Time for a RemARKable Blog Tour – and this one is perfectly timed.  It’s not quite the last minute, but it’s close enough.

I’m a big fan of using things that I have on hand when I’m looking for a last-minute solution, and last month I assembled the Oh What Fun tags kit (#139602, on sale for $14.70 for 30 tags) just for this purpose.  I also try to keep our packaging solutions on hand – this is the Petite Café Gift Bag (#135826, $6 for 10 bags).  Finally, this time of year I stock up on fun ribbon, and nothing says FUN like the Real Red PomPom Trim (#139617, on sale for $4.20 for 5 yards).  I added a little 1/8″ Striped Ribbon to finish off the package (#139615, on sale for $6.40 for 5 yards each red and green stripe ribbon).

Here’s the same treatment using the Mini Muslin Bags (#132180, $10 for 8 bags).  You’ll notice that other than the gift tags, there is no stamping involved.  Make up the tags and you are ready to assemble your gifts and go!

My final project uses the Gift Box Punch Board (#135863, $20).  I’ve used some retired heavy-weight printed kraft card stock, but it works just as well with the plain Heavy Kraft Cardstock in the Annual Catalog (#133674, $6 for 12 sheets of 12×12 cardstock) or with our regular cardstock.  Our DSP will work in a pinch, but I find it makes a rather fragile box so I prefer the heavier paper.

Do you see a theme here?  Fun Ribbon = Fast Packages!

There are 2 of these little hazelnut-chocolate delights inside each box.  I used the 1.75 x 1.75 x 2.5 box and didn’t cut the angles (with the reverse punch) in the top.  Instead, I used a glue dot to secure each set of flaps and let the ribbon finish the job.  Because the box was tall, the chocolates are stacked.  They didn’t want to play nicely at first, but I found a solution:

That little piece of scrap is 1 1/2″ wide and 4″ long, scored 1 1/4″ from each end.  It slides easily into the box and keeps the chocolates nicely stacked.  And just for your reference, I made 10 of these boxes in 40 minutes – starting with cutting the card stock and finishing with tying the bows.  Not bad!

Don’t have these exact items on hand?  Time to go dig into that stash you’ve been hoarding – that’s how I found that retired cardstock!  Depending on where you live, an order put in tonight might well arrive in time for last-minute gifts – check out the Year-End Sale and you’ll be on your way to D.O.N.E!

As always, I hope you’ve been inspired.  Heather‘s next on the tour – click below to see her wonderful projects.  The full tour is at the end of the post in case you get lost in the woods.

Nancy Amato
Melissa Bolinger
Tamra Davis
Arden Dougan
Tracie Langley
Anne Matasci – you are HERE
Heather Mathieson
Audra Monk
Maria Pane
Michele Reynolds
Pam Staples
Janet Wakeland