A Pretty Little Package

Wouldn't you just love to be given a pretty little present that looked like this?  Hey Look from Finland does it again with their elegant simplicity.







All photos via Hey Look.  Click here for their full post and how to make these beauties.

Well HELLO there...SHIMTOKK

Have you heard of SHIMTOKK?  If not - well, you must check them out.  They are the combined forces of SHIM+SONS and TOKKETOK.  One specializing in packaging + paper goods (let me lust now) and the other in Letterpress Stationery.  They're so crazy creative - it's INSANE!

Over the summer they offered a packaging 101 class in Portland.  I discovered them right after the class took place.  (So SAD!) But trust me - I'd hop on a plane to take a class from these creatives anytime!!

I love the simplicity of their packaging.  I stumbled on these simple Hello gift tags that would make any present feel special.

Aren't they just the sweetest?  Click here to see their full post and you can download these gems so you can add a little extra goodness to your pretty little packages.

Tootles,

Caryl

New Blog Love - the weekly round-up

I'm discovering even more blogs out there in the blogworld - thanks to Pinterest.  I've always had my Blogs to Read folder...but now the list is growing and growing.

Here are a few of the new ones I happened upon:

How About Orange - why you ask...it started with this little number and grew from there...oh and it so fits my orange obsession right now. :)

Enjoy Events Co. - because of their whimsy style and this lovely little pic. (I know...CARBS brought me to their website...but then when I got there...oh my!)

Dreamy Whites - because I loved the simplicity of this flower arrangement, that fruit tray (that I'm sad to say she is sold out of) and her french shabby chic style.

Bottom line is that you can be directed to a website just by a picture and if you stay awhile...you just might find some other inspirations too.

xoxo,
Caryl

Yummy Yummy Treats Treats!

I had the honor of doing a little baking on Friday for one of my best girlfriends daughters Bat Mitzvah.

I have to say - I was super excited to be able to create some yummies and have them be pink and girlie!!

So what did I make...

Chocolate Chip Covered Oreos

Mini Doughnut Cupcakes

Brownie Pops

You all know how much I loved making the Brownie-O's over the holidays...if you want the recipe - click here.  Well, I saw on Becky Bakes that she made some with Chocolate Chip Cookies.  YUM! (OK - I didn't try them because I'm still on my cleanse - but the T-man had one and said - GREAT combination mom). I didn't use her recipe for the cookies - I used mine.

I test drove the mini doughnut cupcakes last week just to make sure they were going to turn out OK.  And when I made them on Friday - they came out just as good.  The only difference...PINK frosting.  I first saw this idea on the Farm Chicks blog.

Last but not least, I saw some really cute Brownie Pops on the Farm Chicks website too.  Mine didn't turn out like hers.  The Chocolate wasn't cooperating so I had to improvise.  I still think it worked.  T-man taste tested the pop with the chocolate all over and the chocolate just on the top and good thing he opted for just the chocolate on the top. :)

Now onto the fun packaging.  So all of these treats were being served at the lunch following the service. Everything had to be disposable so I was trying to figure out how to transport and serve everything.  So yup - you guessed it.  I decided to individually wrap everything.  Pink Bows and some Martha Stewart Decorative Tape along with some labels I made so everyone would know what they were eating.

This was so much fun.  It was a labor of love and I'm so happy that everyone enjoyed the treats.

xoxo,
Caryl

Special Treats for the Holidays

Tucker's last day of school before Christmas Break is tomorrow and I wanted to do something for the kids.  You all know how I'm obsessed with the Brownie Covered Oreos - well...my sister and I decided to name them because that name was just tooooo loooong.  We came up with Brownie-O's.  (click the link if you want the recipe again. :)) Cute huh?  And kinda catchy!


Yesterday I was baking like a fiend.  94 of those puppies were baked.  I wanted to do something fun with the packaging.  I had ordered some clear bags from Nashville Wraps, made a cute label and tied with a red bow.  Take a peak below.

All packaged up pretty!

Thank goodness these little beauties aren't being handed out until the end of the day tomorrow.  Sugar high!!

Enjoy!!

Caryl

Literally Nuts for the Holidays {Free Printable}

So I have to say - I've been a bit nutzo with the baking and crafting.  I've been having so much fun.  I do have a day job though - remember...I own ROAR events group - we primarily focus on corporate clients, but doing all this crafting is taking me back in time.  I use to do this all the time and I forgot how much fun it is.  As a HAPPY HOLIDAYS gift to you ~ you can download the NUTS for the HOLIDAYS printable here.

So this weekend - I've baked - Brownie Covered Oreos.  And I've roasted Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts from Barefoot Contessa's most recent book - How Easy Is That?  I've played around with packaging. Let's just say that no Christmas shopping was done this weekend. :)

These nuts are great for a party and also a little house warming gift (toss in a bottle of wine and you are golden).  I actually brought these nuts to a neighborhood holiday party and they were a hit!

Here are the details:

The Nuts Ingredients
Vegetable Oil
3 cups whole roasted unsalted cashews (14 oz)
2 cups whole walnut halves (7 oz)
2 cups whole pecan halves (7 oz)
1/2 cups whole almonds (3 oz)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (I used store bought)
2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder
4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary (I used 1 tablespoon dried)
Kosher Salt

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Brush  a sheet pan generously with vegetable oil.  Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipotle powder on the sheet pan.  Toss to coat the nuts evenly.  Add 2 tablespoons of rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss again.
3. Spread the nuts in one layer.  Roast nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice with a large metal spatula (I used a BBQ grill one), until the nuts are glazed and golden brown (I stirred 10 and 20 minutes into the roasting).  Remove from oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.  Ross well and set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking as they cool.  Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container.

I decided that I was going to buy 1/2 pint mason jars.  This recipe will fill 11 1/2 pint mason jars. (Well maybe 12 - I was nibbling on the nuts a little bit.)  I wanted to put a sticker on the top of the jar and decided to glue ribbon around the lid.  As a HAPPY HOLIDAYS gift for you ~ I wanted you all to have the printable so you can be NUTS for the Holidays like me.  Click here to download.

Here is what they looked like after I was done with them...

The holidays are all about family, friends, giving and enjoying.  I hope that you enjoy like I am!

xoxo, 

Caryl

Brownie Oreos & Fun Holiday Packaging

Oreos are my favorite cookie of all time (even more so than Chocolate Chip Cookies).  When I saw the recipe for Brownie Covered Oreos on the Picky Palate blog (I actually think I saw it on Fresh Chick Designs Facebook page first)...it was love at first site and I was destined to make these beauties.

I have to say - they were so easy and I will make them all the time now.

Ingredients
1) Brownie mix of your choice (I used Pillsbury Fudge Brownies)
2) 1 Package of Oreos (we used the regular ones vs. the peppermint that Picky Palate has - I think DoubleStuffed would be really good.)
3) White Gel Writer for the frosting

Directions are so easy:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Get a cupcake tin and spray the heck out of it with Pam (or your favorite non-stick spray).
3) Dip the Oreo in the batter and flip it around a couple of times to make sure its completely covered with the brownie mix.
4) Place the cookie in one of the cupcake spots (FYI - it does get a little messy).
5) It says to bake about 12-15 minutes.  I baked for 14 minutes.
6) As soon as it's done - get a plastic knife and go around the edges of each cookie - this way there is no sticking and the cookies come out nicely.

I think I might have used a little too much batter because the recipe said I would use all of the oreos in the package and I had about 5 left over (and I didn't eat them - they are in the pantry. :))

I figured out that each cookie is about 147 calories.  I do want to try and make this recipe low cal - so you can at least not feel too guilty when you eat 5 or 6. :)

Now time for the fun packaging!!!

{Brown Boxes & White Bag ~ Nashville Wraps}

{White Glassline Bag and Red/White Twistie ~ Parcel + Paper}

{Green Ribbon ~ Richards Craft Store}

{Twine ~ The Twinery}

Four cookies fit in the brown boxes and the white bag.  I put a single cookie in the white glassline bag.

Today was super fun.  Tomorrow - I'm going to be NUTS for the Holidays..

Enjoy!

Packaging for the holidays

I love packaging - just ask my husband.  I have paper, tissue paper, ribbon - you name it - I have it.  I just got my shipment from Nashville Wraps of clear bags, small kraft boxes and crinkle for stuffing.  A few weeks ago - I ordered the most amazing bakers twine from The Twinery.  I ordered the Simply Traditional Christmas Trio.

I also ordered some more packaging goodness from Parcel and Paper.  The Sample Package to be exact. I loved the little bitty tags and the red and white twisties that came with it.  I need to order more.

Now I need to get my holiday tags and I should be all set.  I'm anxiously awaiting what will be coming from The TomKat Studio.  Last years holiday tags were uber cute!!

If you're looking for inspiration and ideas - head over to Think Garnish.  Oh my goodness!!!

Have fun!