{holiday inspiration} a little hello

I'm sure many of you have been heading out to holiday parties during this festive season.  And with that comes the hostess gift.  That sweet little something - maybe wine, maybe cookies...well this year, I decided to do something a little bit different.

This gift was so easy and inexpensive, but was tied with an amazingly thoughtful bow.

First I purchased this darling "hello" stamp from Besottled.  I'm so in love with their stamps and their calligraphy.



Then, I purchased some notecards and envelopes, as well as a gold stamp pad from my local craft store.  If my very favorite paper store - Paper Source was a bit closer, I would have gone there.

Then, I stamped away.  I wanted something a bit unexpected on the envelope so I decided to stamp the back of the envelopes.

After the ink dried - I packaged them up with a thin red silky ribbon.

Voila - a sweet little "hello" hostess gift that is thoughtful, unexpected, and doesn't break the bank.

A Handwritten Note

In the world of email, sms, facebooking, tweeting and texting ~ how many of you actually hand write a note, a letter, a card?

Facebook reminds us if it's someone's birthday and even anniversary with our spouse.

I know that I've fallen into the bucket of sending birthday wishes over facebook.  I did it today.

It's a quick way to get the well wishes out (and I have to admit - when you don't have their address or life gets really busy and you forget to send the card ~ it makes life just a little easier).

So is the handwritten note a obsolete?  I hope not.  I've decided I'm going to do it more.  There is still something special about getting mail or if someone hands you a card.

Here are some really cute cards to give you a little boost of inspiration to pick up a pen and send a loved one a little note to just say...HI!

{ Social Proper } image via

{ Kate Spade } image via

{ Paper Source } image via

Tootles,

Caryl