Stamp Simply Celebrates with Sharon Johnson!
BLOG CANDY NOW CLOSED!!
THE WINNER OF THE POLKA DOT BASICS SET IS COMMENT NUMBER 199!! ALLY V!! HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID:
Love your packaging ideas today! And that scarf is beautiful!! The colours are gorgeous!
I think we’re skipping a big family present this year as we are going on vacation over the winter holidays, lol!
Thanks for the great tutorials!
Ally, please e-mail me at oehlers@verizon.net with you address so I can send out your goodies! Thank you all for playing and I see many of you will be coming back via subscription! Thanks!
Welcome to the day I play for the Stamp Simply Celebration Day!! Firstly…congrats a million times over to the exquisite Sharon Johnson for reaching the million milestone on her blog! I have lots to share with you today, so please take the time to relax and enjoy!
I just can’t wait to show what I have shared today for you! I have to say it is such a busy time of the year, you just go crazy with all of the things you have to get done! Not to mention, who has the money to buy little presents for everyone this year. So I am about to make your life a LOT easier today. Need a hostess gift, a gift for your kid’s crossing guard, bus driver, or anything small like that? Well, I am here to show you how to make something elegant to give that is so simple it is silly. Here is what I did.
Get a box of brownies (I get the ones with chocolate chunk 
) , get some mini cupcake foil wrappers. Put said brownie mix into cupcake wrappers and bake. Then pour a bag of chocolate chips in a bowl and put the bowl of chips in the microwave for exactly one minute. No more! Pull them out and stir, stir, stir until all smooth. Pour the chocolate out onto parchment paper (or foil if you have no parchment). take an offset spatula and smooth out evenly into a sheet of chocolate about 1/4 inch thick. Work quickly. Let dry completely for an hour or overnight. I simly took a juice glass and used that as my circle cutter. So cut out circles of chocolate when dry. Then take a little bit of vanilla icing and crush some peppermints/candy canes and add them to the top of the chocolate disc. Put the chocolate disc on the top of the brownie with some icing as glue, and you are done! So easy, but it looks so special! I have left finished and unfinished brownies in the picture, so you can see how nice they look with the chocolate discs on top!
Using the Polka Dots Basics set as well as the Holiday Tags 2008 edition set from Papertrey Ink and some shimmery paper, I made a band to go around this great box! It is the perfect size for holding four of these treats, or two small ornaments! This is how I used this box I designed in another post. What a nice box! Here are the instructions for you:
Cut card stock to 10 x 81/2
Along the 10 inch side: Score at 2,4,6,8
Along the 8 1/2 inch side: Score at 2, 6 1/2.
Cut two of the side tabs off completly. Shown here:
Then cut along lines of the remaining tabs. Adhere with strong adhesive. I use red line tape found here. You can finish the front flap with pinking shears or a decorative edge. I did not do this on the project here.
If you would like to make one, please show us what you did and how you used it using the keyword at Splitcoast : SSC08…we would love to see it!
and a card also using the “Holiday Tags” set as well as “Spooky Sweets II” and “Beautiful Blooms” to finish it off!
Also, don’t forget some things you may already have lying around your house! This was a great sliding box I had kept which contained a German Smoker. I just covered it in this great 7 Gypsies Flocked Paper and added a tag using the Holiday Tags 2008 edition from Papertrey as well as some Papertrey ribbon and voila! A gorgeous box which took two seconds to “re-purpose” and hold a homemade scarf I made using pre-cut quilt squares and jersey fabric for the backing both of which I found at Joanne Fabrics.
I DO hope you enjoyed all of this inspiration! Give the box a try, I think you will really love it! Now for some great goodies!! As Sharon celebrates 1 million hits on her blog, I am celebrating 500,000 
How would you like to win the Papertrey Polka Dot Basics set for all of the fun we are haivng? It is one of my favorite sets. So versatile, so great and easy to line up! Before you enter PLEASE READ these Stamp Simply”Netiquette” Blog Candy rules HERE.
OK…now here is the question you need to answer to enter:
Leave a comment telling me exactly what your big family gift will be this year!
Entries will be open until midnight TONIGHT (Tuesday night). Yes TONIGHT! So hurry up and leave a comment, because it will go quickly! I will pick a winner at midnight tonight and add it to the top of this post. Good luck!! To see the full calendar of events for this week of fun, you can go here!
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, 2008 Holiday Tags Edition, Beautiful Blooms, Spooky Sweets II
Paper: White Shimmer, Pure Poppy, 7 gypsies, White
Ink: Pure Poppy, Versamark
Ribbon: Pure Poppy Stitched Grosgrain, Gold Sheer Metallic
Other: Filigree Detail Gold Embossing Powder
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December 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 am
Becky, don’t enter me in the drawing but I just HAD to tell you how I LOVE this project — those brownies look SO fabulous and I WILL be making your box – FAB box!!! And I LOVE your home made scarf — what a perfect gift!!! Such great projects — THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! They just couldn’t be lovlier!!! Big family gift — gosh, we have BIG boys and it is about impossible to buy for them – so they each pick out a big gift that we pay for — so that’s the big gift thing at our house!!! I truly LOVE trading small, homemade gifts with friends and neighbors — so FUN!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:22 am
Hello!
(well, hubby does!)
*hint, hint* 
Wow; I’m the first one! Wa-hoo! Love your boxes; I’ll be doing a lot of homemade treats this year and am soaking in these wonderful ideas.
Hmm…our big present? Probably a new grill. While rather boring I suppose; it’s something that we need! And actually, we do grill in the winter!
So, I’ll be crossing my fingers for that polka dot set; I’ve been eyeing it out for awhile!
Take care and happy holidays!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 am
I absolutely love this box. Thank you so much for showing us how you made it. That treat inside (the baked goods and the scarf) are really pretty.
Thanks for this offer of the Papertrey Polka Dot Basics set. That is so nice.
For our family gift: we are not giving presents this year. We have way too much and so we are just eating and playing some board games!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:39 am
What a cute box…and the treats look soooo yummy!! It just so happens that I am giving my daughter a scarf for X-mas, so thanks for the lovely box idea.
We won’t be having any big family present this year because my husband along with 2000 others will lose their jobs on the 23rd of this month. Instead we plan to celebrate by visiting with our family and eating lots of yummy food. This is really what its all about anyway.
Thanks for the chance to win!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 am
Those brownies look way yummy. Love the boxing – I’ve put a few aside to re-do myself.
Love the polka basics, I’ve put that in my wish list a couple of times just not the cart.
Big Christmas present this year – hmm – don’t really have one but since my best friend is staying with us for awhile and has a five year old – I’ll be helping her with his Christmas this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:41 am
Our family gift will be a new Canon camera!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 am
I love the way your box turned out. I am making homemeade Gingerbread muffins for my extended family this year. I may have to try boxing them up like this. A big family gift…that will have to be the trip to Sweden we are taking over Christmas. I just had a baby boy this year so I can’t wait to see my family over there and celebrate Christmas with them and showing him off =). Thank you for a chance to win. I like to follow your blog.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 am
Those brownies look so tempting and so delicious. Very adorable packaging. You are so creative!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 am
Love the box – always enjoy “anything but a card”, even though cardmaking is my passion.
Big family gift this year is a new computer – love the new big screens!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:53 am
YUM! You bake, you stamp, you sing AND you sew…sheesh…what don’t you do?!! You’re amazing.
I love the way you cut out the detail frame on Spooky Sweets II.
I’ve already got Polka Dot Basics, so no need to enter me but I just wanted to congratulate you on your own 500K milestone!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:59 am
I adore those brownies and fun packaging. They will be so fun to make with my kids!
We rarely do a “big” present in our family. This year we are continuing to support a widow and her family in Africa and supplying money for her to have Christmas for her kids. We have so much! Our kids will have several gifts under the tree and in their stockings but my husband haven’t exchanged gifts in years.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 am
Love your projects! And that scarf is gorgeous. As for a big family gift, we don’t do that b/c we usually have so many other family members to buy for. This year, though, we’re having to cut most of them out b/c of money issues.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 am
Hi Becky,
I love your blog!!
Well, this year, it’s just me, my fiance and my Dad, so we will be having a small Christmas get together. I couldn’t ask for anything more in my life, other than to be healed of my stage 4 Breast Cancer. But really, I can’t ask for more. I love my life and my fiance and my house, so I don’t think we will do a big Christmas gift.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 am
Wow, your box is amazing, and the brownies look so yummy. Thank you for offering up Papertrey’s Polka Dot Basics for candy. This year I don’t think we will be getting a big family gift, just a few small ones, we are in the same boat as many and are short on funds this year. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:27 am
oooh, wonderful looking brownies! (and the box is cool too, but probably doesn’t taste as good
)
Like so many others, we are in a budget crunch, so no big family gift this year… just some individual smaller ones. I can hope for new computer speakers so I don’t have to kick the wire every time the speakers are on (there’s a short there somewhere, and the speakers are positively ancient). But what do I REALLY want? PTI stamps, of course — and I still don’t have polka dot basics! I’d LOVE it!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:27 am
Congrats to YOU for reaching 500,000 hits! You have a great blog and it shows!
We aren’t having one big family gift this year for Christmas… I think that we already received it – and that is that the room that my husband has been building (all by himself!) is finally DONE!!! Now I have a place to craft and my kids can come in and visit with me or do homework (I even set up my dd’s huge Barbie castle in here)…and I’m not cluttering up the family room with a table and all my crafting stuff. So really, MY craft room is a gift for the whole family!
And by the way, I just LOVE your projects!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 am
I don’t celebrate x-mas but DH just bought mr a canon rebel for our anniversary. Since I take all the family photos, I guess the gift is sort of for everyone.
I love that scarf. I am going to have to make one just like it!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:35 am
Oh my, those brownies look yummy! I love the candy cane topping.
Our family gift this year is somewhat practical, but I’m still very excited about it – we’re finally getting new chairs for our dining room! We’ve had the table for four years, but couldn’t decide on chairs, until now!
Thanks for the chance to win the PTI stamps
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:36 am
Way to Go BECKY! You know I love the brownies and fabulous packaging! Your work is spectacular and every detail in the scarf and box is wonderful! You are SO talented and we are blessed that you share with us!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:01 am
What a yummy gift! I love the idea of the chocolate toppers. As for big Christmas gifts – I’m not buying any big gifts this year, and I’m not expecting any. I am giving quite a few homemade gifts, including card sets and ornaments I need to get busy on! I will also make some homemade goodies in a couple of weeks.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 am
We will have our traditional Christmas Eve gathering with grandma, but the biggest Christmas gift for the family is a trip to Orlando Florida during the 1st week of February. We will go to one of the parks, but we will also be visiting friends that moved to Florida several years ago. Thanks for the brownie recipe idea….looks sooo yummmmy!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:14 am
I love your creations!
Our big family gift this year will be…..drumroll….A SNOWBLOWER! LOL
We just bought our first house…out of town…no road service…so we have to deal with our own snow. We’re OK so far, but the bottom of the car is starting to drag along the top of the snow – and we’re only a couple months into our 6-month winter!! Yeah, a snowblower will be such a wonderful gift… ;o)
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 am
Your brownies look very yummy, and the packaging is fabulous!
We can’t really afford any big ticket items this year, we just buy each other small gifts and enjoy spending time with our family.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 am
Our big family gift (and only gifts) this year is to go to Disneyland for a few days. I would love to have the Polka Dot Basics stamp set! Thanks for the chance to win. Your projects here are just so yummy!
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:21 am
Becky our big family gift will be a WII. I think that is how it is spelt, the game machine with action. I can hardly wait for us to play as a family.
Happy Holidays
Heather
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 am
My immediate family is small,just me and my dog. Our big family gift then will be a new blanket,so we can enjoy snuggling during this winter season. Thanks for the inspiration.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Yuno! The brownies look delicious. Thanks for sharing how you made them.The box to came out beautiful what a great gift to give anyone who loves baked goods. The scraf is loveley. Who knew that you sew too. You paper craft, stamp, bake,sew and sing opera. OY!
Okay no jewlery for me this year for Christmas. I am cool with that though. Like everyone else Wayne and I are cutting back. Our big Christmas present is going to be a Kuerig Coffee machine.
Mary
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
Becky your projects are stunning. So creative! We aren’t doing a big gift this year either. We’re having a big lunch with family and friends instead. And I don’t mind one bit!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
Lovely thoughtful gifts you made there. No big family gift in my house — I live by myself. But my daughter is moving into a new (to her) house this year, so I guess my biggest gift this year will be a combination Christmas/house-warming gift!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Oh, do I like the brownie idea. Thank you for sharing.
Our Christmas gift will be each other and to spend time with family and friends. Money is “very” tight. . .my compensation checks have stopped and still can’t work (easily) and well, that’s enough, I don’t want to sound complaining. Now, time to make a few cards.
Merry Christmas,
Inkyhive aka Jesse
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
First, I wanted to say that I love your projects! Gorgeous!!!
I don’t think there will be a big gift for us this year. Hubby is out of work so we are spending what we can on our baby girl!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
Our gift will not arrive until February – we are going to Europe for 12 days and that is our gift to ourselves. The grandkids are getting sleeping bags and that’s about it!
The brownies look sinful. Just what I like!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Congrats on 500K hits, Becky, and thanks for sharing all thsee great projects! I can’t wait to try out the box (and the brownie cupcakes)! Great inspiration!
We are not doing a big gift this year. Instead we are going to San Diego (where we used to live) for a few days. We love going back and visiting our favorite places.
Thanks for the chance to win the Papertrey Polka Dot Basics set!
Carla
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Great gift packaging ideas. You are so talented! Thanks for sharing with us. Our big family gift will be the Wii. I’m also hoping for a few new stamps under the tree!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Our big gift this year was repairing the car. Our kids are adults so we really don’t have a big family gift.
These boxes are beautiful! Wonderful job!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Our big gift this year will be a new digital camera. Thanks for this opportunity to win this set…your boxes are awesome!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I have a Christmas party coming up, and those cupcakes would be a wonderful treat to take with me! There is no big Christmas gift this year. We plan on taking a family vacation (with all the kids and grandkids) in July, so we are saving our money. Of course, God is always so gracious to help us provide something under that tree!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Wow–another great box! And the goodies to go in it look delicious (so much for my diet).
Since money is tighter this year (for everyone), we are trying something new–the adults in the family are MAKING gifts for the other adults (my kids are grown now) and only the grandcritters (3 precious children) will get purchased gifts. This may prove to be a tradition that lasts even when the economy improves!
Thanks for a great blog.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Hi, I already own Polka Dot Basics, but I wanted to tell you how lovely these gifts are. Thanks for all the inspiration.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
You continue to amaze me!!! This is a wonderful idea and boy, do those brownies look good!!!
Unfortunately, I am cutting way back this year on gifts, so I have not decided on a large gift. Although any large gift (since it is just my daughter and I) tend to be for her more than me! But since she is 18, this is getting tough! She will get many “regular” size gifts, though! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, and thanks for the chance to win!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Your work is beautiful. Because of medical bills, we will not be getting a big gift item. Our joy will be getting together as a family. We are thinking of getting a dvd set of a show that we used to watch as a family. That way, it will bring back a lot of memories and laughter.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
What a nice way to start the day today…Tuesday 12/2 with a chance to win these great items! And I will be trying that brownie receipe and box!
Our family has already recieved its present for the year.. a beautiful baby girl was born to my daughter and husband just 5 weeks ago…We are so blessed…and grateful.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
those brownies look incredible. I just might have to try that recipe and that box!!!
For our big Christmas gift this year we are taking our kids to Disney World. I’m really anxious to see their little faces when they find out. Not sure how I’m going to wrap that up yet though-hey maybe you have a good idea!!! We will be leaving about 12 days after Christmas. Other than that they will not be getting much. The economy is pretty tough right now and my hubby is in sales. The only reason we are going is because through his company we were awarded some $$$ awhile back. Our frequent flyer miles are definitely helping to get us there too. Thanks for being a constant source of inspiration!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Love your boxes and the idea for the brownie cupcakes. I’ll have to remember that for when I am making some holiday treats in a couple weeks.
There will be no big family gift again this year. We just can’t afford it especially since our health insurance just went up $30 a week! My two girls are each getting a couple Nintendo DS games and some less expensive items and that is it for the Christmas gifts this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
What great ideas for gifts and packaging. Thank you for sharing. We usually Only buy for the kids and my grandson, who all live with me. This year I think we are going to buy a new TV. Ours is really getting bad. Of course, just being together is the biggest gift of all.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Your boxes are wonderful and the brownies look delicious! As for the family Christmas gift, I haven’t really decided what to give! It will be something very easy that’s for sure. We have been talking about getting a Wii, so that will probably be the gift.
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Such pretty gifts!! We don’t do a big family gift, our kids are little, so we do smaller gifts. My hubby and I however are getting a Keurig – and I’m super excited about that!
December 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Love the box for the brownies. I love love love making boxes and bags. Your gifts are creative and beautiful. As far as a family gift this year I don’t think so. We are a family of all adults no little ones so we keep gift giving to a minimum. We all have so much.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
What a great idea for brownies! That will be going in my recipe box, under Ideas! Our big gift this year will be a new refrigerator – ours is on it’s last legs, so it’s time to get a new one. Have you seen all the refrigerators they make now?? How will I ever decide???
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Your boxes are great. Our big gift this year is a Wii.
Kate
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
A very attractive presentation, Becky! This year my hubby is having a spinal fusion on Dec.23rd, so it will be a different Christmas. No “big family gift”, but my family will probably get together the weekend before. It’s always so fun to see everyone & get caught up. And I get to see my granddaughter this afternoon, when I fly to Chicago!!!!!! Merry Christmas to you & your family!
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Our gift is that we will be with our family. My husband and I buy each other small, but meaningful, gifts. (We live 2,500 miles from our family.)
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Love your web site. Great ideas and wonderful projects.First time visiting and will visit daily. Thank you for the opportunity to win Papertrey Polka Dot Basics set. We had our Christmas celebration at Thanksgiving because my daughters will spend the holiday with their husband’s family.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Those brownies look so good and love your creative package. Our big present this year is having our family and friends together. With time being so stressful these days, it’s nice just to escape with people you love. Thanks for a chance.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
What a great project. The gift looks so much nicer when the wrapping is special too. No big gift in our family this year, trying to be frugal and yet thoughtful, so zeroing in on a gift that hits that mark. Thanks for the opportunity to win some treats. Lilian
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Our big gift this year will be a Wii for the family! I’m so excited too – not just for me but for my kids!
Wonderful projects! thanks for showing me something new!
Angie
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
That scarf is so cute–I love the colors! Our big family gift is driving to Kentucky from Oklahoma to see my parents. We’re so excited!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
We do not know what our big family gift will be or even if we will have one. Our 30 year old tv could stand to be replaced, but those new things are waaaayyy expensive. Do you know how many stamping tools a person could get with that kind of $$?
Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
great boxes – yummy cupcakes & beautiful scarf-equally special packaging! Yesterday it would have been a tv but we didn’t get in on Amazon for the purchase-250 sold out in 2 mins. not sure what it will be, if anything since we’re saving to build a home on our land.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Beautiful project.Can’t wait to try this out.
Our big gift this yr may be a a big screen tv.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I love these packaging ideas! I’m really trying to work on presentation this year because it always makes a big difference to me when I receive things in beautiful packaging – especially if it is hand made. We are not doing a big family gift this year but my daughter will be getting Kaya the American Doll and her historical book set from Santa.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Oh my goodness, these brownies look so yummy and the box you’ve created for them is just awesome! TFS the recipe and directions!
My big family gift this year will be scaled down to necessities. I’ll do hand made items for friends and associates, and I may just be tempted to try this beautiful gift you’ve created and shared here
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I think my kids are each getting their own IPOD this year so I can find mine when I need it. My husband is getting his own GPS so he can find wherever he needs to go (no more calling me 1/2 hour after he leaves to say that he’s lost, lol!). Love the packages and I’m trying the brownies this week! TFS!
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Great packaging! Thank you for sharing! The brownies look delicious. There will be no big family gift this year. Money is just too tight. We will probably get a board game the whole family can play, though.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Great ideas! TFS! Our gift to ourselves this year is that of service to each other. We have had personal and health crises this year the likes of which rocked the foundations of our family. To restore ourselves, body and soul, we are not exchanging material gifts, but rather doing something special with each other as our true gift. I feel better already!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Love the box I am going to make a few. I do lots of baking at Christmas and the box should probably hold a dozen shortbread cookies. Last year our big gift was a digital camera this year we are hoping to get away for a couple of days after Christmas so that will be our gift. Thanks for sharing your great gift ideas. Ann lind
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
We are trying not to spend a lot. We are getting my daughter a cell phone.
Working for the school the best gift I get is time off to stamp.
Thank you for the wonderful inspiring ideas and being so generous with the recipes to recreate them.
Donna Coffman
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Love the gift boxes and ideas. The card is gorgeous. My kids are grown so we don’t have a big family gift anymore. I guess the big thing my husband and I are doing is going to take a trip to Las Vegas in the spring. We are doing this instead of presents to each other. I have a fair amount of PaperTrey stamp sets, but I don’t have the polka dot basics. I would love to have it. Thanks for the opportunity and have a memorable day.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
WOOHOO! LOVE the gift boxes! I’ve been on a bit of a box making spree myself this year!!!!!!!! We don’t really do family gifts, but, I’m supposed to be getting an SLR camera (does that qualify as a family gift?!), Hubby is getting the entire Thundercat cartoon series on DVD (another somewhat family gift), and my daughter is getting a bike, and perhaps a mp3 or portable DVD player – haven’t totally decided! Anyway, absolutely LOVE polka dot basics from PTI, but it hasn’t made it onto my final buy list yet. Maybe you can help me out and let me win it LOL! Thanks for the awesome blog!
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hi Becky,
Wow! What a great gift idea! Splendid work, as usual!! Now for the answer to your question: My husband and I already bought our big gifts. We got for both of us a Wii system and a couple of games, figure it’s a way to get some exercise at home…and then we bought a bread machine!!! lol Hey, we figure we love bread and we buy it anyway, so might as well make it. We’ll really have to put that Wii to use!! Thanks for the chance to win the Papertrey set! Good luck to everyone.
Val
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I love the box for that scarf. It’s so beautiful! The brownies look yummy too.
We are getting a laptop computer for Christmas this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Beautiful scarf! Love the colors. And I am now in a chocolate kind of mood looking at those goodies!
This year we are getting an HDTV for Christmas. Our old TV is finally going so we need a new one and figured we might as well upgrade to a nice one that will hopefully last us many, many years.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
No big family gift here. I splurge on my married daughter and her family. I love your boxes and your goodies look so yummy. Thank you for the blog candy.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
LOVE your box! I can’t wait to try and make one. Thanks for sharing!!!
Our family (all adults) is going through a financial crisis this year and have decided to forego buying gifts but has decided to write letters to each other which I will then take and include into our family Christmas album.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
OMGosh! I just love the brownie idea, and that box is perfect. Wow, what an easy, inexpensive idea for a gift!!!
Thanks for the chance to win, I have had my eye on the Polka Dot set for a while!
Our family gift is going to be an air hockey table!
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
the gourmet looking brownies are just fantastic! such a great idea to make for teacher gifts.
our family gift is a theme…game time…2009 we are going to try and cut back tv time to minimum and have game and reading time instead. so santa is bringing a wii plus many board games, books, card games, and puzzles.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Our family gift will be a turntable that you hook up to your computer to transfer Old records to CD’s or MP3 files
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
No family gift this year as I just lost my job. We will get together with our family and enjoy good food and good company.
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I love the box idea – I make Greek Pastries and I think this would be great to put them in for gifts – the family can’t wait for Christmas because they know they are getting some! We don’t really need for anything. I am happy that I’ll have family staying with us for the holidays and that we have room for all of them. I guess if I think hard enough, a movie camera that has a “hard drive” – the new fad item – one I don’t have to put my eye to the len would be nice too. I would settle for joy and wonderment (is that a word?) in my 3 year olds eyes – this christmas she’ll understand gifts and Santa and all the good things that come with christmas.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
What a wonderful idea with the brownies and the packaging is perfect. Who wouldn’t love these.
Our big family gift this year is a Wii.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Oh wow your boxes and all those yummy treats making me drool so early in the AM! YUMMMM.. as far as a Big Family gift.. hmm not really this year that was last year when we went to see the Radio City Christmas Shop and the kids got a Wii for Christmas.. this year its more of a toned down Christmas. We will be just spending time together and that is actually the biggest gift of all
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
oh my….awesome project Becky!!
I think our big purchase will be a new big screen- ours is pretty old and is dying a slow painful television death- we wait till the new year though- prices are better!
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Our family doesn’t celebrate Xmas however my parents’ anniversary is in January and I think I’ve already figured out what I’m going to get my dad. He’s usually the hardest to figure out for…a cell phone. He’s been wanting one he can load programs on. For mom, it’s a little more difficult this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Since my boys are “adults” now there won’t be any big family gift. I’m planning on making a lot of gifts for my friends who are also crafty and appreciate a handmade creation. Those peppermint brownines would be a nice gift for several of my friends, if I dont’ eat them all before hand — LOL!! I enjoy your blog and check in often. Thanks for sharing all your talent!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
The box is great, I’ve made little ones but the bigger one is great!
Our big gift this year is some home improvements, not exciting but necessary.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Love the box, great colors and neat way to wrap a gift!
No big gift this year, giving to others who are struggling.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
The brownies look delicious! It will be back to the true meaning of Christmas for us this year, no big family gifts, just a celebration of life and the birth of our Lord.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Awesome box/brownie idea! Thanks!!! We don’t have a big family gift this year – just a few things for the kids. My husband keeps repeating the words “recession” and “economy” to remind me to cut back on spending this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
What a delicious project! We don’t really do a big family gift at Christmas…each child gets a big gift along with smaller gifts (my husband says I go overboard every year, but I can’t help it…I love giving!). My daughter’s big gift this year is a pair of Ugg boots, and my son’s is tickets to Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neally…4th row seats!! Shhhh….don’t tell them!
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Love your great ideas. My kids are grown so we usually buy them a big gift. We don’t really need anything, and would be happy with more free time this year!
Carol
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
We won’t be getting any big item gift this year. We are cutting down on the amount spent on gifts this year.
Thanks for the chance to win.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Congrats on hitting 500,000. Our big family gift this year will probably be a new tv.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The biggest gift we’ll all receive as a family is that my brother will be home from Boot Camp for 2 weeks!! Woo!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
our family love sienfeld. we are getting the scene-it sienfeld edition. then the battle will begin girls vs. boys. they don’t stand a chance.
great boxes good reminder to refurbish interesting boxes we already have.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Love your box, many uses. Great blog too!! No, gift here, just for the kids wish list, we’re a little tight had a new baby,thanks for sharing…gina
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Well, with the economy as it is, we’re just doing christmas for the kids this year. And we’re trying to be pretty thrifty about it (and still manage to please them).
I guess our big family gift this year (for my husband and I) will be the baby girl who is due on December 30th.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Wow! Great ideas! I love the scarf in the box and how it coordinates with the paper. And I’ll have to try that brownie idea!
As for Christmas gifts, we don’t do a big family gift. We take care of the kids and my dh and I get each other something small.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I love your gift ideas! Fabulous! And that stamp set – oooo, I love it!
Our big family gift this year is a piece of exercise equipment! Isn’t that fun? Maybe we will be in better shape next year!
Hugs,
Karen
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Our Family gift this year is the family. We are a blended family with 5 kids. All of them are coming home for Christmas and I couldn’t ask for anything better!
Thanks for sharing your box! We are making most of our gifts this year so this is perfect to go with them.
Tee
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The boxes are adorable, and the brownies look awesome. No big family gift since it’s just the two of us. We took a 3 week trip to Europe in October which was fabulous! Would love the polka dot set. Hint, hint! I was so touched reading all the responses to your project and wish I could help everyone during this difficult time in our country. People have come up with some very creative ideas for sharing this holiday with little expenses. Happy Holidays and Peace to everyone.
Shirley L.
Roseville, CA
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for sharing the cookies and the bag…great stuff.
Our family gift will be seeing our son whom we haven’t seen for a year…then he will have the gift of his Mum’s cooking, brownies, oaty cookies, dinner with his favourite stuffing balls….given that he was in Afghanistan last Christmas it will be so good to cook for him for a few days.
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
What beautiful packaging for food gifts – LOVE them! We don’t do a big family gift. However, we have shared gifts – my husband and son are getting tickets to three hocky games and my son and I are getting tickets to Sean Hannity’s America concert. It is fun to get things that we can attend through the new year and remember that they were part of Christmas!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
WOWEE!! I just spent over a half hour on your website looking in open-mouthed amazement at all of the totally outstanding projects you’ve made!! I love every single thing on your website and the Christmas gift ideas with the brownies, cookies, scarf and matching gift containers are a wonderful inspiration. How nice of you to share the recipes, too!
I know you’re going to think I’m nuts, but our big family gift this year will be a new gas ice auger! Can’t wait to get that fish house on the lake and start ice fishing!! :O)
Thanks for the chance to win that cool Papertrey Polka Dots Basics stamp set – cool.
Wishing a very blessed Christmas to you and yours!
Virginia
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Fabulous project, Becky! Wow, those little brownie cupcakes are so easy and sweet, and I love your little box to package them! Great job!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Love the polka dot basics set! thanks for the opportunity. What beautiful gifts you made as well! Love the icing and crushed candy cane idea! We don’t have a big family gift for all of this year… I guess our family gift will be time together!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Wow your brownies look yummy, very nice presentation. Thank you for offering Papertrey’s Polka Dot Basics for candy.
No big family gift this year because we had to change our fridge. Wich was not suppose to be before years (at least that’s what we thaught)
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Big family gift this year–we already had it! Last month, as an early Christmas present, my brother and I took my mother to the city. We had lunch at Rosie O’Grady’s and saw Jersey Boys. What a great show! What a great day we had.
Thanks for the chance to win some candy. And, your brownies look yummy.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I love this idea and the box you made for packaging it in. I’ve also taken a quick look through some of your other creations – wow. I will be back for a closer, longer look. You have definitely given me some ideas to work with this year. We don’t have a big family gift this year – did that last year – we’ll be making it a little simpler this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Our big family gift this year will be the new home that we moved into last month. Because of that purchase, I haven’t been able to squeeze any extra money out of the family budget for stamps lately. So I would LOVE to win PaperTrey’s Polka Dots set! I just found your blog because of Sharon’s super event. Now I have another to add to my subscription list!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I don’t think we’ll be doing any truly big gifts this year, just small practical things… probably some gift cards to restaurants, grocery stores, maybe a few stamping supples. My mouth is now watering for some chocolate though. Beautiful packaging and card.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
With today’s economy ‘big gifts’ aren’t a big thing in our family this year, but, we are all going to be together and that will be our “big gift. I hope you and yours have a great holiday season and thank you for sharing your ‘gift of inspiration’.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
What a great box and idea! I would love to win the Polka Dot Basics set- one I’ve got on my wish list from Papertrey (which continues to grow- go figure!).
My big family gift? A new vehicle- I was rear-ended TWICE in a three-week period sitting at the same stop light. The second accident left my poor old, trusty Expedition totaled. So a new vehicle for me and the troops!
Merry Christmas!
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Love the details and colors on these…Wonderful Holiday gifts!!!
My Christmas will be small and handmade this year, my favorite kind!! My son is getting a hand me down computer, which means no more sharing the laptop
I guess that is as much a gift to me as it is to him 
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Hi Becky! Love your brownies presentation!
My big family gift this year is that we will be traveling from Colorado to Texas to spend Christmas with my son and his new wife!
Thank you!
Jennifer L.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Love those browinies and that cute box you mad.
Beautiful packaging for sure. We don’t have a big family gift this year. Barb
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Great projects ! Those brownie’s look sooo good , will have to try those ! We never really do big gifts in our family , we just don’t have the means to do that ! We do lots of little stuff usually . Thanks for a chance to win !
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Great packaging, Becky! I love doing things like that especially during the holidays. Our family gift this year will probably be a new TV so we hav it before February. Thanks!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Gorgeous project!
Our big gift is an addition to our home! (including a craft room for me!!!)
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
You’re always so creative! Love it!
My hubby and I have decided that with our little one turning three and really enjoying the holidays, that it means more to have fun *experiences* vs. just one more toy in the pile.
Our family gift is going to be an outing this Saturday to the “Santa Train” – a local old locomotive that takes a short trip to see Santa in a nearby town.
So perfect for a little one to experience the magic of the holidays and great for making family memories!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Our big family gift this year will not arrive until the middle of January – our son will be returning from his deployment to Afghanistan. He has been gone for a year. We will have a small Christmas celebration with family members and a large second Christmas/Welcome Home for friends and family.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
This year I’ve finally got the $$ together to buy our first Apple computer. I’m SO excited. Oh the creativity that’s been waiting to happen. I’ll probably stay on it for the first 24 hours it’s in the house.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I am a great grandmother and the official card maker. In my extended family there are 12 children from newborn to 12 years old, so the big family gift this year is a gift for each of these 12 children and a wonderful christmas get together grouping about 40 family members, with yummy food, games, songs etc. A real treat.
I love your box, I will be making a few, thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday. Marie-Paule.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Oh, how we are enjoying our BIG Christmas gift to each other already. In October my husband and I finished building a lovely, room-expanding front porch on our cozy cottage home. We will hopefully have MANY years to enjoy the space. Even during this winter it offers a respite from the snow falling on us or our guests as we enter our front door!
Oh,my! Papertrey stamp sets are so wonderful!!
THANK YOU for the terrific gift box idea for sharing homebaked goodies. So enjoy your creativity!
Warm wishes……….~Sandie
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Thanks for the chance to win the polka dot basics set. I love your project, I like to do mini muffins and mini bread loaves, pumpkin and banana nut, for gifts, but usually just package them in a basket. maybe this year I will make some boxes they are so much prettier.
I don’t think we will be doing a big family gift this year, we are planning on buying tile and kitchen cabinets after the first of the year, so we are saving for that. I will however get each of my teenagers a big gift, probably a new nice computer chair for my son and a chi hair straightener for my daughter.
thanks for sharing
carolyn s
ceashark at aol dot com
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Our “big” gift this year will be each other. We are coming up with creative “gifts” that cost little or no money and will be celebrating all month long.
P.S. Love the brownie recipe and box!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Your packaging is beautiful– and that’s clever to put the chocolate on top of the brownies. Our big gift is a trip to NYC.
Thank you!
Helen
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Hi, i love your boxes and your recipe ideas! We don’t have a big family gift as we have three kids in college and graduate school but they each will get a few needed gifts. Our gift is having them all home at the same time – which is so rare these days.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Beautiful Box!! We made the chocolate chunk brownies for my daughter b-day Sunday. They are awesome and thank you for the wonderful ideas.
No big gift this year. We’re in a money crunch like everyone else. Maybe a new game for the wii and make sure the kids have some gifts to open.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Congrats for hitting 500,000! I am definately going to try to make those brownies. They look so yummy! As for the family Christmas gift, it will probably be a computer this Christmas.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
SSC08 – Congrats on your 500K….and I l-o-v-e those boxes. and I would love to wind the set. My husband lost his job in July and has only recently found temp work so our big family gift this year is each other and that is quite enough. Have a great day y’all.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Boy do those brownies look delicious! Thanks for the great ideas on packaging. We haven’t really discussed a big gift yet since my husband just bought himself a new laptop and I got his old one which was a big improvement over the one I had. That might be it this year.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Lovely boxes, Becky.
Our big gift this year – pretty neat! I have 6 children. This year 5 of the children and their families are going to take the money they would normally spend on each other (my husband and I are in this plot too) and put it in an envelop for the one daughter and son-in-law who are adopting another child this year. They adopted two last year and it is expensive!! Isn’t that a great idea? I’m so proud of my kids for their love and concern for each other. It will be a wonderful Christmas.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
My big gift for this year is being able to spend a WHOLE week with my family down in Georgia. It will be so nice to have a long visit with them! Since my sister just lost her baby, it will be good to spend the holidays with her.
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Our big gift is that we are headed home to Louisiana for Christmas!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Our big family gift will be a much needed new couch from ikea! It has storage and a pull out bed, I’m so excited!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
WOW! What a quick and easy way to make little give-away’s! I will definately try it.
Thank you for offering the Papertrey Polka Dot Basics set – it would be lovely to win it!
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Big Family present will be to renovate our living room YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I love your projects, especially the card. I would love to win the PTI set. I’ve been eyeing it for a while. We have not decided on a big family gift yet. We are leaning towards a new TV or laptop.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
OMG Becky, your slide box is awesome and your handmade scarf Gorgeous! All our kids (all grown) are making lots of homemade gifts this year…..lots of baking, knitting, homemade boxes and bags, etc. going on in our homes this year. We got our biggest and best Xmas present already….our youngest DS and DIL are expecting their 1st baby in May (our 8th grandchild). Love this time of year of family, friends and sharing
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Hi Becky thanks so much for featuring these boxes, your creativity amazes me, you’re FABULOUS! I love the Polka Dot Basic stamp set because you can really use it for any project any time of the year for boys or girls, it’s super sweet. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
I am making almost all of my holiday gifts this year whether they are baked goods (your box ideas will really help me out) or my homemade soaps and skin care. So the biggest gift my family will be receiving is that for the first time in a long time we will ALL be together. We have a large Italian family and its just not the same with out every one around so I will cherish every moment of it. Family is truly the best gift we could ever have.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Ooooh, those cupcakes look great!
I don’t think there will be one ‘big’ gift this year for our family (of 2 + 2 furkids). We hope to pursue IVF in the spring though, so a resulting pregnancy would be a wonderful, albeit muchly belated, christmas gift.
Thanks for the chance to win!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Every year, we give everyone in my family a homemade ornament. This year, my 2 year old and I are making snowflakes with a poem attached for everyone.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Great projects! Thanks for the great blog candy. Our big family gift will be show tickets of some sort– maybe Stomp or Wintuk. Last year, we took the kids to see Mary Poppins on Broadway and we would like to make this a tradition.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I hope this conforms with the rules of “netiquette”, but were aren’t giving a big family gift this year. We just returned to the States from an overseas assigment and moved into a new house this fall. So we had a lot of those “new house” expenses making our new house feel like a home. We already feel lucky to have everything we need, so no big gift for us this year. We’ll send stuff to our relatives and I want to get my hubby SOMEthing, but he has to tell me what he wants first.
Adorable brownie cups and pretty packaging. Mmmm, now I want to make some myself!
Thanks for the chance to win!
~Meredith
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Becky I love your projects and the food to go with them. Thanks for giving us a chance to win some candy.
We don’t do big gifts usually in fact this year my dh and I will not be buying for each other just our dd. My dd is graduating high school in May of 09 so we are trying to save especially with the way the economy is.
The best gift that my dd and I share each year is our bakingpalooza. We bake cookies until we run out of containers to put them in. We then share them with family and friends who are to busy to bake for themselves. We started this tradition when she was four years old and we love it more every year.
Hope you have a blessed holiday season and TFS.
Debbie/Phx AZ
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
What a beautiful box and card!! I’ll definitely be using your box template to make some boxes. Thanks for the tutorial. Love the looks and the ease of the brownies, too yummm!
Thanks for the opportunity to win the PTI Polka Dot Basics set. I’ve seen it used on many projects and they add such a nice touch – it’s on my list:)
There’s only DH and me and we have no big gifts on the list for this year. We’ll have lots of little ones under the tree, though.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Wow …just stunning, perfect lil gifts for all the special people that pass thru my life. This year my big gift is a Guitar Hero for my son’s WII.
Ty for sharing your awesome talent.
lablady2007@juno.com
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Oh my Gosh, thats amazing. Great project, tfs!
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Beautiful as always!! Thanks for a chance to win some great things!! We don’t give a big family gift
I get the kids something and something small for my DH. The kids are getting old enough that they mostly want $$$$. Happy Holidays – I got my house decorated today!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Our big family gift this year will be a king size bed to go in my room. Frequently, the whole family sleeps in our bed!
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Our big family gift this year is my very first grandchild–a boy to be born sometime next week. If not before, she is to be induced on Dec 11. What a great gift for all of us. He is really a miracle baby–long story–but it has been a long journey for my dd and her dh.
What a lovely project–those brownies looks yummy! Thanks for the chance to win the PTI Polka Dot Basics stamp set.
darlene
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
yummy looking cupcakes and project! our family gift will be a new digital camera!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I think our big present will be a big flat TV – too big to make my own box.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Wow, those brownies look delicious. We are a struggling family of three. Any gifts that we buy are for our son that has special needs. This year he gets a portable DVD player.
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
What cute litte boxes along with yummy cupcakes . Will certainly be trying them .
No major purchases here this year for adults but thanks for the chance to win this great stamp set
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hi… what a beautiful scarf and you wrapped it so elegantly… The cupcakes look so pretty, going to share about them with my Mom… We are not doing a big gift this year due to finances, but we are going to cherish each other and focus on the boys having a fun christmas season… we are putting up our tree this evening, and my youngest is so excited and can hardy wait to see how beautiful it is, his words… Thanks and take care and blessings, dawn g
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Love your projects today Becky. Your work is always so inspiring and beautiful! Our big family present this year is the Wii Fitness, so we can all get in shape.
Thanks for the chance to win!
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 pm
What a great idea! I am definitely going to try this one! Our family gift is spending as much time as we can with each other and our grandchildren – my husband and I decided to give each other a GPS so we don’t get lost anymore when we go for a drive!! Merry Xmas!
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I love how the box matches the tops of the brownies. I’m a chocolate chunk kind of girl, myself!
We’re giving my grandfather a new flat-screen monitor for Christmas. His vision is deteriorating and he has an old-fashioned monitor that he has trouble seeing. I hope this new one helps! Thanks for the chance to win!
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Our “big family gift” isn’t really a gift for us per se, but rather it is brain surgery for our puppy. (It’s our “family gift” and our family vacation for this year and next year as well. This “free” puppy has now cost us over $17,000 – and no, that’s not a typo – in vet bills, but with a miraculous outcome.)
We adopted a very special little fellow who, unbeknownst to us, had a catastrophic brain malformation. “Toughie” (that’s his nickname, which he earned for how hard he worked to overcome his disabilities) had an emergency experimental brain operation at age 4 months to save his life.
This summer, he had another 7 hour, very complex brain operation by one of only two vet neurosurgeons in the US who does this kind of surgery. We had to travel to a neighboring state for the surgery — thank goodness it was so close! The only other vet who could have done this surgery is on the opposite coast.
Because of the cost of his treatment (he’s only two years old, and he’s had a total of 9 ICU admissions and 4 MRI’s at specialty hospitals in addition to his two major surgeries) we made the conscious decision to get this lifesaving surgery for him and to forgo vacations and “fancy gifts” until we paid off the credit card we used to pay for his treatment.
The gift to us, truly, is that the surgeries were a success and we feel truly blessed that he has done as well as he has. He’s an amazing little guy with an amazing personality and he’s a joy in our lives, a wonderful gift from God.
BUT, I LOVE this box and your brownie idea — I plan to make many of these for people we would ordinarily buy holiday gifts for but just can’t afford to this year. Thanks so much for some great ideas!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
WOW! As usual I am inspired! Our big family gift was actually purchased last month. Our long time washer was consuming too much energy, so we purchased an energy efficient washer and dryer and reduced our next power bill by 75%. Christmas came early!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
The kids are grown and (half-way) gone, so we aren’t really doing a big family gift this year. But we just celebrated our 28th anniversary and my husband surprised me with a new digital camera (Yay!) — and he hinted that he wouldn’t mind having a portable GPS, so I think those will be our big “couple” gifts for the year.
I love your ideas and how you incorporate different sets together. I don’t really do much for Halloween, but have seen parts of Spooky Sweets used in such interesting ways that it may be worth adding to my lengthy Papertrey wish list. And — I’d be thrilled to win Polka Dot Basics as everytime there is a new release it gets kicked out of my shopping cart to make room for something else! Thanks for the chance to win!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I don’t know that we are doing a BIG family gift this year. We are trying to save every penny or put it towards our bills because we would like to buy a new house if we can sell this one! Next year we decided it will be time for a Wii! I would love to win this set! I have been drooling over it for a long time!!!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Those brownies look yummy! I love your projects. Thank you for the box tutorial.
My husband and I don’t really buy a family gift each year, buy maybe this year, we were thinking of buying a laptop. It’s really small but has alot of great options in it.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Wonderful box Becky! Love how rich and festive it looks. We are all sharing a wireless printer this year, and we can start to print out all our photos (and I can scrapbook them;))
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
We don’t usually decide what our big gifts will be this early — but we have been lingering in front of the large screen LCD TVs lately, so I’m thinking that might be it.
I love this project idea with the brownies. And I sure hope that I’m the lucky winner of the PTI Polka Dot Basics stamp set!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Becky, your gift ideas with boxes are darling! What a talented gal you are!
We don’t usually do a big family gift, but each person gets an important gift with some smaller gifts thrown in the mix. My husband wants a really nice set of skillets from Chef’s catalog, sunny boy wants one of the new Star Wars Lego sets, sweet daughter hasn’t made her mind up, and I think I want stamping stuff! Hope you get your wish too Becky!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I am so impressed with your terrific ideas. This will make it so easy to “impress” the ladies in my Bible study group. I would never have thought of these. Thank you so much.
My husband & I don’t exchange big gifts, we already have what we need. We’ll focus on our children & their families and our church giving tree.
Thanks for the chance to win!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
DONT ENTER ME IN THE CONTEST!!!!!!!!
YOU ROCK!! Oh my gosh!! Can I come to your house and you can bake for me? I will weigh like 1 billion pounds, but oh, I love the way you think when you cook!!!!!!
Gorgeous presentation too!!!!!!!!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Making me hungry with those brownies.
Big gift hmmmm I think with the economy the way it is right now we will be forgoing a BIG gift this year. We are very fortunate to have everything we truly need – so we will be foregoing any unnecessary spending this Christmas. I know – not much fun BUT it will be fun in Jan when my tiny credit card bills come in.
Can I still qualify for the Blog Candy – please.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 pm
The gift of being together for the holidays is the best “big” gift for my family. Love the box and can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks for the chance at some blog candy!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Those brownies look sumptuous ! Could I have one , please ?! Well, our big family gift ? I want to say a new kitchen but we will see … Thanks so much for the opportunity to win some “yummy candy” !
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Becky, your packaging is beautiful! I have plans to make several baked gifts. I have a wonderful PB Fudge recipe, and everyone loves to get that gift! As for our house, we are being very practical this year, we need new living room furniture, so we are hoping that we might be able to swing that. Have a blessed Christmas, and take time to enjoy family and friends!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
The brownies look so yummy, and in that box, what a great gift! Your hand made scarf and box are beautiful as well. Thank you for the great ideas and how to, and the chance to win this great polka dot set! Smiles!
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
My mouth is watering looking at those brownies! I just started using Papertrey Stamps and really love them.
This year we aren’t doing family gifts. My daughter and her family are traveling to NC to help needy families and my husband and I are joining with several other families and adopting two needy families.
One has 4 children and no place to live and we found out yesterday, they have an apartment. Now we are scurring to help with odds and ends to help furnish the apartment.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 am
wow, beautiful and yummy! Thanks for the chance to win some blog candy. Our big gift this year was a new tv we’ve been waiting forever to get, and a playstation 3.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
I love the box, what a great idea, i make all sorts of cookies for Christmas and this is a perfect way to give them out….Thanks for Sharing…Happy Holidays
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:41 am
What a great idea – love the tips you’ve provided. Hope I’ll be able to try them out. Thank you for taking the time to share them and for offering the blog candy. I’d love to win the PTI set. We don’t do big family gifts but we just bought Tivo for the house as we were fed up with the cable DVR service as we kept missing our favorite Food Network shows.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:45 am
I am so making those brownies! Those are fab!!! We aren’t technically doing a big family gift this year but Santa is bringing a Wii for my son and I’ve gotten my hubby a Blu-Ray DVD player so we’ll definitely enjoy time as a family together down in the basement with both of those new “toys”!
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
Love your packaging…and goodies, as usual!!
No big gifts this year. Our 5 month old grandson (our 1st grandchild), Sawyer, is the best gift of all!
Thanks for the chance to win!
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 am
The brownies look delicious so why am I obsessing over the box? It’s a paper thing. I am going to make those just to use the box! Thanks for such an easy idea.
This year has been hard on us as I am sure you have heard many times. My husband was in the mortgage business so its been a hard two year actually. This holiday season we used every frequent flyer mile we had and we are surprising our four kids with a trip to see our family on the east coast. We don’t have family out here in CA. We tried to get out there over summer but our budget wouldn’t allow it. My husband’s new job will now make it possible for us to have money to actually eat once we get there. We will be giving our kids a trip to see some of their favorite relatives along with going to some cool places like… the Welcome to Scranton sign from “The Office”, the “Ace of Cakes” building, Mood fabrics from “Project Runway”. They love these shows and will be thrilled just to see the places. These excursions won’t cost a dime but I know will be remembered because of their meaning. That’s what we will be giving for our family present this year. The gift of thought!
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:01 am
Congrats on 500,000!! I so love the polka dot basic stamp set!!! Wii is the top of our list!!! But hubby finally graduating from college at age 38 is our early Christmas gift!!
The brownies look yummy!!
Hope
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:09 am
The big family gift will be to replace an old 35 inch tube tv with a flat screen lcd tv. If I”m lucky it will go into my “playroom”.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:23 am
WOW – so much inspiration in one post! Love those brownies, and that scraf is fabulous! Congrats on the hits too! As for big gift – I think it will be a big screen TV if my husband and I can agree on what we “need”
You know how that differs between genders 
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 am
I love the gift box.
We don’t really do a “big” Christmas gift except for the kids, unless you want to count going to visit family in another state for several days.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:11 am
Awesome packaging projects and those brownies look so good. I could really use one tonight! We are getting new carpeting on Thursday and new family room furniture on Friday so I guess that’s our big gift this year. We are also hosting a large holiday open house on the 21st and the real big gift will be spending time with family and friends that we don’t get to see on Christmas day.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Teresa
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 am
We’re not doing a big family gift this year. Last year it was a Wii, so this year will include a couple of games for the Wii, board games, and DVDs. Love the cupcake idea–thanks!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 am
Hi Becky,
The brownies look so good. We are going to keep it very simple this year and our only and big family gift is the WII. We figures its something “computerized” that my seven year old could do with mom and dad.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 am
I love the box idea and also the scarf! Your brownies with the mint look delicious and chocolate mint is a favorite of mine. We are not giving gifts except for our “little people” this year. All the grown-ups are going to visit and eat and just enjoy being with family (it is a big family).
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 am
The brownies look fabulous!
The big gift this year are plane tickets for my son and his girl friend to come visit. He’s in NH, I’m in Florida.
I can’t wait to see him!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:36 am
Howdy Becky! Our big family gift this year is going home for Christmas for 2 weeks! We’re excited because we moved all the way across the country and away from all of families and are looking forward to seeing them and all of our friends! Great projects Becky!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 am
Your samples are terrific! I’m a chocoholic and I’m trying to watch my weight, so those brownies are mocking me!!! The scarf is beautiful.
We aren’t doing a big family gift this year. We have one in college and another going next year, so things are tight. But having our family together and happy and healthy is more than enough of a gift.And the gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the most priceless gift of all!
Thanks for the chance to win the awesome blog candy. I love polka dots, so this set is great!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 am
Hello Becky! I love your ideas with the boxes!
I don’t really know what will be our family gift… but my husband bought a bix box of something long time ago. He told that it is for me for Christmas. I don’t know what is inside, so I am very excited!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 am
I don’t know why it says I posted at 2:53am on 12/3/08 but I really posted at 10:53pm on 12/2/08.So my entry should still be eligible.Sorry for the confusion.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:58 am
The brownies look fab!! We decided not to do a big family gift this year. Just being with family and friends is enough!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:59 am
Love your projects Becky! Our big ticket item is purchasing gifts for a family of 7 through the Salvation Army. We are giving this year instead of receiving.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:00 am
We won’t be buying a family gift. We will be together and that is a huge gift.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 am
What a great idea with the brownies! and boy do I love that scarf…off to the fabric stash…I can sew straight lines, yes I can! But what I would really love to do is play with polka dot basics….our family Big gift this year is going to our eldest daughter who has is in love with a man who lives halfway around the world…and we are sending her to spend the New Year with him.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 am
Don’t enter me in the blog candy, Becky, but I had to say I love your boxes and card. All that intricate cutting is gorgeous on the card!
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 am
Love your packaging ideas today! And that scarf is beautiful!! The colours are gorgeous!
I think we’re skipping a big family present this year as we are going on vacation over the winter holidays, lol!
Thanks for the great tutorials!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:09 am
Those brownies look delish. I’m going to have to try them. We don’t do a big Christmas, but my 1 yr old is getting a play guitar and I’m getting a Cricut cartridge (from the Thanksgiving sale at Michaels only $30!!!).
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:11 am
Perfect ideas that you have shared..I happen to be working on our gift for this year, my new ‘puter!!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 am
Becky, I am so thrilled I ran across you blog. (By way of Michelle W.’s blog) I love all of your gift idea. I just had to subscribe! Thanks for taking the time to share all of those wonderful ideas!
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 am
Depending on where you are located, I maybe within 5 minutes to midnight! Better type real fast. Big family gift? How about for my sons? My oldest wants a new camera, it is better than mine
and my youngest wants a base guitar. Thanks for the chance at blog candy. HOpe I don’t have many misspelled words!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 am
Big family gift this year will be for our 16 mo little girl. just seeing her open gifts this year will be a big delight for all who will be here! She is the newest baby in the family in 17 years….
great scarf!!! LOVE IT!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:38 am
Our big family gift this year is a week on the beach.
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Ooooh!! I don’t have that set yet and have been eyeing it! (SP?) Anyway, I think we are getting our upstairs bathroom plumbing fixed. It’s involved and we didn’t have the extra bucks until now…so Merry Christmas! (not a very exciting gift, huh?)
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
what beautiful work you do becky!
no big family gift this year–although, amelie is getting a bike and her joy will be enough for all of us =)
December 4th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
**THUD** (faints on floor)
December 7th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Is that scarf for ME???!!!! Hurry to the post office so it gets here in time for Christmas. Heehee. I kid, I kid!!