“Anxiety is part of creativity, the need to get something out, the need to be rid of something or to get in touch with something within.” - David Duchovny

 

 

If you’re wondering (which I guess means that you don’t follow me on my other social medias), yes I still take orders for diaper cakes and gift baskets! All previous orders are updated on my Diaper Cake & Such Facebook PAGE (do click LIKE if you think my craft deserves it) and on Diaper Cake & Such BLOG as well. I’m currently contemplating a business proposal, a joint venture one might say; weighing the terms presented and asking myself, do I really want this? Do I need to compromise in return for good money? Should I do this? And the ultimate question: Will I have time for this?

 

I mean, I started this side business because I enjoy doing it, side income is a major bonus but mostly it is for the artsy side of me. To fulfill my need to unleash my creativity, to scratch the itch, you know what I mean? Duchovny, a sex addict he may be, got it right with that quote. Just last night, I was itching to make something, I actually felt my heart beat faster because I needed, wanted, and was actually craving to make something! So balik rumah tak sempat tukar from my work clothes, I completed a gift basket which is only due on January 6th. Cray-cray I know.

 

But I think most of us have this side to us; some (like my husband) are more musically inclined (do you know that he sings beautifully, plays the guitar, took a drum lesson once and can draw as well; I don’t know why he’s still a lawyer), some are into photography, some loves scrap-booking documenting their lives; and me, I’m into making gifts for your loved ones! And while we’re at that, let’s have a look at the recent gift baskets that I made, shall we? I’m not particularly awesome but I put love and effort in every single one of my creation!

 

 

 

 If you like what you see, email me at jumjumatun(at)yahoo(dot)com for order!

 

 

Oh while we’re on this ‘creativity’ subject, last night Hadi handed me a headphone and he put one on himself too. He said, “Mama nyanyi tadadadadadadadadada” (irama lagu sang by Upin Ipin masa school concert, the staging of Pengembala Kambing by the kids), “Hadi nyanyi InsyaAllah, cepat, nyanyi sama-sama.” You see what he did?! He mashed up the songs! Man, were we damn proud or what.

He’s going to be a successful music producer one day. Haha lame, overproud parents.

 

 

"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving." - Author Unknown

Are you strapped for cash but wanna give someone a special gift? Make a gift basket! Of course you can order one from professionals (or even me) but that’d cost you more. A simple gift basket is not difficult to do, really. All you need is a theme, a budget and a little bit of skill in ribbon-tying department and you’re good to go. As low as RM50 would get you a basket full of goodness, even more so if you know the recipient really well.

 

 

Here’s one I made for my bestie Ayin Emran for her birthday, which I named Kick Back & Relax Gift Basket. You can order one from me for your bestie and I’d charge you RM150.00 for a basket of similar nature (you know you can order from Diaper Cake & Such and request a theme right?) Or you could also make one yourself!

 

 

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT BASKET

First: Budget. Decide on your budget. If you have more than RM100.00 to spare, you can always shoot me an email at jumjumatun@yahoo.com and I’ll take care of that for you. Hehe again, shameless advertising.

Second: Create a theme. This is so much fun. If the recipient loves gardening, maybe you can give them a basket full of gardening stuffs. Or is she a movie fan? A basket full of DVD, popcorn and crackers, and comfy blankie and slippers would be nice. Or in this case, I decided to make Ayin one basket full of stuffs to help her kick back and simply enjoy her birthday: a romantic comedy DVD (my most favourite romcom of 2011 no less), a Sophie Kinsella chic lit, decaf coffee (because the woman is a coffee lover and is currently pregnant), comfy blankie and slippers, chocolates and lollypops (because what woman doesn’t love sweet goodness, right?) and some Korean facial masks. Fun, right?

Third: Shopping! This is the most fun part. First, you have to get a container to hold your stuffs. You can never go wrong with a good old wicker basket or you could play around a bit. A bucket for a housewarming gift basket. A huge bowl for a baking theme. Maybe a vase or a pitcher for a gardening theme. Or a suitcase full of handy college stuffs for a graduation gift basket. Oh the possibility is endless.

 

This is the gift basket I made for a boy’s first birthday. I used a faux-wicker basket here, inexpensive but pretty and sturdy. And reusable! That’s very important. Oh and as you can see, I chose a monkey theme, because what 1 year old boy doesn't love monkeys, right? Hehe.

 

Fourth: Assemble. This requires a bit of skill but hey, I have faith in you! The key is to never overdo your decoration or it would look messy and for the lack of better word, yucky. Keep it simple.

 

So that completes the first entry to my How To series. If you need a dash of inspiration, you can always sign up for Pinterest and join me and the crazy Pinterest-loving bandwagon there. Lotsa talented people there, crazy I tell you.