Category: Top Gift Tips and Ideas

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Gift wrapping idea of the week: Kraft paper with yarn ball

Grab a ball of yarn, some kraft paper and a marker and have some fun with this idea…


Why we love it:
  • Lots of people would have yarn/string, plain paper and a marker lying around at home, so no fancy materials required. 
  • You’re only limited by your imagination, but if you’re stuck for ideas then this is a cool one. 
  • The red twine looks great against the natural coloured kraft paper. Pick a bold colour that contrasts with your paper if you want you twine design to stand out. 
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11 Handmade Gifts from Wine Bottle Corks

I have a collection of corks in my cupboard that I can’t quite bear to throw away because I’m convinced I’ll find something useful to do with them. So I’ve done a bit of research, and this is what I’ve come up with…

1. Cork Tissue Box Holder
Much more stylish than the regular old cardboard tissue box (which is hidden underneath). 



2. Cork Plant Pot or wine bottle holder
A unique type of plant pot or bottle holder that would suit any interior decor. 


3. Cork place-card holders
Don’t forget this one for your next big dinner party or Christmas lunch. Use natural card and write names by hand or use a stamp for a natural look. 


4. Cork USB Sticks
These cork USB sticks definitely make work more fun!



5. Cork Coasters
This is a clever way of re-purposing wine corks into something useful, and beautiful. The different tones of red from the wine add subtle colour to each coaster. 

Image from Etsy store, LizzieJoeDesigns

6. Cork Bath Mat
A lovely soft surface to step out on after a bath or shower. 

7. Cork Plant Labels
A lovely, natural way of labeling your plants and veggies. 


8. Cork Key Rings
A stylish, functional way of keeping your keys together. 


9. Cork Fridge Magnets
These cute magnets would make me want to put more things on my fridge!

Image from www.yapins.com

10. Cork Board
This list wouldn’t be complete without a cork board!


11. Cork Draw Handles
A gorgeous way of adding a unique touch to a renovated bedside table. 


Which idea do you like best? 
We’d love your thoughts – please comment below…


Check out our other handmade gifts here…

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Handmade card of the week: Simple stripe card

Sometimes the best handmade cards are the simplest…

Image from www.etsy.com

Why we love it:
  • These tonal blue stripes work really well on the green background – this is a great colour choice for a guy. 
  • This would be a great card design to customise for anyone, and for any occasion. Simply change your colour palette and message. 
  • Play around with combinations of printed paper/card or strips of metallic paper for a different look. 
  • Instead of the spots, you could use star stickers, sequins or diamontes for texture and bling. 


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Handmade card of the week: Pop-out birthday card

How much did you love pop-out birthday cards as a kid? Now you can make your own adult version…
Image from www.indulgy.com

Why we love it:

  • Who doesn’t love a pop-out birthday card? Keep the outside simple so the surprise inside has a bigger impact. 
  • Although this looks like an ‘all-singing-all-dancing’ birthday card, the design is actually pretty simple – multicoloured balloon shapes with triangle Happy Birthday bunting. To simplify, keep the balloons all the same size and limit your colour palatte. 
  • This is a great way to use up left-over scraps of paper. 
  • You can of course customise your colour palette and message to suit your recipient. 
  • This design would also make a cute ‘Congratulations’ card for a wedding, engagement or baby card. 


Check out our other handmade cards here…

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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Fitzroy’s Storm Glass

A fascinating traditional barometer that he’ll want to look at as much as the TV weather girl;-) 


Why we love it:
  • This is a fun weather gadget that you, your family and visitors will enjoy trying to read and predict the weather. 
  • This is a unique decorating piece that would suit any home or style of decor – it’s also a great conversation piece!



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Handmade gift of the week: Gift for dog owners

An obsessed pet owner. We all know one.
They love any gifts that relate to their pet, and we reckon dog owners will love this handmade gift…

Image from Etsy store, theDogPawCo

Why we love it:
  • Whilst serving a very important purpose, this gift also looks super cute and would look great on the wall of any home. 
  • This would be quite easy to make, if you had a spare piece of wood, a jar, hook and screwdriver. If you don’t feel inclined to make one, you can grab one here. 
  • You could experiment with different colours, depending on the decor you were matching.