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Friday Wrap: Corn Husk

By on October 8, 2010 in diy, gifts + favours, happy wrapping

Introducing… new at Have & Hold Design: Friday Wrap Ups! Every Friday I will feature stylish wrapping ideas, ranging from on-a-budget DIY to incredibly complex and perhaps a little more pricey (for those of you who really want to go the extra mile for your gift-giving). Today I’m featuring a wrap job appropriate for fall, which uses real corn husk and my favourite wrapping material of all time – kraft paper (because it’s so darn cheap and versatile). ;)

Materials:

  1. The gift (for this project I’m using the new Wine trio collection from Davids Tea. Great for saying “thanks” this Thanksgiving weekend).
  2. Kraft paper
  3. Tape
  4. Scissors
  5. Twine or hemp string/wool
  6. Dried corn husks (I bought variegated maize ears from a local farm for approx. $0.50 each! Now they sit on my table for decoration and all I needed to do was trim off a few strands of husks).

Steps:

1. Wrap your gift using kraft paper, scissors, and tape.

2. Tie your string material around the husk strands (2 or 3). Wrap it around the husks a few times, then tie it once at the back (not into a knot).

3. Place the husks against the package and wrap the ends of the string vertically around it.

4. Cross the strings at the back and bring them around to the front so that they are hugging the package horizontally.

5. Finish the wrap off by tying a bow in front of the husk. There’s not much else to it! Just trim the ends of the strings if you need to and you’re done.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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LUSH is a must!

By on May 31, 2010 in gifts + favours, style + beauty

I wanted to take a moment to talk about one of my favourite companies: LUSH.

Although you may find their products to be a bit pricier than some drugstore beauty products, there’s good reason for it, and no doubt – you’re worth it!

To begin with, LUSH products are made from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, fine essential oils and safe synthetics. They also make them all fresh by hand using little or no preservative or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and with indication of when the products were made. Testing on animals is also a big no-no for them.

So I picked out a few of my faves for you:

  1. Ocean Salt. Why I like it: Like? No, LOVE. Because it’s the best scrub I’ve ever encountered, with vodka infused lime, grapefruit and sea salt, balanced with moisturizing fresh avocado butter and coconut fat. Leaves me smelling like a delicious summer drink and an afternoon on the beach.
  2. Mange Too Massage Bar. Why I like it: Mouth-watering white chocolate, honey, banana, and subtle peppermint. What more can I say? I’ve been slightly tempted at times to take a bite from this bar, but better to start with a massage first. Then who knows? You might end up tasting a bit for yourself later… if you get what I’m saying. ;) So if you’re looking to spruce things up a bit – this is the ticket.
  3. Think Pink Bath Bomb. Why I like it: This what I like to call “girls night in”… but for one. A hot, fizzing, pink bath makes me feel relaxed and feminine. And the money for these pretties goes towards fighting Breast Cancer. So you can feel really good about taking a bath with this bomb… except don’t eat the little flower candies. They’re just for fun.

{images from MAZE blog, LUSH and TheBeauty2U}

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The 99 Feelings Project… and a Bunny

By on March 16, 2010 in flowers + decor, gifts + favours

While searching for spring/Easter decor and gift ideas, I came upon these little numbers from ArtMind on Etsy and immediately fell in love. These faceless little babushkas have pretty textures and shapes added to them to each convey their own feeling. It’s part of a series called the 99 Feelings Project. The bunny is not a part of the project, but I had to feature him because he’s seasonally appropriate… and so darn cute! You can see the whole collection here.

The artist states that “a lot of time and love goes into each one”, so you know you’re getting something special. Whether you want to give these away as gifts, or keep them for yourself, they would certainly make a playful addition to any home.

{all images from ArtMind on Etsy}

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Personalized M&Ms

By on February 18, 2010 in gifts + favours

I Love You M&Ms

Giulia and I both got spoiled with chocolate this past Valentine’s day. We don’t know what our boyfriends were thinking. Although I love chocolate, I’m not the type who gets all giddy over a box of assorted chocolates. It’s just… there are more practical, original things out there to surprise me with. But hey – don’t think I’m hatin’ on my bf’s V-day gift to me. Because what he got me was actually my all-time favourite type of chocolate – peanut M&Ms. And not only did I get one, but TWO large bags of them. Pretty sure the first thing that came out of my mouth when I opened the pretty pink gift bag was: “Oh my god. Are you trying to kill me?” That’s because his wonderful mother got me the exact same thing for X-mas and they were all gone in 3 days! *Sigh… they are my ultimate weakness.

Personalized M&Ms for an anniversary

M&M gifts

But because of this, I thought: February is the perfect month to feature a chocolate gift/favour idea. And if you can personalize it… even better! Check out MyMMs.com to make your own custom M&M candies. They could work for many occasions, like anniversaries, baby showers, weddings, or corporate events. You can add logos, faces, and personalized messages. It’s quite amazing actually. Simply go to the website, pick from 20 different colours, type in a message or upload a photo, then pick you packaging, and voila! In about two you’ll have something sweet and original at your doorstep.

My M&Ms

Unfortunately they do not print on the peanut ones. Too bad for me. But I still think it’s super cool.

{images from dwof, Valerie Renee, ucfgrl15, and artsy T on Flickr}

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Message-in-a-Cookie Cutters

By on February 7, 2010 in gifts + favours, happy eating

message cookies

Check out these Williams-Sonoma exclusive cookie cutters where you can customize your treats with special messages. You simply slide the letters or pre-made words into the cutter to form a name or a message, then you press the cutter into the dough, and voila! Your lettering is imprinted on the cookie.

message cookie cutter

Could you imagine these as a sweet favour for your next event? The great thing is they can work for multiple occasions, with endless message options to come up with. Perhaps “Happy Birthday Sarah” or “Jessica & Adam 2.7.10″? It’s up to you!

{Message cookie cutters from Williams-Sonoma. Images from Ohdeedoh}

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Custom Sweets

By on January 21, 2010 in gifts + favours, happy eating

Sweet Flour Bake Shop

A regular came into the shop I work at the other day and started talking to me about these cookies that are customizable, yummy and quick to order, and best of all – located in Toronto. She had me at ‘cookies’… It was funny that she mentioned this because just a day earlier I came across this web site for customizable chocolate bars, and I thought: “what a fantastic-ly awesome idea!” Sweets with lots of choice – now that’s what I’m talking about!

Both the Sweet Flour bake shop and Chocri schokolade offer up a playful collection of ingredients for your sweet tooth to choose from. From Sweet Flour (who also make custom muffin tops and cookie sandwiches – mmm mmmm!), you can choose items like Cappuccino Chips, M&Ms, and Mini Pretzels, and as for Chocri, well the list just continues on, featuring items like Banana Chips, Cinnamon, Licorice Drops, and Rice Crispies. If you wish to be more daring, you could even try putting Jalapeños, Chives, or Wasabi Peanuts in your chocolate bar. How about trying something fancy like adding Real Gold Flakes or Candied Lilac? Well they have it! Even if you’re not going to order a chocolate bar, I suggest heading over to the site just to make your own bar and check out all the options. It’s quite fun!

Both the custom cookies or bars would make great favours or a wonderful treat to serve during your event. There is also a little occasion coming up known as Valentine’s (not sure if you’ve heard of it), but… I think that cookie place might be my date option for that day.

making a Chocri bar

Chocri customized chocolate bars

{images from Sweet Flour and Chocri}

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Links of London Love Collection

By on January 20, 2010 in gifts + favours, style + beauty

Links of London has always brought eclectic charms, bracelets and cufflinks in sterling silver and 18k gold since they first started in 1990. Their fine jewelery is classic, but also modern enough to pair with a casual outfit. Their charms especially are easy to match, and come in so many designs :) The heart-sheaped charms alone range from a plump round one, to my favourite thumbprint one, to the sapphire-embellished Lovestruck one.

Links of London

For Valentine’s day, Links of London has a limited edition, Love Collection, by their creative director, Elizabeth Galton. Each piece is exquisite and would make a great gift for a lovely lady.

{image from Butter Boom}

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Red Hot Pottery

By on January 10, 2010 in gifts + favours

It’s been a long while since we featured some his and hers items (like these and these!) that are practical and not too cheesy. Here are some simple hand-made stoneware and pottery items from Arizona artist, Christine Tenenholtz. Matching mugs seem to be the best way to share a warm drink during the winter.

Red Hot Pottery

Red Hot Pottery

I love the shade of red used for the heart-shaped bowls and would like a set of those to share dessert with a loved one :) The robin egg blue Love Bird vase is also a beauty! Such sweet gifts for a pair of lovers ;)

Red Hot Pottery

{images from Red Hot Pottery}

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Amy Earles

By on January 1, 2010 in found + loved, gifts + favours

Persuasion detail

I am fascinated by fairytales and the dark themes embedded within them. I guess you could say I have a twisted side to me that not everyone sees on a day-to-day basis. And that is why these eerily beautiful paper dolls and artwork by Amy Earles really got me excited. This set on the left below was actually a commissioned anniversary gift. How clever and unique! I love personal gifts that reflect the receiver or the relationship you have with them. I think a paper doll set makes a special wedding or anniversary gift.

Her illustrations are amazing too! You can check them out at her Flickr stream or at her blog.

Anniversary commission + Little Maple

{images from Amy Earles on Flickr}

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Frazer Parfum

By on December 28, 2009 in gifts + favours, style + beauty

This cute solid perfume is packaged in a lovely hand carved African Blackwood case. It’s perfectly compact, and suitable for touchups :) My favourite part is how sustainable it is. The case is a made of a natural wood while the perfume scent is infused into an organic beeswax.

Frazer Parfum

With lovely perfumes and packages by Tammy Frazer, it would make a cute bridesmaids gift, no?

{image from The Die Line}

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