You've got mail!

I think tonight's project would make a great Christmas gift, especially for a teacher! And I'm happy to say that I'm not alone, as I completely sold out of these at today's craft fair.

The best part about this project? It's so simple!

I started out with a little mailbox I picked up at Target a couple of years ago. (Target also sold a slightly different version of these last year and may do so again this winter, so keep a look out if you'd like to duplicate this project for end-of-year gifts.) I covered the side using some of the Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper. To have the paper neatly cover the area around the flag I simply punched a 1/2" circle and made a notch with my scissors form the circle to the edge of the paper so I could attach the paper all around the flag.

To decorate the front I inked up the apple image using old olive, chocolate chip and real red stampin' write markers on whisper white card stock, then punched it out with my 1 1/4" circle punch. I added a 1 3/8" circle mat of old olive card stock and a scalloped circle mat of real red card stock. To decorate the flag I used a scalloped circle punched out of old olive card stock and added the Merry Christmas sentiment from the Punches Three Level 1 hostess set stamped in real red on whisper white and punched out with our scalloped square punch.

Inside the mailbox I placed 4 packets of Mott's Apple Cider mix -- each packet a different flavor. I absolutely love this cider mix and drank a ton of it last winter! If the weather so far this year is any indication, I better stock up for this winter as well -- it's proving, once again, to be the perfect warm apple cider season.

I should also mention that my mom and I had a great time at today's craft fair at Lake Park High School. It's always fun to be back at my Alma Mater to see how things are changing and how the students seem to be getting younger and younger every year. It couldn't possible be me getting older, right? ;-)