Pretty Little Notepads

These notepads are really fun to make and pretty cute too!
Great for stocking stuffers, teacher and friend gifts, these notecards can be made completely upcycled if you'd like.
Gather Supplies: Scrap Paper (any extra paper you have laying around will work), Scrap Cardstock or Postcards (or you can purchase cute scrapbook paper), Paper Punch, Papercutter or Sissors and Ribbon.
You'll want to determine how thick you want your notepad, I made mine 75 pages thick.  You'll also need to determine what size you'd like your pad to be.  I made mine around 4x6 or somewhere in there.
Depending on the age of your children they can do one of two things, either measure and cut the cardstock and paper with a papercutter or punch holes in the paper and cardstock.  What I do is grab a spare piece of cardstock to make a template.  I use this template to know where to punch the holes in the rest of my paper.  I place my template on top of my paper or cardstock, line it up and punch my holes.  This can take some time, depending on how thick you want your notepad to be.
If you don't want to mess with hole punching, you can take your precut paper and cardstock to your local office supply store and they will punch it for you.
When you're finished punching your holes, simply thread your ribbon from the bottom up and tie in a bow!
Have Fun!

 

Choco-Peppermint Spoons

These spoons are super cute and super easy.  The supplies are probably already found in a well stocked pantry (minus the candy canes).  This fun craft is great for ages 3 to 14!

Gather Supplies:  Choco Chips, Plastic Spoons, Wax Paper, Small Jars or Bowls, Crushed Peppermints or any other cookie sprinkles.

Prepare Space:  Lay down wax paper for workspace.  Melt choco chips according to package. Allow young ones to crush candy canes in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.

Make Craft: Allow children to dip their plastic spoon in the melted choco. chips.  Carefully cover the entire spoon head and tap against sides of jar to remove excess choco.  Place spoons on wax paper to dry and sprinkle with candy canes or sprinkles.

Allow spoons to dry approx. 1 hour then package in cello bag and tie with ribbon.

These are great for stirring your coffee or hot cocoa!

Super easy and really YUMMY!

  

Just for fun

I know Pretty Nifty Gifts has nothing to do with food, but I really want to share this receipe with you.

See, my husband purchased a 1/2 cow "by accident", he'll have to explain that and for some reason I don't think it was an "accident".  So, I am left with a freezer so full of meat we can barely close it!  When you buy a cow (or hog) you get to pick the cuts of meat you want and then the butcher throws in the other cuts.  Well, one of those other cuts is rounds steak.  I think round steak comes from the butt area.... anyway, that's not a cut of meat I would normally purchase from the store, but I got a lot of it and I need to do something with it!

I wasn't even a big swiss steak fan, UNTIL I put together this super, dooper recipe.  Try it and let me know what you think!

My new motto is: You can cook any piece of meat long enough to make it taste good and tender!

My killer Swiss Steak recipe:

Round steak - cut to small steak size portions/fat removed
Dish #1 – 1 ½ cup flour, salt/pepper, seasoning salt and 1 pouch of Italian Seasoning
Dish #2 - Large glass baking dish: ½ box beef broth, 1 pouch onion/mushroom soup mix – whisk together – set aside
Dish #3 – in Bowl put ½ to 1 cup diced white onion (depending on if you like onions), 1 diced green pepper, 1 can of sliced mushrooms (drained) and 1 can of diced tomatoes (w/ oregano, basil & garlic) (not drained)
Dredge steak in flour mix, coat nicely and then brown both sides in pan with hot oil. After browning, put steak in beef broth dish.
When all steaks are browed and in glass baking dish #2, pour dish #3 on top, spread over meat w/ spoon and bake!
Bake @ 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours (until meat is very tender)

I am humbled

I am pleased to announce that I have been asked by SANTA himself to be a Santa’s Helper!

I’ll be helping Santa with his Good List Certificates for year 2011!!

Each Good List Certificate is postmarked from the North Pole, addressed to each individual child and arrives in your home mailbox in a very festive Christmas themed envelope!

The Certificate includes: Child’s Name ~ Year ~ Santa Signature ~ North Pole Assistant Signature or Mark ~ Gold/Silver Christmas Theme Seal ~ Super shimmery double sided metallic gold cardstock ~ and free gift from Santa & his crew!

Thank you Santa for allowing me to help you this year!  I promise, I'll be a very good worker!

Additional photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pretty-Nifty-Gifts/133414276683212#!/media/set/?set=a.285816874776284.77134.133414276683212&type=3


-Jessica

Cute Wrapper + Chocolate = PERFECT GIFT!

Ok, who doesn't love chocolate? 

I enjoy making any occasion a really SPECIAL occasion!  If you ask my husband, I tend to go overboard, but hey who wouldn't love this cute holiday theme wrapper wrapped around a super yummy Hershey's Chocolate bar?  Hmmmm... maybe combine it in a cute mug with a hot chocolate pack and a homemade chocolate covered spoon or maybe even some homemade marshmallows!  I'll be posting my homemade chocolate spoon over at http://craftsforkid.blogspot.com/ so stay tuned!!

I have a variety of holiday themed wrappers available and can add your name, special wording or sales pitch directly on the wrapper!

      

I sell my Custom Candy Bar Wrappers in 2 different ways and the minimum order is 12.

- Just the Wrappers & Foil - pre-cut - You assemble (you'll need tape & glue stick).  $.85 cents each.

- Complete Custom Candy Wrapper & Candy Bar (Hershey's, Crunch or Oreo).  $1.50 each.

Need a matching invitation to go with those Pretty Nifty wrappers... yep, I can do that too!

~Jessica

Contacting Me

I'll admit it... I'm addicted to my computer!  I work on my computer, I play on my computer, I create on my computer............. I LOVE my computer.  OK, you get the point now!

The very best way to contact me is via email.  Feel free to email me anytime of the day or night at
prettyniftygifts@gmail.com.  I respond to my emails within 24 hours... honestly it's more like a matter of minutes!

You can also give me a call to discuss your needs at 1-866-694-6208.

Communication is key when handcrafting your gift..... I want you to receive just what YOU'RE LOOKING FOR!

Go ahead... contact me :)

I hate talking about myself!

I've always been one of those crazy-creative-hands on people.  My ideas come from seeing an object and thinking.... I can make something with that or I bet mine would look better than that!  My only hang-up,  I'm a perfectionist!

I love nature and simplicity and I'm always using the phrase "that's pretty nifty".  A combination of my craftyness, simplistic view on life and funny little phrase helped me bear my new business name:
"Pretty Nifty Gifts, Simple, Sylish & Smart"

I have been creating a variety of event favors and gifts since 2001, formally under the name Sweet Celebrations!    I've shipped my handcrafted creations all over the United States.

I LOVE ANYTHING handcrafted... there's something to be said for products that are made by hands instead of machines.

~Jessica