Gift Wrap: Using Dictionary Pages for Soap & Small Gift Items

Financially, times are tough. We are all looking for ways to recycle, repurpose and put on our creative caps to save a few dollars. This year, I am focusing on ways to recycle or reuse items that would end up in the trash. Here is my take on zig fill for small gift boxes (like soap).

I shared a holiday wrap idea a few days ago. This goes right along with that theme. I paid a visit to the local Goodwill store. It's a haven for old books looking to be repurposed and very affordable. You can pick up a book for as little as 25 cents. I tore out pages from a dated dictionary and folded them into 5/8" to 1/2" strips. Once folded, I cut into lengthwise strips (see above photo).

I also used my handy-dandy tearing ruler to make strips of paper to wrap around the center of my gift boxes. See my prior post to understand how that works. As always, my choice of gift wrap is generally natural Kraft paper. There are countless rubber stamps that can be used on Kraft paper to jazz things up for any occasion. And, BTW, our liquid gel colors can be used to ink the rubber stamp pads.

Beyond Soap: Packaging to Sell

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How do you make your soaping projects stand out from the rest during this holiday season? Here's one idea.

Wrap you gift box in brown Kraft paper. The above pic uses one of our white window soap boxes. Double sided tape was used to keep everything nice and clean looking.

The lettered paper was printed on white linen paper using the MS Publisher program. You can select whatever font size and type that suits your fancy.

The appeal to this inexpensive wrap is the brown paper coupled with the printed font sheets. A tearing ruler was used to cut the font sheets. Tearing rulers are available at scrap booking stores. The torn font paper lends itself to a handmade look.

Add grosgrain or double-faced satin ribbon and you've created a package that is inexpensive, yet exquisite.

Countdown to Magic Elf Arrival 2011

It's that time of year again. The Magic Elves are arriving the evening of December 10, 2011. This year they will be wearing ice skates and, of course, they will be in their usual sleigh. Not sure yet how they will all fit in the sleigh wearing skates, but I'll make it work. I found the skates at Kohl's earlier this season. They were somewhat pricey (about $10 per set), but I can also re-gift by filling each skate shoe with small lotions, shower gels and soap next year.

I have the first 4 Days of the Magic Elf agenda outlined below. I am honestly surprised at the email response I receive for this holiday event. I know it's not soaping related, but it's just as fun and creative as making soap. Guessing there are plenty of moms and grandparents that feel the same.

Last year the Magic Elves arrived with Elf Mailboxes that the grand kids decorated. The elf mailboxes will be arriving again this year. Of course, passports and Elf report folders are still in the mix.

2011 MAGIC ELF CALENDAR (first 5 days):
Hope this sparks some ideas for you this year. I'll post pics as the daily events happen and continue to post ideas until the elf departure on December 24.

THURSDAY, DEC 8
Letter from Santa about the Elves arrives from North Pole along with the Elf mailboxes.

SATURDAY, DEC 10
The three elves arrive in their sleigh wearing ice skates and Santa Elf hats to keep their ears warm. Passports will be sent with each elf. They need these to get back to the North Pole when Santa picks them up on December 24. I picked up the Santa Elf hats at Target in the $1 section. They were the perfect size.

SUNDAY, DEC 11
Grand kids awaken to advent calendars (that I also purchased in the $1 section at Target). There is a small pocket under each calendar day. I will be putting a folded stick of gum in each pocket (see the pocket dated the 11th). The elves will be sitting under the hanging advent calendars surrounded by plenty of used gum wrappers.

MONDAY, DEC 12
Elf wakes up in bed with child. A note around the elf's neck reads, Check your Elf Mailbox." The mailbox note tells where gift is hidden.  A sample mailbox note reads as follows,

"Just wanted to snuggle tonight. I'm missing the North Pole. I left a gift for you. Can you find it? It's somewhere on your dresser shelf."

TUESDAY, DEC 13
It's countdown place mats and holiday cups at breakfast. Those darn elves had a late night snack of milk and cookies. These place mats were a great find at Target and can be used right up until Christmas. The kids will have fun moving the date on the place mat. I also purchased matching holiday cereal bowls to use on December 16 Elfcapades. (see below picture).

WEDNESDAY, DEC 14
The elve's are wearing slipper socks and the house decorated in crepe paper (red and green). I ordered 200 jingle bells to scatter on kitchen counter tops and floor. Also, some fake snow is in the works. I'm thinking a sink full of fake snow would be fun with one of the elves sitting in the sink making a snowman. I'll be sure to take pictures when this event happens so you can see how it all plays out.

I'll be posting the next Elfcapade Episode once the fun begins....

Everything's Coming Up Polka Dots



I so love to see some of the handiwork and colors used for the Mold Market brand polka dot soap mold. Pictured above is Blueberry Bliss from The Soap Garden's Etsy Shop. Love the colors.

This Christmas soap is from Katy Star Smoothie Esty shop. You'll want to check out some of the other soaps offered. Nice job.

Pink...my grand daughter's favorite color. This polka dot soap is made by Moxie Makings Etsy shop.

The Mold Market polka dot mold is soooo easy to do in multiple colors. The dots are raised for easy filling. If you use the GPE injector tool, it makes the job even easier.

Awesome Stocking Stuffer Soaps

Here's a shout out to Soapsations at Etsy. Great display of GoPlanetEarth's printable soaping paper.

Nice job, Melanie.

Black Friday Savings at GoPlanetEarth.com

Here's the heads up on our upcoming Black Friday event. It starts midnight on November 23, 2011 EST. It ends Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

Pick your discount or use them all. It's entirely up to you. Here is the savings agenda:

• All closeout Mold Market molds are just $1.25 while quantities last. If we sell out.... oh, well. Key discount code BLOWOUT when adding to cart.
• 10% off one-ounce fragrance oils. Key discount code FRAGRANCE10 when adding to cart.
• 8% off two-pound blocks of GPE olive oil melt and pour soap base. Key discount code OLIVESOAP when adding to cart.
• 20% off all regular price Mold Market molds. No back orders, limited to stock on hand. Key discount code MOLD20 when adding to cart.
• Receive a $7.50 discount on shipping when placing an order of $100 or more. Key discount code SHIPSAVINGS at checkout.
• PLUS... all qualifying reward points are applicable.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Remember, we are closed for the extended holiday weekend. Orders can be placed online, but we won't begin processing those orders until we return on Monday, November 28, 2011. 

Wine Bottle Holiday Candle Centerpiece

Well, the bottle cutter has come in handy. I found a place online to order these wine bottle candle holders. They aren't inexpensive (about $12 each w/shipping), but for me, they were a perfect fit for some of the holiday gifts I have in mind.

These bottles are currently sitting on my kitchen island. In the near future, I will be placing them on a holiday platter surrounded with greenery to make a nice table arrangement. Note of caution: The bottles get hot when burning the tea light candles. Use care when placing greenery, ribbon or other holiday ornaments near the bottles.

When the lights are dimmed and the tea lights are lit, these bottles look awesome. Even with the cost of the bottle candle holders, you've got a gift for $12.50 once you've purchased the bottle cutter. You can find tea lights inexpensively at dollar stores, Wal-Mart and Ikea. These make a great housewarming or holiday hostess gift.

SIDEBAR:
Consider wrapping silver wire around the bottle neck with beads or other small holiday ornaments. You can swap out the wire wrap for various seasons. How fun to do a Valentine centerpiece in February using heart beads.