Packaging Baked Goods in Your Kitchen - Creative & Resourceful Ideas

When I owned a catering company, I learned that it, indeed, is “all about presentation,” as they say.  I’ll never understand how someone can spend so much time and effort into making a delicious and beautiful treat, then put it into a plastic tupperware box or put it on a paper plate wrapped in plastic wrap.  Drives me crazy... I realize that most people do not have all the time in the world to dream up how to package their cookies.  Yes, I know there are more important things.  Buuuut, it is so easy with just a little effort.

Take a cue from you favorite retail boutiques, do they put your purchases in a plastic grocery stack?  No, they wrap your items lovingly in tissue sealed with a branded sticker and then into a color coordinated gift bag.  Packaging your kitchen goodies nicely might even make them taste better... if that is possible.

Now, you can find all of this packaging supplies in my online store : Everyday Occasions - enjoy!

 Kitchen Packaging Supplies
   
Cellophane Bags (buy here)
2.5" circle labels
Small Rectangle Labels
Parchment paper
Bakers twine
Scissors
Various Ribbons & Colorful Twine

Here are some of the examples of how I have used these materials throughout the year :

 The BEST Buttermilk Biscuits & Homemade Blackberry Preserves

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies in bags with twine tie

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies with Foldover Card 

Banana Bread packaged in parchment tied with twine

oohh... look what's inside!  (recipe here)

Black and White Cookies with Large Circle Labels, Ribbon & Cello Bags

Black and White Cookies with Large Circle Labels, Ribbon & Cello Bags 

Mini Chocolate and Salted Caramel Sandwich Cookies in Cello Bags with Foldover Card 

Mini Chocolate and Salted Caramel Sandwich Cookies in Cello Bags with Foldover Card packaged in a mailer box with parchment paper, then tied with natural twine.

Holiday Sugar Cookies in cello bag, tied with twine and card

Chocolate Brownie Cupcake... yum!

Hand Painted Linen Kitchen Towels & Napkins - Easy DIY Project

In my kitchen, each season I change out accents to make the otherwise neutral room feel more like that particular time of year.  Little touches like adding fresh colored kitchen towels and a stack of linen napkins can make a big difference in making the entire room feel like Spring, for example.  To be able to keep up with my seasonally evolving kitchen, I have made a variety of custom kitchen linens that boast my favorite color combinations and hand-stitched monograms.   Best of all, this project can be done by the most un-gifted artist.

UPDATE : I've started stocking my own collection of linens in my Everyday Occasions store - some inspired by these hand-painted towels.  My collection for this season has a selection of warm, muted tones for fall.  Some even come with coordinating cocktail napkins and dinner napkins - perfect for making your kitchen and family dinners cozy and warm this season.  Visit the store here.

The Entire Linen Collection (in order of photo) :

Cream & Grey : Tea Towels & Napkins

Warm Grey Plaid : Tea Towels

Classic Cafe White & Black :  Tea Towels

Orange & White : Tea Towels

Natural Multi Striped : Tea Towels & Cocktail Napkins

hand painted
linen kitchen towels & napkins

    fabric paint
    brushes
    painter’s tape
    water
    drop cloth or craft paper
    linen fabric
    sewing machine
    thread
    pair of scissors   

Directions :

Begin by cutting the linen into the size of the item you’d like to make.  For a napkin, a 20-inch square is a standard size, and 24 by 30-inches works great for kitchen towels.  Allow 1-inch extra around the perimeter for the seam.  Place a piece of craft paper on your surface before beginning.  Place the linen down and use painter’s tape to create stripes.  For a ‘plaid’ effect you’ll need to do the perpendicular stripes in separate phases.

To make the paint, mix the color you’d like to use, then dilute it with 2 parts water.  Dip your paint brush in the paint, then dab off until almost all of the liquid is off of the brush, leaving only a small amount coating the bristles.  This is called a dry brush method.  Lightly begin to brush the liquid on with even strokes.  Continue until all of the stripes are a homogeneous color and intensity.



Remove the tape and repeat to complete your selected pattern. 

Let the paint dry for several hours. 

Hem the edges of the linens with a 1/2 seam.  Wash in cool water and press.

I put an "H" monogram on our napkins with embroidery floss using a simple running stitch.  

Here's the in-one-image snapshot for pinterest!

Our Impromptu Picnic on the Beach | Part 2 of Mother's Day Weekend

Our Impromptu Picnic on the Beach

Part 2 of my Mother's Day weekend

As I was enjoying my Lobster Roll at Brimfield (Mike had a pulled pork sandy- you can take a boy outta KC...) I said, 'It is so nice out today - would be great to be at the beach.

 

An hour later, we were.

 It was really one of those surreal moments - as all moments are when you first get to the ocean.  You forget how massive it is.  Each time I get near a beach, I get that oh so small feeling that feels oh so good.

We stopped by a marina-front seafood shop and picked up dinner, picked up a bottle of wine in town and took our blanket (that hosted two picnics in one day...) down to the Duxbury beach.  As you might remember, we've been here before during the Fall- I called it a beachfront Home Alone neighborhood.

 

Emma was mesmerized by the sound and the waves as they crashed in.

  Through the eyes of a child...

Oh, those eyes.

 

We lounged.  Walked.  We chatted.

We played.  

Until sunset.

Exploring Brimfield Antique Show in Massachusetts & My Mother's Day Picnic(s)

We had a great weekend last weekend.  We went where the wind blew us, we laid in the grass, on the beach and on the couch... perfect weekend.

Mother's Day Weekend part I   



We started the weekend on Saturday morning with a trip to Brimfield for the infamous Brimfield Antique Show more commonly known as just "Brimfield."  I'd read about the famed "Brimfield" in Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, etc... Thousands of vendors gather in fields pedaling their treasures.  Most booths are like stepping into trendy little boutiques that specialize in vintage linens, industrial salvage antiques, woodwork, illustrated books... much more than just antiques.  The vendors take their curating craft very seriously.

And we're off...

This booth of linens was my favorite.  She carried vintage linens - everything from European fine bed linens to homespun tablecloths and 1950s embroidered pillowcases.  

Stacks and stacks of linens.  I came away with a few finds...



Including this linen European Duvet with a pintuck and dot boarder... I love how modern it looks, but it is early 20th Century. 

I really wanted to find an embroidered pillowcase from which to make a dress for Emma out of but I was being too picky...  But isn't that a good idea?  Just a simple little slip dress with the bottom embroidered.



  These chenille coverlets remind me of the "Pink Room" at my Granny's house.

Paper-Source who?

This rural primitive aesthetic is right up my alley.

We almost walked away with this, but we would've had to make a trip back with my SUV to get it...  Almost.

I bought these matted book pages for Emma's room.  Mr. Darcy's favorite toy is Pooh - he is rarely without his Pooh, so I thought this would be cute for them to have.

Jade-ite everywhere... but out of my budget. 

Only in New England.

Picnic 1 of 2 for the day.

We spread our blanket out on a shady hill - Emma loved the breeze outside... but the old man snoring behind us was a little frightening.

She quickly recovered.

Smiles for Dad.
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