The Art of Gifting

Latest TXDD creations!

By essentially using a ruler and letter stensils, we believe that the greatest gift you could give is anything that is unique to your family, friends, etc. that is one-of-a-kind.  A recent radio broadcast discussed the value of a personalized gift.  When internet users of a "gifting" Website were polled, approximately over 70% of participants recalled only those gifts that were made for them stuck in their fond memories.  Personally, as I try to recall what gifts meant the most to me, I remember the Batman card from my brother where he calls me "bub," the sparking cross from my daughter, or a cardboard frame designed with Crayola markers from my college roommate.  We hope that our designs below, will provide you with a means to make an unforgettable (and well budgeted gift).  !Bueno suerte!

Place: Michael's and New York (as in you can buy "parts" of your personalized gifts anywhere and everywhere).  Note that this particular client loves anything to do with Paris.

Materials: Flat canvas, glitter spray paint, and pearl buttons.

Cost: $10.00.

Place: Michael's and scrapbuck.com.

Materials: 12x12 wood, "sticky letters," flowers representing family initial (12 for $1), and metal birds.

Cost: $12.00.

Place: Michael's and Goodwill.

Materials: Mirror (Goodwill $5.95), paper, clock knobs (Michael's $1)-hang what you may from them, modge podge glue, and cardboard birds.  The square within a square was an accident, but turned out to give it a "3-D" dimension within the mirror.

Cost: $20.00.

Place: Michael's.

Materials: Large canvas, paint, and blank cardboard birds (decorate to your heart's desire).

Cost: $15.00

Place: Michael's.

Materials: Large canvas, paint, little birds representing each family member (20 for $1 Michaels) and wooden hearts.

Cost: $15.00.

Place: Michael's.

Materials: Medium canvas, spray paint, and bird stickers.

Cost; $10.00.

Place: Michael's.

Materials: Large canvas, paint, and wooden birds.

Cost; $15.00.

Place:  Michael's.

Materials: Wooden album, wood letters, and sticker embellishments.

Cost: $20.00.

Check out these AWESOME Websites for help:

Meaningofgifts.com

uncommongoods.com

etsy.com

pinterest.com

P.S. Google: Fly on Dime! Love it!

!Pièce de résistance!

Okay, although our most recent post displayed our "newest" business cards, we actually ditched that design and went with the porch-side brunette below:

Our motto in the back: "It's in the details."

T-shirts and new e-mail address to come...

A Crafter's Couture. "Chichi" it up a little!

 IT'S "IN THE DETAILS" MY COUTURE LOVERS!


Here are some of my partner's latest creations done with a simple ingenuity that anyone can do with just a few basic tools and instructions. Remember that each project is a one-of-a-kind, which remains our ultimate goal.  Even if you mess-up the first few times trying, it's always a good conversation piece relating to originality right?  Who wants to walk into a house and think "Oh yeah, I saw picture remake at [insert major corporation]!"  For those who continue to remain incredulous of the presented ease of our projects, here's a fun fact about the dumpster divas: We do this for fun.  


Now why would I say this is a "fun fact?" To reiterate how easy our projects are to begin and complete.  Neither of us are decorators, art majors, interior designers, etc.  My partner had discovered the world of crafting gifts for others long ago with the help of her family.  Slowly, but surely, I became intrigued with the many ways you can morph others' discards from Goodwill, resale shops, and the like into recycled mod.  Shabby chic is by no means a new term to be passed around in these circles.  As we were thinking of ways to "build gifts" for others, we decided to "Chichi tailor" our ideas and designs into the interior designs and ideals of others.  For example, we love the designers Rachel Roy (rachelroy.com), Michael Kors, and the Website shopruche.com.  We continuously seek to add vintage variations (such as CHANEL pumps from a resale shop) to modern and form fitting clothes.  This goes the same for our in and out of doors concepts.


Feel free to post comments, ask for ideas for your own personal style, and invite your friends to join!




Mother's day gift.
Tools: Wood shape hearts, black stones, Terra cotta pot and polka dot ribbon, scrapbook paper, and wood letters.
Cost: approx. $12.00.  Just .29 cents for Terra cotta pot at Albertson's!
Place: Hobby Lobby and Albertson's.

Tools: 12x12 wood board, paper, wood letters and shapes.
Cost: approx. $10.00.
Place: Hobby lobby and Michael's.
Just pick your favorite quote!

Add the atheistic appeal of texture to your love!
Tools: Chipboard letters and yarn.
Cost: approx. $14.00
Place: Joann's Fabrics.
Use any fabric, yarn, etc. that you have.  If you have a little of this fabric and a lot of the other, it only makes it that much better and more original.  My partner ran out of white and used the rest black!  Less was indeed more.

Tools: Whitewash vintage window.
Cost $10.00.
Place: Canton, Texas.  We have seen windows just like these in speciality stores in the D/FW area for $55 and higher.  Why pay highway robbery prices, when you can just go to the mecca of home decor? If you don't live in the area, find a flea market run by your local hippy or vintage junkie store-remember to buy and build local!

Halloween party decor.
Tools: Terra cotta pots, paint, wood shapes and ribbon.
Cost: approx. $15.00.
Place: Albertson's and Hobby Lobby.

Tools: Terracotta pots, ribbon, paint, and branches
Cost: approx. $30.00.
Place: Tj Maxx.  we would prefer not to dry our own branches.  We get our eyebrows waxed and/or plucked, but we're not cave women...yet. Other stores used: Albertson's, and Hobby Lobby.

Homemade ethereal...
Tools: Fabric, pillow stuffing (Joann's)-Dumpster Divas don't do "down," wood (Home Depot), buttons, and staple gun (borrow this from a friend or make your husband find one).
Cost: approx. $30.00.
Place: Home Depot and Joann's Fabrics.
Go to YouTube  or Google and type: make your own headboard.  If you can read, you do it!

Contributing family inspirations...

Tools: Vase, different types of branches and feathers.  Whatever the bird, it doesn't matter, just make sure there are different colors with one eye-catching color (ours was red).
Cost: approx. $20.00.
Place: Hobby Lobby.

Tools: Wooden letters, paper, and "Mod Podge glue.
Cost: approx $15.00.
Place: Hobby Lobby.
Pick single sheet from anything people! A book, magazine, wrapping paper, old music sheets from your piano bench or resale shop, shopping bags, or anything at home that you find visually appealing, but can't find a place or reason for displaying.

Tools: Vintage window and sticker appliques (can find online pre-made or order your own words).
Cost: approx. $14.00.
Place: Canton, Texas and Hobby Lobby.

Tools: Vase, branches, and feathers.
Cost: approx $10.00.
Place: Hobby Lobby.
Once again, find your favorite "bam!" color and integrate differing textures.  Note: This is good advice to give to a bachelor or "gentleman folk" in your lives who continue to remain clueless and/or careless about the "vibes" their place gives off the visitors.

Contributing Family Inspirations...a new take on being full of beauty ;).