5 Homemade Hostess Gifts

/

Glitter Ornaments

Here's what you'll need to make your own glitter ornaments: 

Clear glass ornaments 
Pledge Tile & Vinyl Floor Finish with Future Shine 
Fine glitter (Martha Stewart glitter) 
A funnel 
A few cotton swabs 

To make the ornaments: 

1. Take off the hangers from the ornament 
2. Squirt some floor wax in the ornament and roll or swirl it around.  
3. Take the cap off of the floor shine and stick the ornament upside down on it so the extra drains back in.  
4. Pour a generous amount of glitter into the ornament through a funnel. 
5. Roll the ornament around so the glitter coats the inside. 
6. Put your thumb over the opening and shake the ornament, making sure glitter coats the neck and any other bare spots. 
7. Take the lid off of the glitter container and turn the ornament upside down on it so the loose glitter can empty back in the glitter container. 
8. Put the toppers back on the ornaments.

Homemade Coasters

With materials you can find on ebay, make your own hostess gifts! 

Cork coasters – Ebay has a great selection 
Printed initial – Times New Roman or Georgia. 
Transfer paper – craft store 
Pencil 
Sharpie or permanent marker 
1.  Lay transfer paper face down on coaster. Center cut out letter on top. Make sure it is straight.  Using a pencil make an outline of the letter. The pressure of the pencil point will transfer graphite on the transfer paper to the cork. 

2.   When you are done, remove letter and transfer paper to reveal a graphite outline of the letter. 

3.  Fill letter in with a permanent marker.

Cocoa Party Kit

You will need: 

5 mason jars  

colorful holiday-colored paper straws 

mini-marshmallows 

cocoa powder or k-cups (we like Starbucks k-cups) 

milk 

cinnamon sticks 

Customize as you see fit! As you can see here, I added hot chocolate k-cups to one mason jar and mini marshmallows to another. 

Framed Chalkboard

Here is how to make this adorable chalkboard frame!
  1. Take apart a vintage frame (ebay has a great selection) and cut a piece of black board to fit inside (from Home Depot).
  2.  Buy some chalkboard paint at Home Depot.
  3. To cut the chalkboard, you could use a porter cable multi tool. Then use Liquid Nails to glue the chalkboard into the frame.
  4. A hot glue gun works well to glue on a piece of felt for the back. If liquid nails gets on the blackboard side it's easy to clean off with a wet cloth if you do it right away.
  5. For the cord to hang the chalk, upholstery trim works nicely (hot glued only the trim not the chalk so the chalk can be swapped out.
  6. Make a cute and functional eraser by attaching a piece of felt to a wood block. You can use  a round wood block that has a hole in it, covered both ends in felt and wrapped it and hung it with trim (used hot glue gun). Use trim for a decorative hanger at the top (also hot glued).

Baking Kit

This baking kit is a really fun, and quick hostess gift idea.  

Simply stock up on any kitchen tools that will fit in a new kitchen potholder and tie with a pretty ribbon! Some ideas:

The Perfect Holiday Cheese Board

/


It's that time of year, the holidays. Whether you are attending a party or hosting one yourself, knowing how to make the perfect cheese plate is essential. 


Pick a variety: When going the store, ask for a variety of cheeses (cow, goat, and sheep) with different textures. Soft, crumbly goat cheese; oozy brie; semisoft manchego (sheep's milk); aged Dutch gouda; and hard parmesan-reggiano are mild, crowd-winning options. Consider buying at least one pungent and strong cheese, too, like a blue cheese, for serious cheese-lovers. 
You can add the following to your cheese plate for some variety: Candied walnuts, Marcona almonds, honey, figs, seasonal fruit (like cherries or grapes), and even caramel go well with cheese.  

Serve the cheese plate with thin crackers like Carr's, Raincoast Crisps, or 34 Degrees Crispbreads. 

Let the cheese come to room temperature: The complex flavors of cheese taste best when they are served at room temperature. Several hours before guests arrive, take the cheeses out of the fridge, and let them rest on the countertop until they're no longer cool to the touch. 

Spread on a cheeseboard: Use a large wooden cutting board or a stone slab to lay out the cheese from mildest to strongest. Between each cheese, place fruits, nuts, and crackers to create dividers. Make sure each cheese has its own knife so that no one double dips into separate cheeses!

 

20+ Clever Ways to Give Gift Cards

/

I give gift cards year-round, for all sorts of occasions. Here are my creative tips for gift card giving: 

Here is what you need:
  • clean jars with lids
  • distilled water
  • plastic animals
  • epoxy
  • tinsel glitter
  • sand paper
  • glycerin


Make sure your jars are cleaned and dried thoroughly. With sandpaper, mark up the underside of the lid and then attach your chosen figurines using a bit of epoxy. Epoxy will be the best defense against water over time. Let the epoxy set completely and then fill your jar just short of full with distilled water. 
Add a little drop of glycerin to the water. If you add too much it’s going to make the water kind of thick. Add your glitter to the jar, using more or less depending on how snowy you’d like your snow globe to appear. Tinsel glitter works best and gave the best snowy look. 


One year, I made a New Year’s gift basket for my sister Em and brother in law Jeff. I included a $25 Fandango gift card and a $25 Red Robin gift card (their fave restaurant), along with popcorn and cocoa. It was kind of like an “dinner and a movie” kit 
Go with a theme. For example, one year I gave one of my friends a kit of her favorite  Starbucks coffees and a mug and included a Starbucks gift card with it. You could also make a chef’s kit, with a Williams Sonoma gift card. The ideas are endless!
Hide a gift card in a fuzzy pair of slippers. You can also get more creative and hide it in a pair of socks, inside the slippers!
Buy holiday stationary online. Cut, fold, tape and you are done!
Instead of just giving a gift card, attach it to a fun gift, like a book, dvd, box of candy, etc. I like the idea of picking out the recipient's favorite book and matching the candy to it.
Here is a great trick to play on someone. Wrap up the biggest box you can find and put the gift card in the very bottom. They will think they are getting a huge gift, but not understand why the box is so light until they open it.
============================= 
MORE IDEAS: (source Shutterfly.com)

1. Wrapping Paper

Whether it’s baby blue wrapping for a baby shower or custom ordered wrapping with your friend’s favorite cartoon character– wrapping paper matters. It’s shows care has been put into the presentation. Plan ahead to have appropriate wrapping paper ready to go for any occasion that might come up.

2. Newspaper Cartoons

In a pinch, or for a friend who really loves comics, newspaper cartoons make a fun wrapping paper. Simply cut out an appropriate comic strip for the occasion. To help yourself out in the future, try cutting out funny comic strips whenever you get the paper.

3. Ribbon

Sometimes an elegant or elaborate ribbon will do the trick when wrapping a gift card box.  Just make sure it’s tied tight enough that the gift card won’t accidentally fall out.

4. Origami Paper

Looking for a unique and elegant paper to wrap your gift card box? Consider using a square of origami paper. The gift card is small enough that you won’t need much paper, and you can even add a special origami shape on top for decoration.

5. Small Baggie

For an easy to wrap gift, consider ordering gift card sized baggies. These small paper or plastic baggies are perfectly sized, and they look adorable on a gift table.

6. Cloth Bag

A small cloth bag can work just as well as the gift bags mentioned above. This is a great alternative when the occasion calls for more delicate decorations.

7. Gift Card Box

Gift card boxes are necessary when decorating with wrapping paper because they help keep the shape of the gift. You can also decorate the box itself however, if you don’t have any wrapping paper.

Ideas For Gift Card Holders

Looking for some specific ways to hold the gift card? These gift card holders show that time and care have been put into the gift. Pick your favorite idea from those below or use them to inspire an idea all your own.

8. Phone Card Holders

For a unique cardholder idea that doubles as a functional gift, consider using phone cardholders. The gift card easily slides into one of the pockets and you can personalize the design to match the giftee’s style.

9. Card Fold

Consider adding a decorative pouch or folder to the inside of your card. This helps you easily store the gift card in a thoughtful way so that the gift doesn’t fall out of the card when it’s opened.

10. Snack Bag

For a simple and unique gift card holder, consider using a paper snack bag. You can decorate the paper bag and then tie it with a simple string or twine. This works great for gifts for kids.

11. Business Card Holders

Similar to the phone card holder idea, this idea is both cute and practical. Customize a business card holder to hold the gift card for something the giftee is sure to use over and over again. This is an especially perfect gift for new professionals or graduates.

12. Keepsake Boxes

This is an elegant gift and a great option for higher-end occasions, like a bridal or baby shower. Customize the keepsake box for the giftee and place the gift card inside.

13. Mason Jar

Customize a mason jar for the giftee and fill it with their favorite candy. Then hide the gift card inside the candy for an extra special surprise. This is great for kids, graduates, and adults with a sweet tooth.

Gift Card Presentation Ideas

Looking for the right gift card ideas for a specific occasion? Check out the thematic gift card presentation ideas below for some fun inspiration.

14. Christmas Gift Card Ideas

Gift cards make great stocking stuffers as well as gifts under the tree. Looking for some cute presentation ideas for this holiday occasion? Here’s a few of our favorites:

 

  • Inside the stocking, wrapped in black paper to resemble “coal.”
  • In a series of boxes, each one smaller than the next, to help extend the present opening.
  • Inside of another personalized gift.
  • Wrapped with thick wrapping paper, twine, and cuttings from the tree.

15. Creative Ways To Give Multiple Gift Cards

Are you gifting more than one gift card? Whether it’s for an entire family, for someone’s graduation, or any other reason, the following ideas will help you pick the most creative way to give multiple gift cards:

  • Gift Card Wreath: Create a seasonal wreath and use clothespins to attach the gift cards around the wreath.
  • Gift Card Garland: Similar to the wreath, this decorative garland is perfect for the holidays. Simply attach gift cards with ribbon or clothespins to segments along with the garland.
  • Gift Card Flowers: Use a personalized flower pot as the base for this creative idea. Then create “flowers” out of wooden sticks and construction paper. Attach the gift cards to the “flowers” at the end. Finally “plant the flowers” in the flower pot and decorate with a ribbon.
  • A “Giving Tree:” Create a “giving tree” by gluing a collection of thin branches, sticks, and stems together at the base. Make sure it branches out at the end to resemble a tree. Then use twine to tie gift cards to the ends of the branches.

16. Creative Ways To Give Gift Cards To Teachers

Teachers deserve to be appreciated. And if you’ve decided on a gift card, check out the following presentation ideas. 

 

  • Made the gift card holder in the shape of an apple.
  • Place the gift card on the inside of a personalized pencil case, along with some customized pencils.
  • Gift it inside a bunch or vase of flowers.

Cookie Exchange Party Tip

/
For several years now, I have been going to an annual cookie exchange and it’s always a lot of fun! Here are my best tips for having a memorable cookie exchange:

The Basics:

Ask each guest to bring a big batch of cookies. You’ll need to estimate 1 dozen multiplied by the total number of guests. We typically have 8 people at our cookie exchange, so that would be 96 cookies. 

You may want to provide guidelines to each baker so that you get a good cookie assortment: rolled cookies, bar cookies, drop cookies, decorated cookies. Your friends may have family recipes they wish to share. You can also find tons of recipes online, like on Land o Lakes or Very Best Baking.
Packaging the Treats: 
Each guest should also bring copies of their cookie recipe and  containers to take cookies home. Heavy duty plastic freezer bags will work for sturdy cookies, but decorated cookies and more delicate shapes should be packaged in tins or sealable plastic containers. Provide waxed paper or parchment for separating layers of cookies. 

Last year, I picked up a few  inexpensive bakery boxes to package the cookies. You can find bakery boxes and more cute containers on ebay. And to add extra style to your cookies with these  adorable gift tags. 

Include Extras:

Buy reusable tote bags and include Yankee candles, along with the cookies. When I did this last year, everyone loved getting a little something extra. You could also include an assortment of candy, stickers or another small treat.

Tips for the Hostess:

Before the guests arrive, put on some holiday music and light a seasonal scented candle or spray a little holiday room. This will put guests in a holiday mood! 
Besides snacking on cookies, set out big bowls of popcorn and chips, the veggies and dip and an insulated server of hot chocolate and a pitcher of cider for all the cookie bakers to help themselves.

Cookie Recipe Booklets:

Ask your guests to mail (or e-mail) their cookie recipes to you, or collect the recipes on the day of the party. Compile the recipes into a booklet for everyone to take home! Recipe booklets can be made in Microsoft Word or if you want to do something fancier, you can create a cookbook online. Or they can write them out on recipe cards.

Help Others:

Have guests to bring an unopened package of store-bought cookies or canned food. You can then collect the packaged food and bring them to a homeless shelter or food pantry. We also like to make extra plates of cookies for elderly relatives who couldn’t be at the party and we drop them off later.

Christmas Light Cookies

/

Ingredients:

  • flour
  • sugar cookie dough
  • 1½ cups prepared vanilla frosting
  • 3 cups M&M mini chocolate candies
  • 4 strands red licorice laces
  • drinking straw
  • Christmas light shaped cookie cutter (small)

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle your counter top with flour. Roll out your cookie dough to 1/4-inch thickness. By hand, or using a Christmas light cookie cutter, cut out shapes. Gently transfer the cookies to a baking sheet. Using a drinking straw, press a hole at the top of each cookie. Bake for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Separate different colors of M&M minis, and set aside. Spread vanilla frosting on top of each cookie. Arrange a solid color of M&M minis on top of each cookie. Let the cookies dry for 30 minutes. Run licorice laces through each hole, connecting the cookies into one continuous strand.

15 Homemade Gift Basket Ideas

/

Holiday Gift Basket Ideas

This holiday season, treat your friends and family to homemade gift baskets! I usually make a few gift baskets every Christmas. They are always a hit! 

And here's a tip: To save money on basket fillers, stock up on items throughout the year when there is a great sale, coupon or clearance.
Such a relaxing gift! For your best friend, give a Pampered Spa gift basket, including towels, bath mitts, cozy slippers, eye pillow, luffa sponge, body sugar scrubs, bath salts & bubble bath, shower gel, bath bombs, and candles.
My mom would love this. Give a Coffee Lovers basket which could include gourmet or flavored coffees, flavored sugars, cinnamon sticks, coffee mugs, demi spoons and a coffee table book about coffee.
Get ready for the movies! Give a Movie Lovers basket, which can include favorite DVDs (or Redbox coupons), popcorn, popcorn seasonings, bottles of water or pop, chocolate bars, and licorice.
For the tea fan on your list, give a Tea Buddy basket which can include: Gourmet teas, flavored sugars, cinnamon sticks, tea cozy, two pretty tea cups and saucers, homemade cookies/baking, homemade jam, small potted houseplant.

For the new mom and baby, a welcome baby gift basket would be a nice treat. Welcome Baby could include a bathtime gift set, baby blanket, washcloths, socks, rattle, toys, and sleepers. 
For the gardener on your list, give a Gardeners gift basket, which could include gardening gloves, gardening book, garden journal, small hand tools, handmade seed packets, and garden clogs.

More Basket Ideas:

  • Chocolate Lovers (Chocolate of every kind and in every shape, nuts, gourmet coffee)
  • Homemade Specialty Treats (Flavored sugars, extracts, flavored vinegars)
  • Gourmet (Pickled peppers, gourmet cheese, deli crackers, fruit, wine, smoked oysters, olives, pickled asparagus, deli meat sticks)
  • Pet Lovers (Personalized pet dish, pet toys, pet treats, hair brush, pet shampoo)
  • Bookworm (Books, bookmarks, gourmet coffee or tea, snacks, online bookstore gift card)
  • Productivity Guru (Moleskin notebook, index cards, post it notes, post it flags, expensive pen, book on productivity tips)
  • Crafty (Expensive scissors, rotary cutter blades, needle case, pin cushion, spools of good quality thread, glue sticks, needle threaders, box of pins, sewing machine needles, fat quarters, craft store gift card, craft magazine or book)
  • Christmas (Poinsettia plant, homemade cookies, tarts, baking, Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas music CD, neatly handwritten Christmas poem or prayer–scroll or framed, pine, peppermint or cranberry scented candle, box of chocolates, candy canes, mix of nuts and nutcracker, Christmas crackers, angel figurine, paper snowflakes, mini-stockings filled with candy, fireplace firestarters, hot cocoa mix with mugs, small prayer or blessings book)

Cute Sayings for Holiday Gifts

/

Cute Sayings for Christmas Gifts

  • Season’s Greetings (dip mixes, spices)
  • We’re nuts about you! Merry Christmas! (spiced nuts, candied nuts)
  • If friends were flowers, we’d pick you! Happy Holidays (cut flowers, poinsettia, flower arrangement)
  • May your Christmas be merry and the New Year Bright (candle)
  • Keep Christmas in your heart the whole year through! (calendar)
  • Rolling out a batch of Christmas Cheer, for Someone we think is very dear! (sugar cookies)
  • May your holidays Bubble over with joy! (Champagne, sparkling wine)
  • Have a Cool Yule! (Yule log, local ice cream gift card, or ice cream, bowls and a scoop)
  • For somebody so Dear, We wish you a cup of Cheer! (cups and cocoa mix, cake in a cup)
  • Wishing you a warm and wonderful Christmas! (hot cocoa mix, blanket, socks, something warm & cozy)
  • Any way you slice it, You’re amazing. (sweet bread, breads)
  • Hoping you have a Christmas to flip over! (pancake mix and spatula)
  • To spice up your holiday! Merry Christmas (salsa)
  • With so many holiday treats and everyone on the go, here is some extra dough! (homemade cookie dough)
  • You’re flippin’ awesome (pancake mix and fun spatula, kitchen gadget)
  • Made especially for you! (anything handmade)
  • Handmade by me for YOU! (anything handmade)
  • You are a treasure! (jewelry)
  • You are precious to me (jewelry)
  • Just a note to say you are special! (stationary, notecards)
  • You are tops in my book! (book, bookstore gift card)
  • Our warmest holiday wishes! (cozy blanket, hot cocoa, hats, gloves, fun socks)
  • Happy Holidays!
  • Merry Christmas!
  • Happy Holidays, neighbor!
  • Lovin’ from my oven (anything homemade from your kitchen)
  • Handcrafted with love for you! (handmade gift)
  • Feliz Navidad
  • Fleece Navidad (fleece blanket)
  • You’re nice as pie! (baked pie)
  • You color my world (coloring book, colored pencils, colorful art supplies)
  • Happy Holidays from our home to yours!

50 Best Christmas Cookies

/

 

 

15 Must Have Holiday Baking Ingredients

/


  1. Apple Pie Spice – you can purchase it in the spice aisle or make your own, it’s super easy and less expensive
  2. Peppermint – Extract, Candy, Chips and Candy Canes
  3. Cream of Tartar – it’s best to buy fresh each year for the best looking and tasting meringues
  4. Nuts – walnuts and pecans are what I typically use in Holiday Baking
  5. Almond Bark – available in the baking aisle in chocolate and white chocolate, it works best for candy making
  6. Coloring – my favorite for the Fall and Thanksgiving Season is Copper
  7. Pumpkin Pie Spice - you can purchase it in the spice aisle or make your own
  8. Sprinkles – a baker can never have enough sprinkles
  9. Extracts – Vanilla and Almond are most popular, you may also want Peppermint
  10. Lollipop Sticks – great for cupcake toppers as well as candy making
  11. Recycled Containers – now is the time to start saving your containers to cover with scrapbook paper and use for gift giving
  12. Foil Bread Pans – I love the mini bread pans for gift giving
  13. Take-out Boxes – Again, great for gift giving or even sending home leftovers with guests
  14. Glass Jars - Great for giving hot cocoa mix, teas etc.
  15. Plastic Treat Bags – Perfect for school treats

Love this? Get Our FREE Deals Newsletter, sign up here.