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Posts tagged: Holidays

Five Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Moms are the least likely people to treat themselves to anything. They’re too focused on what everyone else in the family needs or wants. So on Mother’s Day of all days, it’s the least we can do to surprise them with a thoughtful note and gift. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture just something that makes them feel extra loved and special. If you need help getting started, I paired some of my favorite Mother’s Day cards with gift ideas for your mom/wife/friend. Happy celebrating the most amazing ladies out there!

Mother's Day Cards and Gift Ideas | Smudge Ink1) This sweet card + CookieBox. For the one that taught you how to crack your first egg, fill up this simple yet smart-looking pine box with your own homemade treats and then let mom enjoy baking and presenting her treats in style.

2) This amazing card + fresh cut bouquet. If you don’t have your own garden to choose from, you can send a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers from Farmgirl Flowers. Not only will mom love the natural and whimsical style, she’ll be glad you supported American flower farmers.

3) This relaxing card + sunglasses. When’s the last time mom had some me time? Send her on her way to a sunny vacation spot with a pair of chic sunglasses from Warby Parker. Throw in some beach reading material and sunscreen too!

4) This Crayola-approved card + art book. Are Junior’s finger paintings and macaroni art slowly overtaking the kitchen fridge and counter? Try using Artkive, an app that lets you take photos of your kids’ artwork and turn them into a book that any proud mom will enjoy. Two gifts in one really: beautiful keepsake and tidy home!

5) This thirst quenching card + sugarbath cubes. Somehow moms know how to make lemonade out of anything! Let her hit refresh by turning your home bath into the ultimate spa experience. Outfit the bathroom with a nourishing bath soak (using these sugar lemon cubes from Fresh), plush towels, and aromatherapy candles.

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Happy Sibling Day! (and Free Printable Card)

Hey y’all! It's Vee. Sibling Day is coming up on April 10th, a day dedicated to (obviously) celebrating your siblings! The day isn't federally recognized like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are, but it's a great idea all the same. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a sibling!

Free Printable Sibling Day Cards | Smudge InkIn sharing our own sibling experiences with everybody at the studio, Margaret recalled being stuck with her brother and sister in the back seat of a long family car ride. All of us could relate immediately to that invisible line and the whining and shouting to mom or dad that ensued when one sibling or another crossed it. 

Free Printable Sibling Day Cards | Smudge InkFor those of use who grew up with siblings, fighting and bickering was a pretty common occurrence. Looking back, it seemed all of us had at least one memory of sibling rivalry gone too far and someone ending up sobbing and injured (not going to name any names here!).    

Inspired by our collective childhood stories, I designed these Sibling Day cards that you can print out and send to your brother and/or sister. Hopefully, they make you look fondly on all of those now-laughable moments you shared with your siblings.

Download and print “Happy Sibling Day” and "Love Ya, Sib!" cards.

Free Printable Sibling Day Cards | Smudge InkMy siblings and I definitely fought like cats and dogs, but we all know we have each other’s backs, and while we still definitely need our space, we’re grateful for each other. I hope you'll let your siblings know that even through good and bad (and maybe a hospital trip here and there) you still care for them! 

Free Printable Sibling Day Cards | Smudge Ink

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Happy Lunar New Year! (And Fortune Cookie Printable)

Hello! My name is Vee Lewandowski; I’m a senior Illustration major at Lesley University College of Art and Design, and Smudge Ink’s spring intern! When I’m not creating art I love learning about sharks, playing dungeons and dragons, and using excessive exclamation points! Excitement!

Lunar New Year Fortune Cookie Printable | Smudge Ink
Chinese New Year is on February 8th this year, and we’re entering the year of the Monkey. It’s a celebration of the Lunar New Year that is centuries old and full of traditions and importance. I had to do plenty of research for this since I’m not from a household that celebrates Chinese New Year and I learned a lot! The celebrations include lion and dragon dances, fireworks, a lot of time with family, and much more.

Lunar New Year Fortune Cookie Printable | Smudge InkWhile fortune cookies are an American invention, we weren’t able to whip up the more traditional mooncakes that are found in China. So instead we found this tutorial by Sugar and Charm on how to fold your own paper fortune cookies that’s easy and quick.

We have three designs for you to slip inside them, and all three relate to the celebrations! Lotus flowers are a favorite in China, and represent long life, honor, humility, and tranquility (good things to focus on and start fresh with for the lunar new year). The red paper lanterns are hung in windows and doorways and along the street to add to the atmosphere. And dragon dances are performed during the festivities, and believed to bring good luck. Dragons are seen as possessing dignity, wisdom fertility, prosperity, and great power. I definitely want a slice of that!

Lunar New Year Fortune Cookie Printable | Smudge Ink
Click the link below to download and print the free printables:

Lunar New Year Fortune Cookie Printables

Fold these paper fortune cookies (again, you can see the tutorial here) and give them to friends and family who you care about, send them into the lunar new year with well wishes and hopes for good luck, tranquility, dignity and so much more!

Lunar New Year Fortune Cookie Printable | Smudge Ink

Lunar New Year Fortune Cookie Printable | Smudge Ink

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Groundhog Day (and Top Bill Murray Movies)

Groundhog Day As we wait to find out whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow tomorrow, I asked the crew what their favorite Bill Murray movie is. Read on to find out whether Groundhog Day made the list ...

CLAYTON. 1970's starlets hold a special place in the directorial heart of Quentin Tarantino. For Wes Anderson, the casting soft spot leans towards Angelica Huston, and none other than Mr. Bill Murray. Anderson's plots may leave me feeling disillusioned and sometimes apathetic, but visually, his movies remain ceaselessly stunning. Ergo, my favorite Bill Murray is a toss up between The Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Darjeeling Limited. I vote the former—stop motion animation based on a Roll Dahl classic. What's not to love really?

EMILY. I think mine is actually Groundhog Day! I sincerely love almost every movie that Bill Murray is in, but something about Groundhog Day makes me want to watch it over and over and over ... Seriously though, I've probably watched that movie at least 10 times and I never get sick of the humor, the story, or the cozy little town.

KATE. Ghostbusters. It's a fun movie with a silly story line that made me laugh—Bill Murray tends to do that. Plus, the soundtrack is unforgettable.

MARGARET. IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY! My sister and I used to watch this movie all the time when we were kids. It impacted our lives to the point of our dad playing Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" every morning to get us out of bed for about a year.

DEB. There are a lot of movies I like but that doesn't mean I'll watch them over and over again. Groundhog Day is an exception. I'll stop channel surfing immediately if it happens to be on and it never gets old. A close second is What About Bob? In high school, my brother and his good friend caddied together at the nearby golf club, so they would naturally spend a good amount of their time watching and quoting Caddyshack (not on my list). One time, that same friend drove to New Hampshire to visit my family on vacation. I have a very distinct memory of his utter excitement upon driving by a sign for Lake Winnipesaukee (the setting for What About Bob?) on Interstate 93N and discovering that it’s a real place. I have no idea if the movie was actually filmed there, but whenever I watch it, I can’t help but thinking of this family friend.

SABRINA. I'll have to go with What About Bob? "I'm sailing! I'm sailing! I sail! I'm sailiiiing!” While I love Murray's characters in Wes Anderson movies, his earlier comedies are such classics. 

VEE. My favorite Bill Murray film is probably The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. I’ve always loved the ocean and marine life, my whole family scuba dives and spends plenty of time by the ocean. I always found the movie fun and corny and it’s got that classic Wes Anderson vibe. I’ve always wanted to have a Team Zissou outfit.

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Printable Classroom Valentines for Kids

Kids love a good craft project but let's be honest we don't always have the time to hand make 20 or so Martha-approved Valentine's Day cards. As a less daunting alternative, we took some our sweetest Valentine designs and turned them into adorable miniature cards that you can print right at home!

Free Printable Classroom Valentines for Kids | Smudge InkFree Printable Classroom Valentines for Kids | Smudge InkJust cut out and then have your kids write in their messages and fold along the dotted line—you're all set! For an extra touch, hole punch and tie with ribbon, seal with some washi tape, or attach them to candy. 

Free Printable Classroom Valentines for Kids | Smudge InkClick the links below to download and print the free printables (either by design or all four designs):

U R Super Fly Mini Valentines Cards
Like You A Lot Mini Valentines Cards
Arrow Mini Valentines Cards
Hearts Mini Valentines Cards
All Four Designs

Free Printable Classroom Valentines for Kids | Smudge Ink
Have a happy and no-fuss Valentine's Day!

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