Ink to Paper :: Gift of Packaging :: Treats

Hey, did you know it's less than a week until Christmas?  It seems so hard to believe, right?  It just crept up so darn fast this year!  I'm hoping to make some cutout cookies this weekend with the kids; it's something we try to fit in every year and it didn't really work out too well last year, so I'm determined to do it this year.  Do you have something special you bake for the holidays?  Do you enjoy sharing it with friends and family?  As with handmade paper treats, I always think homemade goodies from the kitchen are extra special to give and receive, as well.

I have some treat packaging ideas for you today, as we continue with our Gift of Packaging series over at Ink to Paper.  They're for smaller-sized versions of treats, but you can just as well use the trims and tags on larger plates and tins of goodies, too.

Packaging up a few cookies can look so pretty when they're dressed in Tent-Style Packaging.  I cut out 2 of the tent pieces and adhered the bottoms together just as you normally would.  Instead of lining up the curved top piece, though, I folded them over and adhered them together like the bottom pieces, creating more of a box-type of package.

I slipped a trio of chocolate chippies in a cello bag, then inserted the bag into the tent box, wrapping and tying twine around them to securely hold the cookie bag inside.

The green box features some pretty leaves and branches that I die cut from the Tag Creations: Modern Gift collection, as well as layered tags from Tagged & Labeled.  The patterned paper for the bottom tag is from my Good Tidings gift wrap kit that was released a couple of years ago.  I still love those papers and they are a steal right now--just $2 for the entire paper pad!!

I thought that the sentiment was so perfect, even though it wasn't treat-specific.  You can find it in the It's a Sign: Holiday Sentiments stamp set.  I filled these little boxes with sweet treats, and wish my recipients a holiday filled with sweet memories :)

The red box features a simplified version of the greens; I've used a sprig of real boxwood in place of the paper die cuts.  If you're pressed for time, natural greens are a nice alternative.  At Christmastime, I love adorning any gifts with small ornaments.  In this case, my friends will still have a small keepsake from me long after the treats have been eaten.

Supplies:
Stamps: It's A Sign: Holiday Sentiments
Ink: Watermark
Paper: Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Pinefeather, Limeade Ice & Sweet Blush Bitty Big, Good Tidings Paper Pad
Dies: Tent-Style Packaging, Tagged & Labeled, Tag Creations: Modern Gift
Other: white embossing powder, twine, lace, small ornament, cello bags, real greenery (optional)

Don't forget the kiddos when it comes to treats!  These little snowmen goody bags are so adorable and easy to whip up for any number of kids.  Fill a cello bag with your preferred treat (mine is a simple mix of popcorn, M&M's, and crushed candy canes), tie it off with twine and a small tag, then adorn with snowmen!

The die is the smaller of the snowmen from the Go-To Gift Card Holder collection.  I dressed them up with die cuts for the hat, nose, and scarf (adding a cute snowflake to the hats for decoration).

The small label from Tagged & Labeled is wrapped around the snowman and the treat bag with ribbon.  I placed a couple of glue dots between the snowman and cello bag to keep everything in place, tying the ribbon in the back.

I've stamped cute messages and snowflake images on the tags, making them kid-friendly.  These are the perfect treat to hand out in class (*minus the peanuts), at get-togethers, or to sit at the top of the children's' stockings on Christmas morning.

Supplies:
Stamps: Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman Accessories, Critter Carolers, Just Sentiments: Be Merry, It's A Sign: Holiday Sentiments
Ink: Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Pale Peony, Watermark
Paper: Pure Poppy, Mint Julep, Classic Kraft, White, Mint Julep & Sweet Blush Bitty Big
Dies: Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman, Tagged & Labeled, Tag Creations: Modern Gift, It's A Sign: Holiday Sentiments
Other: Pure Poppy & Pinefeather grosgrain ribbon, silver embossing powder, cello bags

I hope you enjoyed these packaging ideas!  Before I sign off, here are a few tips for you:

Tips:
1. Tailor your packaging toward the recipient (i.e. young & fun--snowmen--for the kids; more sophisticated--ornaments & greens--for the adults).

2. Turn what you already have into packaging--tie the snowman die cut to a small bag of treats or use Tent-Style Packaging as a makeshift box instead of a tent.

3. You also don't need to have treat-specific stamps to make tags to accompany your packaging. The 'wishing you a Christmas filled with sweet memories' from It's A Sign: Holiday Sentiments works just as well since it has the word sweet in it and I'm delivering cookies!

4. Dress your packages up or down depending on how many you need to make.  If creating just a few treat boxes to give out, you might have the extra time to devote to the fancy add-ons, like embossing, stamping/decorating the cardstock base or die cutting several pieces of leaves and branches.  However, if you have to mass produce your goodies and make a couple dozen, you can eliminate those steps for simpler--but no less handmade and thoughtful--packaging.