“My grandmother is quite the gift giver. When my family would leave for a long (or short) road trip, my grandmother would fill a bag or box or pail with an assortment of little wrapped gifts (candy, toys, etc), each one labeled with a number. With the package was a corresponding sheet which included a task to go with each number (i.e. count 50 red cars, cross into a new state, stop for lunch, etc). When we had accomplished the task, we would get to open the corresponding gift! It was a great way to help the whole family (I’m sure my wonderful parents appreciated it very much) through many (otherwise) long hours in the car. Years later I made quite a few little vacation gift packages myself for friends going on road trips in my teens. Really, who doesn’t like to open presents?” —Rosa

Thanks, Rosa for sharing about your grandmother. What a lovely thing to do!

[photo from here]

p.s. one more ingenious way to stay occupied on long road trips right here.

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If you have an idea to share, we’d love to hear it. Stop by here to submit. Below are a few of the categories I’m always looking for: Handmade Gifts | I made a Giver’s Log Tutorial | Big Surprises | Little Surprises | Happy Mail | Thoughtful Gestures | Pretty Packaging | Party Favors | Food to Make and Share | Simple Entertaining Ideas | and of course, a story for Give That Man a Hand

A few more gifts for dad that are small, but not cute. (See part 1 here).

a whole case of miniature things to stow in his glove box

a portable water sterilizer, and cable yo-yos for organizing his office

a good documentary or a super cool book

a ratchet kit and gel to clean anything

a little version of New York

mini laser tag and a spy camerafor the dad who thinks he’s Bond

a mini version of a ceiling fan to put in your tent, portable salt and pepper

mini mini golf

a sweet pair of shades, a pocket lantern

thumbprint cookies from Whimsy & Spice, a pocket fishing pole (this one is pictured, though this onehas better reviews)

I love ideas for celebrating big. I just added a couple of these ideas to my list of ways to celebrate a landmark birthday, but thought they would also be a great way to send off a beloved teacher.

A giant card where everyone pitches in

A phone call where everyone pitches in

Another fun, really big idea, get murals made here

Have you seen any fun ideas for seeing off a teacher, my creative friends? I’d love to hear.
[phone photo from here]

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Get more farewell ideas from my gift inspiration board, or from blog posts here and here.

I love May. I’d love to spend the entire month outside. In honor of May I thought we’d do a project that is reminiscent of May poles and of frolicking in the spring sunshine. We put together some DIY ribbon sticks.

When I first saw these clear tubes from Garnish, I was giddy with the possibilities. So I ordered a few.

Then I pulled out some leftover craft supplies: a few jewelry fasteners, leftover ribbon, one-foot wooden dowels, and some tacks I found out in the shed.

I started putting it all together. Ribbons sewn to fasteners and fasteners nailed to dowels. (If you don’t want to sew, tying knots works just as well). My fasteners allowed for three ribbons on each stick, which I thought was just right.
We did some test frolicking. The best ribbons are definitely the light, silky ones. (And as a side note, I decided to do this tutorial during my all-things-wedding weeks, because I can’t help think that a bunch of little girls frolicking with ribbon sticks would totally add to the scenery of any wedding. Or picnic. Or backyard barbeque. Or school yard. Or anything.)

Then we packaged up our creations in our tubes and added some labels (available for free here). We’re excited to spread some May sunshine. We’re off to the post office to see how the mail clerk likes them, but more importantly, the little girls who will be receiving them in the mail.

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If you’re just joining, today’s post is from a series I’ve started on GiversLog that has become a favorite for me. I’ve been mailing gifts that are 13 ounces or less (because in the U.S., they qualify for inexpensive, first class postage). If you come up with any fun mail and send it for 13 ounces or less, be sure to add it to the flickr pool, we’d all love to see.

I think a fabric bloom is just the thing to give mom on Mother’s Day, don’t you? Something lovely for her to pin on to make her feel queenly. I’ve seen so many beautiful fabric flowers floating around that I thought I’d gather them here for a little inspiration in case you’d like to buy or DIY.

buy Heart of Light | Grosgrain tutorial | 100 Layer Cake tutorial

buy Emersonmade | Miss Priss tutorial | Prudent Baby tutorial

buy Twigs & Honey | buy Sarah Culleton (via here) | Ruffles and Stuff tutorial

Everyday Chaos tutorial | buy K. Autumn (via here) | Mama Monster tutorial

Salty Pineapple tutorial | Knit Picks tutorial | buy Tago Design

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If you happen to be a budding photographer, you are going to love one of my new sponsors. More on Clickin Moms coming soon.

We have a family Christmas project to work on today. I wanted to do something meaningful for our baby’s first Christmas, but was having a hard time coming up with just the thing. After seeing this post from Amy of The Idea Room over at How Does She, inspiration struck! Today we’ll be making our baby a custom CD. Every member of the family gets to pick a story to read or a song to play for him. I’m so excited.  (I’m thinking of altering this free CD template found here.)

For our little recording session I’ll be using Garage Band on my MacBook, but if you’d like to record your own personalized CD, you have several choices of free audio recording software. Audacity seems to be a good one.

And since we’re on the topic, here are a few other keepsakes that would make a great first Christmas gift.
1. Give baby an album to fill with pics of people who love her.
2. Make a sweet little handprint, get the DIY here or buy a kit, available here.
3. Get a personalized melamine plate (found via here)
4. or sweet booties.
5. Give a piggy bank (more piggy banks here) along with his first stock certificate.
6. Have a blanket personalized
7. or pick out the perfect rocking horse.

1. Get or make her first Christmas ornament (I have reason to believe our baby may be getting one made by Grandma, yea!)
2. or get her started on her first growth chart like this one found via here (more beautiful growth charts here).
3. Have you ever heard of an add-a-pearl necklace? I love the idea.
4. Give a beautiful book
5. or personalized music box.
6. Love this personalized pendant (found via here) that also works to imprint a wax seal on a closed envelope.
7. Or make a personalized stocking, isn’t this one gorgeous? (found via here)

I have never wanted to doodle so badly in my life. Last week I told you I’d come across two books that were love at first sight for me, and here is number two.

Coloring books are fine and good, and I’ve enjoyed many moments coloring with my kiddos. But this is different, every page of this book begs for you to unleash your imagination. In fact, I’m surprised bookstores just leave it out, un-shrink-wrapped. I’m sure there is some copy in some bookstore where someone could no longer resist and pulled out their pen and started doodling right then and there.

I’ll share a couple pages with you. Just wait for it, the doodling urge will hit. Get a scrap of paper ready.

The master mind behind Oodles of Doodles is Nikalas Catlow. Visit here to check out his other books, including puzzle books and other doodle books and more. Or just follow his blog about children’s book design here. Currently in the works is an Apple and Egg book (you can meet Apple and Egg on his blog) that’s due to hit bookstores in the spring.

I have a brand new copy of Oodles of Doodles to give away (it’s undoodled on, but hurry, I can’t hold out much longer). Give it to a youngster or keep it for yourself. I won’t blame you. In honor of the page above, leave a comment saying who you’d have to dinner if it could be anyone, or anything. I’ll select a winner next week.

from here

As I’ve mentioned before, I think a garland, or something garland-ish, is a perfect birthday surprise. And with all the beautiful garland pics floating around out there, you knew it was only a matter of time before I’d have to share them here. Following are a few of my favorites.

from here

from here via here

from here via here

from the confetti system home page via here

from here

from here

from here

from here

available here, found via here

from here

from here via here

from here

from here

from here via here

from here via here

from here via here

(UPDATE 10.8.09) from here

(UPDATE 10.13.09) from here

from here

from here

UPDATE 11.2.09: from here

UPDATE 11.13.09: from here

UPDATE 12.04.09: get the tutorial here

UPDATE 12.7.09: available here

UPDATE 07.02.10: tutorial here

Design*Sponge recently featured a sneak peek of the home of Jeff Bellantoni and Kim Westad. These rocking lawn chairs (…no, litterally, they rock) caught my eye. This set was an heirloom from grandma, but I found a few versions available in other places.  They’re so fun, I thought I’d let you in on it.

1. If you want to go vintage like Jeff and Kim, you can try your hand at winning this set on ebay.
2. I love the stripey version from here.
3. This outdoorsy version seems like it would be perfect on a fishing trip.
4. Or get this more affordable version on Amazon.

ideas for pipe cleaner creatures available from Martha

I am always on the lookout for new ways to keep kids busy in the car. I always need tricks for my own kids, but in the past we’ve also put together travel kits for friends moving out of state and for guests driving home after a stay at our house. Stickers and beads and pipe cleaners can go a long way. One of my kids’ favorite treats on road trips is a bag full of plastic eggs. I put a different piece of candy in each for them to discover every half hour. (Or my arbitrary decision of when a half hour is. Now that my 6-year-old is reading time, I have to be a little more regimented with it.) Any brilliant ideas that have worked for you?

Here are a few other fun travel toys I’ve come across.
1. My kids LOVE this game
2. Car valet
3. Wonder bubbles
4. Foil. Yup, you heard me right, plain aluminum foil. If this has worked for you I’d love to know.
5. 3-D geo puzzle
6. Triangle solitaire and a million other great games from here
7. Pass the pig
8. Magna trix
9. 52 Fun Things to Do in the Car
10. Your own blank comic book
11. Hidden color paper
12. Travel cathedral game (I’m intrigued by this one.)

one of our early adventures to San Francisco

I just added this to my Amazon cart: the San Fransisco City Walks with Kids. It’s a set of cards, each with a walk to take the kids on in the city. I would have loved to have this as soon as we moved to northern Cal. Though not having it hasn’t stopped me and the kids from some great day trips (my kids call them “adventures”) to the city.
Available for San Francisco, New York, D.C., Paris, and London.

I’m a fan of Fodor’s, and had to share these as well, their guides for travel with kids. Available for
D.C., Paris, New York, San Francisco, Boston, London, Chicago, L.A., Denver, Montreal, San Diego, Seattle, and many more.

And, of course, if you know someone moving near a metropolis, any matropolis, in the entire world, don’t forget about the beautiful Moleskine city guides. Just looking at the list of guides available makes me want to get on a jet and go. Madrid! Milano! Torino!

And one final pick that makes a great gift for someone moving, especially to a new planting zone. (My SIL gave me one of these and made me very happy. Now she just checks in on occasion and trims a rosebush for me or reminds me to water.)
Available for California, the Southeast, the Northeast, Texas, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic.

If you’re new here, welcome! I’m AmberLee, and Giverslog is my place to collect gift ideas and pretty wrapping ideas from talented friends and bloggers.

I hope the ideas in this post help with what you’re looking for. You can also find dozens more of my favorite farewell gift ideas here, in the farwell section of my gift guide page.

It’s one of the only down sides of summer, friends moving away to get settled in their new home before the business of the new school year. Kinda hard, but here are a few farewell ideas to make the day as nice as possible.

I love that Design Mom’s neighbors organized a moving day breakfast when she moved from New York recently. Really nice not to have to worry about what to feed your children when your kitchen is packed away. (Get the pictured bagel recipe here.) Plus, while your neighborhood is at the breakfast, you can put everyone to work on the next gift…
row 1:
-Love this idea: get “an empty notebook, put a friend’s picture on each page, and asked them to write/draw/staple/do whatever they wanted to their page.”
-Something yummy that is hard to get anywhere else. In my little town that would be anything with satsuma mandarin oranges, like this marmelade.
row 2:
-Gift certificate for a personalized address stamp or a tag for pets with the new address.
-Snacks to eat while unpacking (via here).
-Gift certificate to a restaurant or coffee house where they’ll be moving, like this one if they happen to be moving to San Francisco (also via here).
row 3:
-Homemade instant soup mix other ready-to-go meal to get them started before their kitchen is unpacked (also via here).
-A very handy screw driver.
row 4:
-A kit of everything they might forget to leave out and will need at their new home (like these): hand soap, can opener, light bulbs, batteries, pizza coupons, a few basic cleaning supplies
row 5:
-Stationary, with the first envelope addressed and stamped to you.
-Seeds or a plant for putting down roots in their new place (photo of seed tape via here).

I’ve thrown together a new gift guides page, incase you’re like me and like to see as many ideas as possible in one glance.

How can you talk about summer reading without talking about hammocks? There are few places I can actually unwind, and laying in a hammock under a cloud scattered sky is probably my favorite of those. Above is a pic of me with the kids in a gift from my parents: a hammock matromonial from Venezuela (hammock for the married couple, which is a tandem hammock, just with a better name). I was in heaven. I’ve found something very fun and similar from Byer of Maine: the hammock Gigante, big enough for the whole family. Byer of Maine also sells other beautiful Brazilian-style hammocks.

A few other fun hammock vendors I’ve run across are Grand Trunk and Hammock Bliss. Below a few of their offerings.top to bottom:

the Grand Trunk travel single
the Hammock bliss double (see also their triple)
the Hammock Bliss mosquito free

I love summer camp letters. And though I’m driven by efficiency, maybe a bit too much, I miss letters by post. I’m glad to have excuses to write a real letter every now and then. Last week I put together letters for a couple teenage girls off to spend a week at girls’ camp. Thinking back to when I did this as a girl, I thought of a couple extra things to throw in:
-a blank book for musings (don’t we all wax more thoughtful in nature?) and
-an eye mask (for helping shut out that 5 a.m. sunshine after a night of staying up way too late talking with other girls).

Incase you’d like to make your own book of musings, I’ll include the digital version of the stamp I made for the book here for download: Musings Book Stamp (578)

I made a very quick hand stitched book, with glitter stock for the cover (glitter stock is another thing I’m always trying to find an excuse for).
And clearly stamped the intentions of the book inside.