Category: Giving

DIY Dino Terrariums

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DIY Dino Terrariums ~ Succulent Terrarium Tutorial ~ Kid's Dino Birthday Party

This was the second year in a row that Sam requested a Dino themed birthday party and when you’re kiddo is turning FIVE, you smile & embrace all the fun! Which for me, means diving into all the Dino Pinterest projects I’m constantly pinning.

I grew up in the age of birthday favors, but struggle a bit with them now as a mama. In the past, it has just been candy. This year, I really wanted something the kiddos could keep & enjoy. From that the Dino Terrariums started to take shape. I opted for spending more money on the favors, but made them serve dual duty as a party craft too.

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A Lot of Love in a Little Box: Operation Christmas Child

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Operation Christmas Child ~ How to Pack a Shoe Box ~ By Bubblegum Sass

Each year we pack up several shoe boxes to donate to Operation Christmas Child. We started this tradition well before Sammy was born, knowing how much these gifts would be appreciated by a child in a developing country. Now as a mother, these shoe boxes have come to mean a whole lot more. They are HOPE. Hope for a child, for his siblings, for his friends, and community. One shoe box isn’t just Christmas gifts for a single child, for a single year. It is LOVE in box that has the potential to spread from one child, to a whole community.

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Holiday Gift Guide: For Home & Hostess

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Holiday Gift Guide: For Home & Hostess ~ By Bubblegum Sass ~ Shop Handmade Canada

I’m diving in good & early with my holiday gift guides this year. I’ve already started quite a bit of my Christmas shopping online from local and Canadian shops, so that I don’t have to worry about things getting delivered in time for gift giving. I also wanted to share some of my ideas with you now, so that you have a chance to work in a few local, handmade goodies into your Christmas shopping list {or even your personal wish list}.

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Holiday Gift Guide: Rugged Gentlemen

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Holiday Gift Guide: Rugged Gentlemen ~ Bubblegum Sass

For the third installment of my Holiday Gift Guide series, we turn to treats for all the wonderful gentlemen in our lives. The only thing is, most of the gents in my life are rough-around-the-edges, cabin-bound or farm-bound men, so my gift guide is inspired by them. Cheers to all the rugged gentlemen out there! (And don’t forget to check out the other posts in this gift guide series.)


NGNG (No Guts, No Glory) Gift Soap Set from Medicine River Soap Co. (Red Deer, AB)

 

Alberta T-Shirt 2nd Edition by Ole Originals (Vancouver, BC)
*The BEST tees around. Hubby & I each own a few of Chandler’s designs.*


Wood Covered Journal from Forest Nine (Calgary)


Mammoth Beard Co.
Hazelnut & Hemp Beard Oil Sample from Mammoth Beard Co. (Calgary)

Don’t forget to check out ideas from more great local shops on my Etsy Holiday Gift Guides page. Hope you’re starting to feel like you’ve got a number of things checked off your gift list. Would love to hear your own gift ideas for the gentlemen in your lives! I always find shopping for the gents the most challenging. So let’s hear it! What are you getting the menfolk for Christmas this year? {post in the comments}

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty For Her

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Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty For Her ~ Bubblegum Sass

Next up on my Holiday Gift Guide series is beauty products for all those lovely ladies in our lives, be it moms, friends, girlfriends or wives. Don’t forget to check out my previous posts in the series. Once again, these products are made by fairly local or very local folks in the Calgary area. I’ve included a few of my personal faves this time around too.


All Natural Lip Balms Set of Eight from Handmade Therapy (Calgary) *my fave lip balm*



Bubble Gum Bar Soap from Eliza Jane Soap Company (Delburne, AB)


Cherry Blossom Glitter Polish from Seven Sins Polish (Calgary)

*Who knew there were folks in town making custom nail polish?! Need to try this out for sure*


Cheeky Cosmetics (Okanagan Valley) from Cedar & Sparrow (Calgary)

*really enjoying the lip gloss & eye shadow these days*

You can check out more great ideas from all my Holiday Gift Guides over on Etsy too. Just remember that shipping deadlines for ordering outside of Calgary will be fast approaching!

Holiday Gift Guide: Dino Lovers

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Holiday Gift Guide: Dino Lovers ~ Bubblegum Sass

Now, I’m always up for making Christmas gifts and trying to avoid the malls. We do a lot of handmade holidays around our house, but there are purchased gifts too. As we try more & more to support local businesses (because that’s just a win-win for everyone) I thought I would share some gift ideas that can be purchased online from makers fairly close to home or really close to home (aka in person in Calgary proper).

Today I present my gift guide for all those little dino lovers in your life (because we have the world’s biggest dino lover right under our own roof):

Typographic Dinosaurs From Far Sky Kids
Typographic Dinosaurs from Far Sky Map Works (Edmonton)


Wooden Dinosaur Shadow Puppets from J.D.B. Mercantile (Calgary)



Dinosaur Magnet 8 Piece Set from The Original Animal Magnet (Vancouver)


T-Rex Print from Ellie Greets by Elisa (Calgary)

Sammy and I picked up some cards from Ellie Greets at one of the crafts shows and that T-Rex print will probably find it’s way into our home also. DO poke around to find out when and where the Calgary artists will be this season. Still plenty of craft shows coming up to catch them at. DON’T hesitate to contact them about doing local pick-up or drop-offs either. That’s the beauty of local makers… you don’t necessarily have to worry about shipping deadlines. Merry Christmas to all the little dinosaurs out there! Rrrrrroar!