Pinwheels & Good Intentions

Hello, my gorgeous friends!

You know, I started the year thinking I would be able to keep up with blogging more. The momentum that comes with a new year was sweeping my best intentions up in a whirlwind of possibilities. I had grand plans to dedicate more time to this space, but the reality is most of the time it means I have to give up time somewhere else.
Right now, my youngest is still a baby.
I'm homeschooling the twins.
Trying to run a handmade shop & scrambling to keep up because time is literally whizzing by.
So, my friends, please forgive me for all my previous promises to blog more. I promise not to make those promises anymore. ;)

I will, however, post when I can gather my thoughts together enough to blog. And as luck would have it, I have some thoughts to share today. (I'm also typing one handed since I have a clingy, sick, 16 month old. Poor baby.)

This project started with the fabric pinwheels that I'm obsessed with making these days. I seriously can't get enough of them.
Then a few weeks ago, I bought some fantastic gold spray paint. Because I obviously need more spray paint in my life.
Spaghetti is on our menu regularly....which means I have a collection of spaghetti sauce jars.

Gold spray paint + spaghetti sauce jar lids = AWESOME

I had a vision now....jars with gold lids and fabric pinwheels tied to the outside...oh, my stars!

Of course, you already knew that I would have to fill these jars with some extra treats. I mean, how could I not.

I love how they turned out! I made these to give away as Easter gifts but they could be made up for any occasion. Versatility wins!

Thanks for visiting!
xoxo Emily

Housewarming Gift

While getting ready to write this post I noticed that, like the Hostess Gift I shared last week, this gift was also for my sister and her husband. They had a big year in 2014. Lots to celebrate, including a move into a new home.

 

 

This was a very simple gift to pull together and can be adapted for any budget or style. For instance, I made the fabric bin and monogrammed the towel with come fabric however, you could just as easily purchase a basket and decorated dish towel. Hobby Lobby and Michaels sell some cute containers and baskets at great prices. Use one of their store coupons or purchase during their weekly sales and they are even more budget friendly.

 

My sister told me a month or so before this that she wanted some of these lids and straws to use on her new porch. I wanted to make sure she had the jars to use the lids with so, I included Mason jars with them. These will be nice for sipping iced tea on their porch this summer.

I also included some recipe cards and soy wax melts from the always wonderful, Grace from

Grace Note Candle Co. Her wax melts are amazing!

 

I tucked all the goodies inside the chevron container with a little tissue paper. Tied a ribbon around the front and clipped a couple tags I already had with a note. Easy and simple. Budget friendly and thoughtful.

 

Thoughtfulness goes a long way! So, if you are worried that you don't have it all together or feel like you have to give something big to mean something, just remember that it's what's from your heart that truly matters.

 

Hostess Gift - Coffee

Oh, January! You are so good already. 2015 looks like it's going to be a great year for the Kinsauls.

Alright, so I meant to share this before Christmas but never did. I will probably be blogging a few other things that I didn't get to last year and the seasons might be a little off but I'm okay with that. I hope you stick around to see what's going on over here in my little corner of the world. I have some big plans for this year and I would love to have you join me on this journey.

Giving gifts are a passion of mine. I love to see how the thoughtfulness of a gift makes the recipient smile and know they are loved. So, with that thought, I hope to blog more about some of the different gifts I give throughout the year and a few that if put together last year. I always like reading what other's give for gifts and hope you are inspired to bless someone in your life.

My sister and brother-in-law hosted Liam's 1st birthday party in their home and I wanted to do something nice to say thank you. They are both coffee (and hot cocoa) drinkers so, I started simple with a Starbucks gift card. Then I tucked it in a red berry basket (I found mine at Michaels.) along with a bottle of Torani Salted Caramel Syrup, and a mini bottle brush Christmas tree.

Using a strip of red and white checkered fabric I already had, I tied it all up with a bow. Then I added a little personalized tag and a note of thanks and called it good. Until I remembered the sweet printable I purchased from the ever wonderful, Hannah of Wifey Singer Prints.

 It was the perfect addition to my gift. I clipped it to a clip board that I picked up from Walmart and included it with the berry basket of goods.
Simple. Thoughtful. Sweet. These are a few of my favorite things. :)

Do you have any tried and true gifts that you love to give? I'd love to know what your favorites are.