Gift Archives - Busy Moms Helper

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters

April 13, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Please tell me I’m not the only one who has a huge stockpile of popsicle sticks (aka craft sticks)? Not like used ones from popsicles my kids have eaten, so don’t worry – but I buy them in bulk because there’s so many awesome projects you can create with them! The latest fun are these DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters that you can quickly put together, then decorate however you’d like!

We’ve used craft sticks in plenty of things, such as our DIY Valentine Frame, to hold up our fun printable Star Wars Puppets, or even for the kids’ catapults! Seriously, these are one of those craft items that are great to keep in stock – maybe not the crazy amount I have, but still a bag full or so is perfect. Besides, a bunch of these crafts would be great for not just kids, but adults as well – just like these stick coasters!

Supplies

Popsicle sticks
Cutting pliers
Strong adhesive glue
Poster color
Paint brush

Directions

I used 12 popsicle sticks for each coaster, however select the number of popsicle sticks you want and cut off both round ends with the help of craft pliers so that the popsicle sticks are rectangular.
Place a piece of paper on a flat surface and place 1 popsicle stick vertically on it; Place 2 more popsicle sticks parallel to each other; Each of the 2 sticks should be placed horizontally with each ends of the first stick. The 1st stick has been used for measurement.
Now take the 1 st popsicle stick (placed vertically) and glue it on its side onto the 2 horizontal sticks.
Glue 2 more popsicle sticks on their sides onto the 2 horizontal sticks, keeping even gap between all 3 sticks. The base is now ready.
Now take the rest of the popsicle sticks and glue them on the base one by one.
You can either cover the entire top surface or keep small and even gaps between the popsicle sticks while gluing them on the top of the base.
Done gluing all the popsicle sticks? Select a color of your choice and simply paint the coaster (popsicle sticks) as you wish. Once you’re done painting, allow the paint to dry entirely.

They’re really SUPER easy to make, plus I love how easy it is to paint them to match your own decor or style.

They’d also make great gifts, especially as a ‘welcome home’ type package for someone moving! Or put these out at your next party – paint them to match the team you’re rooting for during the game, paint to match the decorations for a birthday, or just to protect your tables from those drinks 😉

How would YOU decorate your craft stick coaster?

90 Graduation Gift Ideas

April 9, 2018 by Danielle 4 Comments

I cannot BELIEVE it’s the end of the school year already. Seriously…WHERE HAS THIS YEAR GONE?! Luckily, none of my own kiddos are even close to graduation (ya, MANY years before that!), but I do have one of my fabulous sisters graduating high school and moving on to college life. CRAZY! I was frantic trying to get a good gift for her, and came across so many fabulous ideas! If you’re struggling to find something, check out this list of over 90 Graduation Gift Ideas! (post originally published May 2014)

Now, if you want to know what I DID finally decide to get my little sis, check out this Graduation Gift Bottle Set! I love how it turned out. And you can nab the Free Printables to make your own!

Now on to the FABULOUS ideas!

This DIY Chalkboard & Tassel Graduation Frame from My Sister’s Suitcase is so simple and cute! What a perfect way for your graduate to display their grad photo!

I love this oh-so-tasty Celebrate S’More Graduation gift with Free Printable Tags from Parties & Patterns.

What a great personalized gift – a letter block with photos and sayings from The Little Hobbit!

So maybe I’m a little biased because my high school colors were blue and yellow, but this display and Graduation Round-up over at Skip to my Lou is darling!

You all probably know that I’m a SUCKER for cute and FREE printables, so this 2014 Printable Graduation Money Card Holder from Thirty Handmade Days is definitely a keeper!

Okay, so I know this is technically a ‘birthday’ post from She’s Crafty…but what a FABULOUS idea for giving money in a fun way!

We had a blast with these Star Wars Graduation Bottle Set Prints!

Aren’t these Graduation Cap Toppers from Lil’ Luna adorable? LOVE THEM!

Especially nice for the root beer-loving graduation are these Awesome Graduate Free Printables from Leslie Miller.

Too many cute choices from these 15 Handmade Graduation Gifts over at I Heart Naptime!

If I were graduating, I would totally love one of these Crafty Ways to Give Money from Good Housekeeping.

Another clever-and-cute way to give money from Larcie Bird!

You just can’t go wrong with these 40 Fabulous Graduation Gift Ideas from How Does She?!

Yes, another one from Lil’ Luna, but she just has so many wonderful graduation ideas! Head over and learn How to Make Money Leis!

Maybe it’s because I’m in love with purple, and cupcakes….but these Graduation Cupcakes with Fondant Diploma Toppers from Framed Frosting are adorable! Almost too good to eat….ALMOST 😉

Want to give something ‘inspiring’ for your graduate? Check out this Graduation Gift to Inspire from Create it Go!

Good luck just choosing ONE idea from this fabulous list of 24 Graduation Crafts & Recipes from Family Corner.

Not only a perfect gift, but this Graduation Mason Jar Money Gift from Creative Capital B is a wonderful use of spare change!

‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go’! I love that book, and I LOVE this Free Graduation Gift Printable from my friend Claire over at A Little Claireification!

What graduate wouldn’t love some delicious cookies in a cute jar? And don’t forget to add the adorable Smart Cookie Free Printable from Crazy Little Projects!

Okay, just ONE MORE from Lil’ Luna, but I couldn’t resist these cute (and easy!) Money Cupcake Toppers!

DIY Honey Bee Glitter Soap

April 6, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I use to think homemade soap was a craft for preteen girls doing a spa-themed party or something. No idea why that was what I thought, but now I know that there’s so many people who enjoy whipping up DIY soap recipes at home. And I get it – you get to choose what ingredients go into it (no harmful chemicals, or ingredients you can’t even pronounce), plus make them into any creative color, shape, scent or style you’d like! Now THAT sounds like my kinda thing 🙂 Whether you’re a pro or just wanting to try making your own for the first time, this DIY Honey Bee Glitter Soap is super simple, plus turns out amazing for a gift – or just to enjoy in your own home!

Don’t feel intimidated, because I know there’s some complex DIY soap tutorials out there – using weird ingredients or dozens of steps – but this is one of the awesome EASY ones. Y’all know how I don’t have time to waste on unnecessary steps or crafts!

Supplies

1/2 lb. goat’s milk soap base
2 tablespoons Shea butter
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Glitter
Soap coloring (optional)
Soap mold (find honeycomb & bee shapes here)
Spritz bottle filled with rubbing alcohol

Directions

Cut the goat’s milk soap base and place into a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds.
Add Shea butter to bowl and microwave at 30 second intervals until mixture is melted.
Add coconut oil to bowl
Add honey to bowl
Add coloring to soap mixture
Add glitter to the bowl and mix everything together.
Gently pour or spoon soap mixture into mold.
Spray the top of the soap with the rubbing alcohol. Allow to harden for at least an hour. Gently pop out and store in an airtight container or ziplock bag until ready to use.

See, I told you it was SUPER easy! You can switch up the colors as you’d like – for the ‘honey bee’ theme of this DIY soap, we thought yellow was the perfect choice. And check out those awesome honeycomb & bee designs!

You don’t HAVE to add glitter to this if you don’t want to – totally up to you! We just thought it was a bit more fun that way.

What soap design would YOU choose?

5 Awesome DIY Disney MagicBand Decorating Ideas

March 21, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

For those that don’t know, our family is working extremely hard to be able to go visit Disney World later this year – that means saving money, planning ahead, skipping on some ‘extras’ to make it a reality. We’re all on board, and doing little things along the way to keep us excited and the momentum going – such as planning how we’ll customize our MagicBands! This is a great way to personalize your own band, and can be a fun Disney-themed craft project as you’re preparing for your next trip. Here’s 5 Awesome DIY Disney MagicBand Decorating Ideas to help get your creativity going!

If you saw when I shared earlier on why I think MagicBands are completely incredible and super useful on a Disney trip, you’ll know many of the ways you use it at the parks, hotels and more. Well, now you don’t only have your own handy band to help along your trip, but you can personalize it however you want to REALLY make it yours! Plus, it’ll add a little bit of ‘magic’ while you’re planning, preparing and counting down to your next visit.

Don’t forget to check Get Away Today for the best Disney Vacation deals!

The usual – purchase a design, or buy add-on accessories

You can order fully designed/printed MagicBands from Disney – everything from classic characters, to superhero or Star Wars. There’s also some fun accessories from places like the Disney Store that just pop into the holes along the band for some 3D accents.

Paint

Okay, how awesome is this Captain America themed band from Creative Green Living? Head over to see how she used paint to customize hers!

Temporary Tattoos

Check out how simple it is to use a fun tattoo for your MagicBand at Disney Insider Tips.

Or see The Delightful Life for another tutorial…

Jewels

How fantastic is this beautiful jeweled MagicBand from The Delightful Life?! I totally love it – this plus the ‘bonus’ craft at the bottom are likely what I’ll do to customize my own this year!

More fun ideas on the blog at Get Away Today!

Nail Polish & Stickers

There’s so many possibilities when you have some nail polish on-hand, so check out ScrapPop for how to use it on your band!

Bonus – GLITTER!!!

I absolutely LOVE this MagicBand creation from Creative Green Living – not just because it’s sparkly, but it’s also purple! I want to mix this tutorial with the jewel/bling one on my own band for our trip – I’ll be sure to share pics when it’s done!

How would you customize YOUR MagicBand?

How to Print on Burlap & Valentine Date Invitation Printable

February 2, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by BurlapFabric.com – as always, all opinions and ideas are our own.

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t always like burlap. In my mind, it was always a bland brown color that had fraying edges that were a mess, and you couldn’t do much with it at all. Wow, that’s sure changed! Now you can get burlap in several different colors, shapes, styles. You can get it as a napkin, a bag, ribbon, banners and so much more. I love the options! I also love that I now know how How to Print on Burlap & I’m sharing a fun Valentine Date Invitation Printable for y’all to use this month!

Isn’t this banner super fun? I thought it’d be unique to not only ‘invite’ my hubby to be my Valentine date, but do it by decorating with a banner covered with the invite – he’s sure to get the message that way, right? 😉

I got this 12-pack of burlap banner pieces for the project, and though I was a bit nervous printing on a weird shape, it turned out really simple and no hassle at all!

Supplies

12-pack of burlap banner pieces
Printer (I used inkjet, but I’ve heard this will work on laserjet as well – but haven’t personally tried that)
Scissors
Hot glue/gun
Valentine Invitation Printable -click on here & the 8.5×11 will download
Colored Burlap Ribbon – if desired

A side note – the reason I really love this burlap banner pack is that it already has a filmy backing to it. Otherwise, we’d need to do additional steps with freezer paper to create a backing for going through the printer. This worked great for me without the extra though because it was already there!

Directions – Printing on the Burlap

Cut just under the top folded-over area of the banner, removing the strip that holds the string – but save it, because we’ll reattach it later! Be sure to trim the edges a bit to get rid of any frays that could get caught in the printer.
Do a test page on your printer to make sure you know the proper direction to load your burlap. You want it to print on the non-shiny side. We designed the file to be 8.5×11 in size, but it’s laid out so it’ll print in the bulky area of these banners, with the top at the largest width of the banner – as you can see below. After your comfortable that you know the direction to load your banner piece, place it as needed in your printer and hit print.

Directions – Attaching Rope Back On

Use hot glue/gun to reattach the strip with the rope to the back of your banner. Don’t go very close to the sides, as you’ll need to trim a bit off so they don’t stick out.

An easy way to trim them WITHOUT CUTTING THE ROPE is as follows:
- Cut a little slit inwards (only on that back strip, do not cut the front triangle in any of these steps) so you can push the rope enough towards the center that it won’t get cut on the edge.
- Cut the excess strip off, keeping the rope away from your scissors – and remember to avoid cutting the front triangle piece, you’re just cutting the excess along the edges!
- Repeat for other side so they’re both hidden/flush with the nice triangle edges

I love this little ‘invitation’ and how simple it was to print on burlap – I can see a lot of fun projects like this in the future! I also used this red burlap ribbon for some added ‘color’ and accent with my banner. I think it really brings out the red text!

If you like it more simple, that’s perfectly great too – it still looks incredible, and almost makes the mustache part stand out even more which is fun 🙂

Whichever way you choose, this fun Valentine date invitation is unique, simple to make and a great way to catch the invitees eyes!

If you have burlap that doesn’t already have that film layer on the back, you’ll need to add it using freezer paper and an iron, otherwise it’ll have issues printing since there’s holes/gaps in the burlap:

Be sure you use freezer paper – NOT wax!
Trim a piece of freezer paper so it fits your burlap shape. Trim so it fits EXACTLY – don’t forget to trim any burlap frays as well.
Put the shiny side of the paper onto the ‘back’ of your burlap and use your iron to ‘stick’ the paper to the burlap.
Follow the printing instructions as above – always do a test sheet to ensure you have it loaded the correct way.
Once printed on, carefully peel off the freezer paper. It should come off easily, but if it’s sticking a bit too much, try rolling the burlap gently so it loosens it up more to peel off. Another option is putting it in the freezer, which seems to make the pieces unstick from each other.

What would YOU print on burlap?

Please note – printers and burlap may vary, so please make the best judgement when putting something other than paper through your printer. We’re simply sharing how we did it and what worked for us. We assume no responsibility if your printer/burlap is different and something gets ruined.

Other Valentine Ideas…

DIY Valentine Frame from Craft Sticks

January 30, 2018 by Danielle 2 Comments

Let this sink in for a moment – it’s less than a month until Valentine’s Day. Please tell me I’m not the only one in shock – I mean, didn’t it just turn 2018, and already we’re looking to February?! Well, whether we’re ready or not, the holiday is coming – so to TRY and get myself in the festive pink-and-red-everything mood, I wanted to share this fun DIY Valentine Frame from Craft Sticks that I put together.

It’s surprisingly easy, aside from getting the glitter off your hands afterwards (really, I need to find a reliable trick that will help me get rid of the random glitter that sticks around for days after a project because DANG it’s everywhere). You don’t even need a ton of stuff, and you can even let the kids make their own sweet valentine frame for a neat holiday craft.

I love that it’s 3-D looking due to the layer and stacking of the sticks, and that you can customize it to fit your own preferences. Hate pink? Don’t use it. Want larger sparkles instead of tiny glitter? Do it. This is YOUR Valentine frame, so make it your own!

Supplies

12 full craft sticks
6 full craft sticks cut in half (so 12 halves) – be sure to cut off the sharp edges
Hot glue/gun
Glue Stick
Glitter, sparkles, accents, ribbon, etc. as you see fit
Photo

Directions

If you haven’t already, cut the 6 craft sticks into halves (does NOT have to be perfect, just ‘ish’). Then, pour your glitter/sparkles of choice into a large plate or tray. I mixed a few colors to get a variety mix (silver, white, pink and purple). Rub one side of each stick (including the halves) with your glue stick – one stick at a time – then rub in the glitter mixture to coat that side. Set aside to dry as you continue with all the sticks.
Follow the following diagram below to arrange and hot glue your sticks together. 1: put 2 sticks on the left and 2 sticks on the right, connecting at the bottom point of the ‘heart’ (don’t glue in this step). 2: glue a stick on top & between the two sticks on each side (shown in photo 2 and 3 below). 3: glue 2 halves on the top right and 2 halves on the top left to angle in towards the top of the ‘heart’. 4: Turn over and glue 2 halves under the left and 2 halves under the right to do the final point down and in to finish the ‘heart’ shape. 5: Turn it back over and glue 1 half on the left and 1 half on the right to make the top center part more sturdy. 6: Glue 1 half to the left and 1 half to the right for the top ‘corner edge’ parts of the heart – again, to make it sturdy.
To finish it up, glue a ‘handle’ to the back & bottom of your heart shape with the last full craft stick piece!
Then all you have left is to carefully trace & cut out your photo so it fits on the back of your frame, then carefully glue along the edges so it stays in place.

That’s it! I know that may seem like a lot of steps, but it’s truly simple and takes hardly any time at all. In fact, doing the glitter on the sticks is what took me the longest of everything! Just be sure to follow that diagram photo so you have a visual to help keep it as easy as possible.

You can add accent pieces – like a little ‘jewel’ – or a ribbon, as you see fit. Like I said – make it YOURS! Or customize to the person you’re giving it to 🙂

I had to add the photo hubby and I had taken during family pictures last month because I absolutely LOVE it! Often us moms forget to get photos of us with our kids, and sometimes even less do we get photos with our honey. That’s something I’m trying to work on this year – more photos WITH those I love, not just of them!

One last tip – if you don’t want the ‘craft stick’ tan color showing through, you can use markers or paint before hand to color it, or just be sure to layer up the glitter a lot for full coverage. I kind of like the randomness and dimension to it, but that’s just my personal preference.

What photo would YOU put in this fun DIY Valentine frame?

More Valentine’s Day Crafts

14 Days of Valentines

January 25, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

February is next week – seriously?! New Years is long forgotten, and I’m actually writing 2018 properly on the date now. This year seems to be flying by already! While I’m sitting here a bit dazed about that fact, at least I’m ‘semi’ prepared with a special gift for hubby. If you’re looking to do a thoughtful 14 Days of Valentines gift, these cute and customizable envelopes are PERFECT! I love how simple it is, plus you can craft, decorate or fix them up however you’d like.

You can do the 14 days of Valentines starting on February 1st and work your way UP to February 14th, Valentines Day – or start it on that day and work from there, it’s totally up to you. I prefer working up to Valentines, and having the last envelope hold things for a date night or special dinner. You can include things like sweet notes, photos of memories, gift cards, a note saying where their gift is hidden (for example: find your new comfy gift in the dryer – and it’s a new blanket or slippers, etc.). You don’t need to spend a bunch at all, just focus on what you want to give your sweetheart that they’d really love and appreciate.

When I saw these envelopes on Amazon, I knew they’d be the perfect thing to use for this project – not only are they easy to fold up, but the little ‘tab’ has a heart shape! They’re also a great size – not too big and not too small, either. They come in a pack of 50 – so you have PLENTY! They’re that nice, clean manilla color, so you can paint, color with markers, write on, or whatever you want to make them yours. Below, I’m sharing the fun striped heart decoration I did for the back of them.

Supplies

Heart-tabbed envelopes
Red, Black and/or White paper strips (or color of choice)
Large sturdy paper for attaching
Glue
Scissors
Number stickers (1 through 14)
Photos, notes, gift cards, etc. to put inside your envelopes

Directions

Glue your strips randomly into rows on your larger sheet of paper. Trim off the edges that stick over, so all the area has that firm backing to it.
Draw/trace heart shapes onto your piece of striped paper, then cut out carefully.
Glue onto the back of your envelopes, also included a numbered sticker so you know what day goes with what envelope.
Close up your envelope with your gift/photo/note inside, then surprise your sweetie with a special 14 days of Valentines gift!

If you want to get extra decorative, you can even color (or put glue and add sparkles) to that little heart tab. I chose not to, but maybe that’s what you’d prefer for your own set.

If your gifts don’t really matter which order they’re opened in, you can skip the numbered sticker part. If you need to know what’s being opened that day – in case it’s a time-sensitive gift, or you need to place the actual gift somewhere – then be sure you have some way to know which envelope goes with what day.

Another fun idea would be a ‘scavenger hunt’ – so do all 14 envelopes/gifts at once, but have the first one hold a clue to find the second, then so forth until the 14th one is the BIG FINALE. The ones leading up can hold just clues, or also include small gifts or sweet thoughts/memories.

I’m considering doing random ‘memories of us’ notes in the extra envelopes I have and bring them out at unexpected times of the year for the special surprise for hubby. Maybe include photos of us and/or the memories the note is about. That’d be a good way to make your significant other feel loved all throughout the year, not just on holidays!

Now that I’m thinking of more ideas for these envelopes, I think they’d also work as class Valentines – have your child decorate each envelope as they want, then stick a gift (nothing bulky or too big, but like an eraser, sticker, even Pokemon card or something) inside. Cute and original!

What are you getting YOUR special someone for Valentine’s Day?

Teacher Gift Idea: Survival Kit

December 20, 2017 by Danielle 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StockedWithLove #CollectiveBias

Why oh why do I let Christmas sneak up on me every single year? I thought I was *super* on the ball this year, having all the kids’ gifts done and wrapped shortly after Thanksgiving – but I completely forgot all their teachers! Between my five kiddos, we have 8 main school teachers (some switch half-day, so have two main teachers), plus several assistants, six dance instructors and four karate professors. Instead of blasting holiday music and curling up with some hot chocolate trying to ignore the fact I hadn’t gotten them gifts, I got creative. It’s super easy to customize cheap, plain stockings to make the perfect Teacher Gift Idea – a Survival Kit to help get them through the rest of the year!

Hover on the image below for some super easy shopping for the fun BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages holiday collection online!

Since I was extremely scrunched on time, and determined to tackle this last ‘big’ task I had before really relaxing for the holiday, I swung by Target to get everything I needed to create these fun teacher stocking gifts. While you should definitely get some fun items to stick in their stocking – like a gift card, cute mug, fun note pad or candies – be sure to stock up on stuff that are much-needed in classrooms. There’s several things that work for ANY type of teacher – be it school, dance, karate or whatever – such as packs of BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages. And guess what? Their festive BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages holiday collection is on sale in the ads during the week of 12/17! You can nab 2 for just $5, making them a very useful (aka necessary) classroom item for a great price.

Since kids have a tendency to get hurt even in the strangest of ways, any parent, teacher or instructor is smart to have BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages on-hand because they heal hurts faster and are the #1 doctor recommended brand. Target also has Paw Patrol and Star Wars BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages, which make for great stocking stuffers for the kids, so why not grab a few of those while you’re there?

Here’s some more survival kit ideas you can include:

Hand Sanitizer
Glue Sticks
Crayons, Markers, Pencils, Pens, etc.
Tissues
Room Scent Spray
Lint roller
Target gift card – to buy whatever else they may be needing!

Don’t forget the stuff that’s just for fun, as well!

To Customize Your Teacher Stocking

Supplies:

Generic Stocking in size of choice
Ribbon, Beads, etc.
Accent Decor (felt or thin wood shapes, sparkles, glitter, etc.)
Hot Glue/Gun

Directions

Use hot glue to attach a ribbon or strand of beads to create a line accent, – this can work at the top, around the bottom of the ‘cuff’ of the stocking, or even all around the edges of the stocking part. I did two as a strip at the top, then cut some bead strands to ‘dangle’.
Before glueing, decide on a pattern/style you want for the stocking by laying out your accent pieces/decor. Once you’ve found the spots/pattern you want, carefully hot glue them in place. Once dry, rub a little where there’s excess hot glue sticking out to help remove those loose ‘glue strings’ that sometimes occur.
Fill with teacher gift items- the fun AND the useful – and BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages.

See, it’s really easy to turn a simple, plain stocking into a personalized and fun gift packaging! You can even have your kids help pick out the decorations and design the gift, making it extra special. Just be sure to watch them with the hot glue, please!

If you have room in the stocking, you can even have your child write a few thoughtful notes or memories to stick in there as a special surprise that is sure to mean a lot to their teacher. I even put in a few from me, since I’m sure they don’t hear gratitude from the parents often enough.

Now that I’ve got gifts done for the MANY teachers in our lives, I think I’ll take this same idea and make miniature ones for people who very rarely get recognition – like the mailman or people that work the garbage trucks! It’s amazing how many people there are that have an impact on our lives – even if it’s ‘just’ delivering mail or removing our trash from the curb. I’m trying to show a little more gratitude this year, and love that I can easily do that in a fun way without taking up much of my little time. After all, the kids are out of school early Wednesday then it’s going to be a rare moment I’ll have much time at all until they go back in January – but I’m really looking forward to all the family time! 🙂

What other teacher survival kit items would YOU include?

Hubby Date Night Gift Basket with Free Printable

December 11, 2017 by Danielle 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. Product was provided by the client for review; however, all opinions are mine alone. #WorldsSmartestToothbrush #PhilipsSonicare #OprahsFavoriteThings #CollectiveBias

I don’t know about you, but I love choosing gifts for my family and friends, but have to admit that there’s a few that are always difficult to buy for – and often it’s the men! Since it can often be the best idea to give activities or experiences, I thought it’d be fun to make a Hubby Date Night Gift Basket – with Free Printable, of course. With this, you can include plenty of neat gifts into a creative basket, plus YOU get a date out of it, as well! You’re welcome 🙂

Click the little tag in the image below for easy shopping & to nab your own Philips® Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Toothbrush!

When choosing what to include in your date night gift basket, keep in mind things that not only would be useful during your date – like a blanket, sparkling cider, gift card to a restaurant or movie passes, but also things to help your significant other get ready for your special night. I put some new shave stuff in for my hubby, knowing how he likes to have a clean shave before we get to go out (and he knows I love it, too!). He’s also really careful with his oral care, so I was thrilled to give him the Philips® Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9300 Rechargeable Toothbrush. The Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 Rechargeable Toothbrush was named one of Oprah’s Favorite things in 2017, so I was sure this one would be perfect, as well! I love seeing the items she includes each year, and know this will be a great gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list. You can even nab it off Amazon, so no need to go to the store!

I got my first Philips Sonicare for Mother’s Day a couple years ago, so have learned that they’re a great brand that I trust to follow there’s saying ‘There’s Always a Way to Make Life Better’. I can see why it’d be included on this year’s list, because the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean has 4 modes plus 3 intensities to let you focus on each aspect of your oral health, with the premium brush heads giving you exceptional results. We all have different needs, right? With this, the sensors and app help you perfect YOUR technique, giving you a complete clean. The Sonicare app even gives you real-time feedback and personalized coaching – that alone can be the perfect holiday gift!

Other ideas could be their favorite candies, a new shirt to wear on the date, a favorite cologne, or maybe a CD with music from when you started dating. There’s so many different things you could do, so feel free to customize it to your significant other – just like Philips Sonicare DiamondClean helps you customize your oral health care!

After you’ve decided on the gifts you’ll include in your date night gift basket, be sure to get a box, basket, or container that will FIT it nicely. I did a smaller basket inside a larger one to add some dimension – I’ve always been a fan of attractive gifting and wrapping!

Next, download and print off your Date Night Gift Basket Tag HERE

Don’t forget to sign your name at the bottom! For some extra fine, you can even write a sweet, thoughtful or funny message on the back of it! Sorry, not sharing a photo of my message to hubby 😉 Then get a ribbon and attach the tag to your date night gift basket.

That’s all it takes, and you’ve got SEVERAL gifts for your honey – plus the promise of a date night for you BOTH!

If you want to wrap it all up as a surprise under the tree, you could also do colored tissue paper inside cellophane wrap around it – making it one big, carefully wrapped gift to sit there and tease your hubby as to what’s inside! I didn’t wait until Christmas for ours, but love the idea of wrapping it up like that so he has no clue what it is. Oh – and don’t forget to line up a babysitter, if needed, so there’s no obstacles in your way for a wonderful date night this holiday!

Give the gift of superior sonic technology and even treat yourself to a great date night!

Learn more from Philips Sonicare on their Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram or even Youtube!

12 Days of Christmas Printable Tags

November 27, 2017 by Danielle 8 Comments

Easy Christmas Printable Tags for the holidays!

Although I have no idea how we got from July to December, it now seems like this month is FLYING by! There’s so much I need/want to do, and such little time to do it in. Yikes! One of the things I’ve wanted to do better this year was show Hubby some Christmas lovin’, and not just focus on making it fun and special for our little superheros. So we have The 12 Days of Christmas!!! I’m having so much fun picking out little (budget-friendly) yet useful/fun gifts to include with each tag.

12 Days of Christmas Printable Tags / Busy Mom's Helper

Here’s the printable:

It prints nicely onto a normal sized cardstock page.

I then just taped a bit of ribbon behind each, to tie the tag onto the gift with. And VIOLA – you’re done!

20 DIY Galaxy Projects

October 9, 2017 by Danielle 2 Comments

I’ve seen a lot of things lately that are galaxy themed. Parties, decorations, and everything. I agree it’s a fun trend & I like the look of it! If you or your kiddos are fans as well, you’re going to love this list of 20 DIY Galaxy Projects! Personally, I really want to try those awesome-looking fingernails.

Oooh, don’t those diy galaxy bath bombs look cool, too? There’s just so many fun galaxy projects to try, I need like a whole day devoted to trying all of these fun things!

Lemon Lime Adventures – Galaxy Bath Bombs

Me Sew Crazy – Galaxy Moon Phases Wall Hanging

Doodle Craft Blog – Galaxy Pendants

Gloriously Chic – DIY Galaxy Shoes

Pink Stripey Socks – Painted Galaxy Umbrella

Some of This and That – Galaxy Ice Cream

A Subtle Revelry – Galaxy Balloons

A Beautiful Mess – Easy Galaxy Nails

Damask Love – DIY Galaxy Painted Notebook

Dream a Little Bigger – Galaxy Cross Stitch Cuff

A Kailo Chic Life – Galaxy Color Blocked Marble Coasters

Deco Art – Galaxy Ornament

Color Made Happy – DIY Galaxy Painted Rocks

DIY Projects for Teens – DIY Galaxy Eos

Pop Craft Art – Mini Galaxy Magnets

Life of a Razorback – DIY Galaxy Backpack

Hello Giggles – DIY Ethereal Glam Light Galaxy Goddess Dess

Kids Activities Blog – Galaxy Sugar Cookies

Doodle Craft Blog – DIY Painted Galaxy Painted Shoes

My Crafts – DIY Galaxy Diamond Painting

20 Halloween Crochet Patterns

September 27, 2017 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I’ll admit, I’ve never learned how to crochet. I think it requires either a patience or a skill that I just don’t posses. That being said, I really admire anyone who CAN crochet, and wish I could just so I could whip up some of these fun, frightening and downright adorable Halloween Crochet Patterns! Maybe my girls will make some for me 🙂

I’m majorly in love with the tiny little bats & candy corns. My boys want some cauldrons to store their treats in – of course. My girls just want to tackle them all, so maybe I’ve got some mini crocheters in the family after all. If you’re in the mood for some Halloween crochet fun, pick one of these 20 great patterns and enjoy!

Petals to Picots – Crochet Ghost

Amigurumi Food – Kawaii Crochet Bat

Llittle Things Blogged – Crochet Pumpkin

Mama in a Stitch – Crochet Pumpkin Garland

Craftaholics Anonymous – Crocheted Candy Corn Bunting

Persia Lou – Candy Corn Trick or Treat Bag

Darice – Crochet Skull

Amigurumi Food – Amigurumi Candy Corn, Pumpkin, and Bat

Petals to Picots – Crochet Cauldron

Divine Debris – Crochet Pumpkin Earrings

Yarnutopia – Candy Corn Leg Warmers

Sewrella – Crochet Frankenstein Trick or Treat Bag