skills would get him into trouble often. Ordinary nuisances we all experience would turn into grand fiascos. Things as little as being called out or as simple as receiving a compliment in a public setting would cause him to lash out.
I tried to encourage change by sitting him down and reviewing his day together. We discussed appropriate behaviors he can implement in place of his outbursts. While it helped a bit, the scenarios varied from day to day and required different responses. As a little boy it was hard for him to pick up on the cues to deal with them accordingly. With time I came to understand that while the scenarios were different the triggers were pretty much the same. After some thought I noticed that it wasn't the action that generated the negative response but rather the emotional connection and how it made him feel. Being a child with a low self esteem simple things caused him to feel threatened, embarrassed, scared and so on, and his skills in dealing with these were lacking. I started focusing on having him recognize and connect to the emotions he was feeling. The more aware he became the simpler it was to work on healthy responses. In fact he got so good at it, he started noticing patterns in others. When a friend hit him the other day, he knew to ask him if he want's to be included in the game he was playing, understanding that the hitting was an immature way of his friend asking for the attention he needed.
Seeing the positive change in my sons behavior encouraged me to do something to help other struggling kids. I wanted these kids to have a space to think through what's going on in their life, find the triggering emotion and grow from there by fostering healthy responses in behavior.
Here's the result-a beautiful junior journal geared towards social emotional development.
You can get THE STORY OF ME! here. Let us know how it works for your child.
Blima
]]>Bright colors and patterns don't always fit an occasion or theme. They become outdated with time and often end up laying around till you had enough and decide to dispose of it. Neutrals on the other hand can be bought for stock as you can always find a use.
Neutral solids are aesthetically pleasing and easy to coordinate. You can't really go wrong with a basic. They go with mostly everything and work with almost anything.
Yet it can't be denied that bright colors and patterns add so much to life. They bring on happy vibes and character when incorporated. While neutrals keep things muted, bright colors have the power to invigorate. Therefore I do often like to incorporate it as an element of surprise.
When wrapping this gift for a young teen I stayed true to myself and started with the soft pink paper and white cotton ribbon I had on hand. To add some much needed spunk I played around with the ribbon and some markers. I'm pretty pleased with the end result and will definitely be using this technique again. My kids will love adding their personal style when gifting their friends this holiday season.
To get this look you will need:
1. Light colored cotton ribbon
2. Permanent Markers Sharpie
3. Rubbing alcohol.
4. Paintbrush or squirt bottle.
Start by coloring the ribbon. It's a good idea to try some samples first. Play with different colors and designs to create cool patterns. Try stripes, dots, plaids, little scribbles and whatever else comes to mind. Brush or spray rubbing alcohol to get the tie die effect. To get the pattern to stay on permanent apply heat by ironing or throwing it into the dryer. The simplest way is to run it through a flat iron. A flat iron is also a great for straightening ribbons that are creased.
Enjoy crafting and leave us a comment or share your work.
Blima
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It's Blima, founder of Art In Gifting. I'm a wife and mother of young kids. Though I live a hectic life I was born with a strong desire for art and crafting. I started Art In Gifting as a creative outlet in my spare time and I hope to use this blog to communicate and share my inspiration with the world.
True to its name the goal for Art In Gifting is for gifting to become an art. With a beginning line of wrapping supplies I wish to excite people into presenting their gifts in an aesthetically pleasing way. With the beautiful greeting cards and soon to come specialty gift items I hope to invoke the emotional beauty of thoughtful gifting.
I look forward to sharing great gift ideas and beautiful gift presentations as well as some snippets of daily living.
Blima
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I've received gifts small in value that held a special place in my heart, and I've received others that were way grander yet simply didn't hit the mark. It got me thinking; What is it about the gifts that matter most? What is it that excites us and what is it that disappoints? I studied and observed, and found that there's a definite relationship in gifting that is worth exploring.
When gifting it's useful to ask yourself the three questions below:
- Why?
- Who?
- How?
Think about why you feel the need to gift. Is it a special relationship you want to foster? Is there an occasion that demands it? Is it for a celebration you want to take part in? Is it due to a feeling of obligation? Is it about the happiness you feel when gifting? Or perhaps it's a combination of more then one reason.
Really consider who you are giving the gift to. Be considerate of their age and make sure the gift is appropriate especially when gifting kids.
Understand your connection to the recipient. You will want to be more personal with a good friend and more formal with when it comes to corporate gifts.
Lastly, think of the recipients likes, needs and wants. Is the person serious, funny or loving? Is the individual feminine, masculine, romantic or practical? Look for a gift that matches their characteristics.
Paying attention to the details in the presentation of the gift shows that you care. Wether you choose to do a pretty wrapping or just a neat little bag always remember a handwritten note. Don't overthink it. Write from your heart.
Happy gifting!
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