cool gift, but what should I do with it?

Have you ever gotten one of those gifts? You know...really cool...obviously really well thought out...definitely your style...but, what do you do with it? Well, I got a couple of cool gifts for Christmas from my niece Robynn.

It's this really cool printer paper that's 100% compostable and even better you can plant it and it has seeds in it and it'll grow into flowers or some such. A really cool idea and I DO LOVE paper! She also got me this beautiful hemlock twine.

SO COOL! But, what do I do with it? I think this may have inadvertantly shown on my face...I hope not though. So, all through Christmas Eve I thought and thought and thought, what can I do with this? I was afraid that if I didn't use it for something quickly it would get burried with all of my other 'cool paper' and I would have wasted her lovely, thoughtful gift. So, it took me a couple of days but until I finally came up with it. I made a gratitude journal.

I found wonderful, simple, detailed instructions on how to do a journal with Japanese binding on Little Birdie Secrets and I followed them as close as I could. I think the journal turned out quite cute!

I may have to fix the binding eventually since this hemlock twine has a tendency to break

but until then I'll leave as much of gift in tact as possible. I've dabbled in book making to various success before and this is my favorite result ever!! When I have to replace the binding I think I'll use a small rope or twine to keep the natural look.

paper packets

I get a lot of requests on how to make my paper packets. I use them every year for 'Recognition Night' to put the charms in, but I've also used them for holding homemade bath salts and small gifts. They're super easy to make and they look darling and they're quite sturdy.

these packets can be as small or as large as you like. The only rule is to start with a rectangle. I start with a 5"x6" piece of paper

with the paper face up, I run a line of a really tacky glue up one of the long sides.(I really like Scotch's 'tacky fast drying' glue. It has a fine tip for easy application and and the applicator doesn't get easily gummed up.)

I roll it and press it together on one side. Hold it together for a few seconds to a few minutes until the glue dries.

It should look like a toilet paper tube.

Then, on one of the ends, run a line of the sticky glue again and pinch together. hold it again until it dries.

after the glue dries I poke a hole about 3/4 of an inch from the end. I usually use a piercing tool but in a pinch a thumb tack works really well, just make sure you have a soft surface underneath for it to poke through. I use cork here but a mouse pad also works well.

to that end I attach my tag with a brad.

fill your packet with anything you like. and then close the packet by gluing the other end in the opposite direction from the first end.

I use my Cricut to cut out the tags. (Love my Cricut!!). I use the font 'George & Basic shapes'. I made my tags 3" but you can make them any size.