Share the love on Valentines Day!

Love hearts, sweet treats, hugs & kisses ....  yes it's nearly Valentines Day so here's a few of our favourite finds:0)

Something simple ... repackage store bought chocolate with a homemade wrapper & include a personalised message inside

{source: www.marthastewart.com}

These chocolate dipped marshmallow cupids arrows look like a cute idea

{source & tutorial: www.rookno17.com}

And a couple of other ideas on the cupids arrow theme ... cupcakes

{source & tutorial: www.bakerella.com}

Or how about cupid crispies

{source & tutorial link: lisastorms.typepad.com

There are heaps of ideas around for decorating heart shaped cookies for Valentines Day but these ones from Cookies with Character are my favourite

{source: www.cookieswithcharacter.net}

How fab do these strawberry flowers look? they would be a lovely addition to all sort of different desserts or use to adorn a breakfast tray.

{source: diy-crafts-tutorials.blogspot.co.nz}

Making breakfast in bed or brunch for two? add a little heart shaped note to the tea bags

{source: www.marthastewart.com}

And our friends at Sweet Event Stationery have very kindly put together some free printables. Here's the link for some cupcake toppers, a cute mini banner and bottle topper: free Valentines printables

We've also got a range of products in stock for Valentines Day including mini milk bottles that look great filled with lollies as a gift or pop in a single flower and add to your breakfast tray. And of course the very popular mini cello treat bags are great for filling with lollies for any occasions. Lots more items too, check out our range here: Valentines Day range

Cute Christmas packaging ideas

Here's a few simple but effective packaging & gift ideas for Christmas

Soap tied with bakers twine and a thank you stickers are nice little thank you gifts. 

My daughter will be giving these as teacher gifts this year.

{product links: thank you stickers; bakers twine}

And how's this for super easy - a chocolate bar dressed as a snowman. These would be cute for the kids to give their friends.

{source: http://livingpractically.blogspot.co.nz}

I love this idea using block bottom kraft paper bags and turning them into reindeer. 

{source: http://lisastorms.typepad.com}

Or how about snowmen using white bags or Christmas trees from green bags

{source/tutorial links: snowmen and Christmas trees}

There are heaps of ideas around for 'gifts in a jar' but I think this is one of my favourites ... the pamper jar. These ones contain fluffy socks, bubble bath, lip balm, hand cream and chocolate. 

{source: http://livingpractically.blogspot.co.nz}

If you're giving cookies as gifts we've got some lovely boxes

or how about recycling some Pringle containers

{link to our cookie boxes}             {link to Pringle box tutorial}

And these are sure to bring a smile ... Oreo Elf feet! 

Here's the tutorial & template: www.thediaryofdaveswife.com

{source: www.thediaryofdaveswife.com}

And here's some lovely sets which contain everything you need to package homemade sweet treats, jams & pickles to give as gifts.

{link to our treat kit & jar label kit}

These Christmas house themed cupcake boxes are super cute! You could also fill them with homemade truffles or fudge. Or how about little soaps or bath bombs.

{link to our single cupcake boxes & large cupcake boxes}

Little favour boxes are a sweet way to package small items such as jewellery. They are also nice filled with a few chocolates as gifts for clients - thanks to a local beauty therapist for this idea who just purchased lots of these to make up as little thank you gifts for her customers :0)

{link to our confetti mini treat boxes}

This looks like a really simple & effective way to wrap presents

{source: http://blogs.babycenter.com}

And here's a fun way to decorate bottles of beer or any any other bottles you're giving as a gift

{source: http://lifeofamodernmom.blogspot.co.nz}

*** Want to get in the draw to win a pack of the small cupcake boxes featured here? To get in the draw just leave a comment telling us which idea was your favourite - make sure you include your email address in your comment so we can contact you if you're the winner! We will do a random draw at 7.30pm on Friday 6th December 2013 and will email the winner :0)
Note: competition open to New Zealand residents only ***


If you have any other ideas I would love to see some photos so feel free to post pics or links here or over on our facebook page

Christmas cookies

I've started to see lots of fab festive cookie ideas around. Cookies make great gifts and can be lots of fun to decorate with the kids. Here's a few of my favourites ...

Who thought if you turned a gingerbread man upside down he could be a reindeer?! I found these over at cakecentral.com. There are heaps of other ideas on the website too so it's a good place to have a look around for some inspiration.

{source: cakecentral.com}

These stained glass trees from marthastewart.com are really pretty

{source: http://www.marthastewart.com}

I love these melted snowmen cookies, I've seen lots of versions of these but I just love the look on the faces of these ones from www.sprinklesandgrins.com! These would be lots of fun to make with the kids.

{source: www.sprinklesandgrins.com}

Use russian doll cookie cutter to make snowmen. Check out the tutorial at bubbleandsweet.blogspot.co.nz

{source: bubbleandsweet.blogspot.co.nz}

These Triple Chocolate Christmas Pudding Cookies are adorable. You can find the recipe at www.cherrapeno.com

{source: www.cherrapeno.com}

Candy Filled Christmas Present Cookies - what a fab idea! Head over to www.hungryhappenings.com to check out the tutorial

{source: www.hungryhappenings.com}

A cookie 'tree' would be a lovely finishing touch to serve with tea & coffee 

{source: marthastewart.com}

And here's a few of our festive cookie cutters, my favourite is the fun shaped ones that hook onto a mug of cocoa or a glass of milk  :0)

{available at www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz}

Feeling inspired to get baking? I would love to see some of your creations so feel free to share with us over on our facebook page

Halloween savoury snacks

There are heaps of ideas for sweet treats but not so many for savoury so thought I would share some of my finds with you all ...

A fun serving idea for serving carrots & dip:

{source: pinterest.com}

Or how about this for a fun vege platter:

{source: feedingfourlittlemonkeys.blogspot.co.nz}

Cute owl shaped sandwiches with candy eyeballs and carrot noses:

{source: fourcornerfoodies.com}

You could also do similar sandwiches with other fun Halloween shaped cookie cutters - how about ghosts made with white bread?! We've got a great cookie set available which could work really well.

{available at www.pixiepartysupplies.co.nz}

Cheese & pretzel broomsticks:

{source: www.navywifecook.com}

Spider deviled eggs:

{source: halloween.betterrecipes.com}

This jack-o-lantern cheese ball is cute:

{source: appetizer.betterrecipes.com}

Mesclun meanies! - great idea for single serves of salad:

{source: www.allyou.com}

And these cheesy bat bites look great! Here's the recipe.

{source: www.myrecipes.com}

Halloween drinks anyone?

Continuing on with our Halloween theme this week here's a few fun ideas for serving drinks ...

I love this idea of sticking cutout witch silhouettes on mini milk bottles and adding little witches hats to the paper straws

{source: pinterest.com}

'Mummy' juice or milk boxes - you can get the eyes from a craft shop or $2 shop or just draw them on

{source: domesticcharm.blogspot.co.nz}

Serve your cocktails in a fun DIY decanter & glassware. Here's the tutorial.

{source: www.joann.com}

Check out these great ideas from a Girlie Halloween Cocktail Party featured on the Hostess with the Mostess blog. I love the 'dying of thirst' water bottles labels :0)

{source: blog.hwtm.com}

And one of my favourite items from the Halloween party supplies we stock is these fun Halloween cups from Meri Meri

{can be ordered here}

Halloween decoration ideas

My favourite celebration is coming up ... Halloween!

I have been seeing heaps of fab ideas over the last few weeks and thought I would share a few of my favourites starting with decorating ideas (will share some other things later in the week too).

I am very tempted to decorate our trees like this! What a fun idea!

{source: humortrain.com}

And how about some 'chicken wire ghosts'? these would look fabulously spooky lit up in the garden!

{Source: pinterest}

Here's something a bit different ... a yarn pumpkin garland. Here's the tutorial link.

And a few crafty DIY decorating ideas that the kids could help make:

There are heaps of fab ideas over at http://funfamilycrafts.com/ including all these ideas using paper plates

{source: domesticcharm.blogspot.co.nz}

Made with pool noodles & stockings! {source: www.halloweenforum.com}

{source: www.under5s.co.nz}

And of course we have some great decorations in stock too at Pixie Party Supplies: