We're planning a closet -- typical hall closet size -- that'll have a lock instead of a doorknob; thus, it'll be accessible only to me and my husband. This closet'll have shelves top to bottom, and maybe basket type shelves on the inside of the door for bows, ribbons and so forth. The closet will serve a couple purposes: - gun safe - purchased-ahead gifts - gift wrap - a small amount of cash that we keep on hand As for buying ahead, I do pretty well with it. It's rare that I buy something that just sits around forever and ends up at Goodwill. When I wrap things, I just do basic wrap and use a sticky note to remind me what the item is. I add the bow at the last minute so that I can stack boxes without messing up th wrappers. I like the idea of putting your gift wrap items near the dining room. Practical and efficient.

Posted by Toomuchglass: Every Christmas I end up giving out a few Gift certificates - but I HATE just handing a plain old envelope to the person. Do you have any creative ways to "wrap" one ? **My one & only creative wrap job was a plastic soda bottle with the certificate & irridized easter grass in it.** I'm just not creative when it comes to wrapping ! Posted by Red_Confetti: I've seen a pop-up card with a hand inside into which you can put money (or a folded up gift certificate). Of course you could make the hand with a man's dress suit sleeve and shirt cuff showing, or a lady's wrist with jeweled bracelet, etc. When you open the card, the hand swivels up (or out, can't remember which) with the 'gift' in it. Posted by Sewbeit: I have used Mylar balloons from the dollar store. Just cut the opening larger to accomodate the gift card, fill with air and seal up with a small rubberband. I have also recycled Mylar balloons for this purpose. Attach a ribbon and Voila' - it's different. Laura Posted by Toomuchglass: I'll tell you the Creative ways I got gift certs --- maybe this can get your creative juices flowing to think of more ways! (1)Certificate Inside a jar of pennies that was glued so tightly shut that I couldn't get it open !! (2) I got money once ... it was $10 worth of quarters rolled up in a strip of masking tape .... (3) A gift certificate really well sealed in saran wrap -- inside a jar of jelly .. (4) A gift certificate inside the biggest wrapped box inside of the Big Box--a Smaller box--and an ever smaller box -- then the tiniest box .. there was the certificate inside ! Posted by Red_Confetti: *Roll up the gift certificate and slide it inside a balloon. Inflate the balloon and tie off (certificate will be visible inside balloon), along with a few other balloons. Use the balloon bouquet to decorate a wrapped box. Inside the box is just a (straight sewing) pin to use to pop the balloon to get the gift certificate. *Carefully open the bottom of a box of Cracker Jacks. Put gift certificate inside plastic bag and place inside with crackerjacks. Reseal bottom. Gift wrap the box. *Slip gift certificate into plastic sandwich bag. Carefully open box of cereal that usually has a surprise or toy. Reseal bottom. Gift wrap the cereal. Posted by chinacat_sunflower: my favorite trick is to use the gift card as a book mark- a Home Despot card in a home repair book, an Icky Vicky's card in a bodice-ripper, one for a restaurant in a cook book... sometimes, they're so thrilled with the book that I get a phone call several days later to the effect of 'I didn't even notice the card until today- it was like getting two birthdays!' Posted by LoganHogan: This isn't as great as the others mentioned but every year I recycle the Christmas cards I've received. I buy the craft bags at Dollar tree, ETC and hot glue the the card front to the bag then I attach a really nice handmade bow that could be put on a wreath etc. I've used small cards on small bags with gift certificates and I usually included a new christmas ornament too. Susan in Bama

smbetz, The first book I ordered was from SpringerleJoy.com. It is "Anismodel", by Linus Feller. A beautiful book, and it came with a 24 page printed English Translation. The molds are mostly Swedish. From Amazon I ordered " Stolze Reiter, schone Damen" by Christa Fischer, German. Both were well worth the money for me, as I enjoy researching as much as I do collecting molds ect. Yes, Online translations have been a big help, and since these are my books, I have written in pencil some of the translations. The pictures in both books are amazing, and both have pictures of the white Anise cookie, also, some of the cookies are painted, which is very interesting. I also have a great buttermold book by the Van Vurens, which shows an Advertisement from Richardi & Bechtold having a large woodenware factory in Bellaire, Missouri 1880, lasting 25 years. The ad shows their "fancy cake prints" springerle molds, of all styles and sizes of boards and rollers. Having traveled to Germany in 1884 to hire a master carver to run this department, and bringing back, Robert Duderstadt, from Halberstadt to emigrate to Bellaire. I believe many of the rollers and prints we find on Ebay today from that period, could be from this company. The prints and rollers produced by "House on the Hill are pricey, but are a resin based mold, so it would be very food safe. The rollers sell for over $100.00. The antique rollers on Ebay are pricey, some 2-300.00 and up. I was lucky to find a very nice one in my $50.00 price range. I also thought my Speculaas board would be dutch. I have since carefully removed the paint, with a spray citrus remover, fortunately, the paint was only lightly spray painted and was not embedded in the carving or worm holes. The patina is still wonderful and I coated it with beeswax butcher block conditioner, as I do all of my wooden items. Being in the Southwest, very hot and dry I like to preserve this way. I have been collecting everything to do with butter making for over 30 years, displayed in my kitchen and pantry, these cookie boards and molds fit in perfectly. Thank you everyone for your responses. Debra

My favorite is my mother's. '60's yellow plastic with red trim (melamine?), kind of textured, with ball bearings. It works so well! I have a black with white trim, 1990's version which is a little lighter and doesn't hold the flour on the surface as well and just isn't good enough for pastry. It's good for cookies, though, and rolled biscuits. What I use most is a cutesy-poo Joseph Joseph one which is a straight, fat wood dowel and has rings you can put on to measure thickness. I'm guessing about 2.5" thick? The rings work fine for small amounts of dough, but there has to be room between the edge and the rings. I don't usually use them. There are also measuring marks on the rolling pin which can be handy. It works great for pie crust all on its own, as well as with the Perfect-A-Crust pie diameter rings. I really like the weight, heavy but not too heavy and it's only 14" so very maneuverable. It doesn't hold flour at all and I have to use a "sock" with it to roll something sticky. I also have a little wood one, which is about an inch in diameter and a foot long. I think it was meant for pasta, but it's good for anything wee and fiddly. It holds flour really well. For oversized stuff, I have a 20" metal (chrome?) fondant roller, which is another cylinder. It's easy to chill. Probably 2" in diameter. Does a good job but hard to put a sock on.