As a guest at parties, luckily you won’t have to plan, decorate, or come up with any Christmas Party Ideas, but you may want to bring a gift along to compliment the hostess on a job well done! From Thanksgiving to Christmas day, my calendar is filled with holiday parties hosted by family and friends. So I don’t break the bank, I usually make handmade hostess gifts a few at a time. This not only helps me save money, but it also saves a lot of time. I make all my hostess gifts at once!
To help you save time and money, too, I’ve created a list of 10 easy-to-make hostess gifts (some of which I’ve made before). Plus, I came up with a simple DIY project on how to make a hot cocoa gift set with a personalized mug. After trying my DIY tutorial, make sure to attempt one or two of these other gifts to put a smile on the face of a family member or friend!
- Hot Cocoa Gift Set: Purchase white ceramic mugs and write a monogram a custom quote around the lip or bottom of the mug with a black porcelain pen (can be purchased at most craft stores). Choose a quote that has special meaning to the recipient (perhaps a quote from her favorite author or poet?). You may also decide to make it a little funny, like “There might be WINE in here…” Put a bag filled with homemade marshmallows and hot chocolate mix in the cup, and tie with a cute, Christmas-themed ribbon. Your hostess will love this delicious (and simple) gift!
- Sugar Scrub Gift Set: In a small plastic bathroom tote, place a natural sponge and a jar of homemade salt and sugar body scrub. Try one of the DIY body scrub recipes from Treehugger, and see how much the hostess appreciates a gift that says, “Pamper yourself!”
- Forced Bulb Plant: This unique present will bring a little bit of spring into the hostess’s home! Purchase a bag of flower bulbs (tulips and daffodils are at greatly reduced prices around November), and force the bulbs into blooming. To do this, fill the bottom of tall glass container with 2-3 inches of pebbles, add 1 tablespoon of aquarium charcoal (to prevent smells), and press 3-4 bulbs (roots down) in the pebbles. Add water at room temperature until it reaches the bottom of the bulbs, and replace water when it depletes. Add a festive ribbon around the top of the container, and you have a cheery gift reminding that spring is just around the corner!
- Potted Rosemary Plant: A welcome addition to any kitchen, a fresh herb plant will be treasured by a hostess that is also a great cook! Potted rosemary plants are a no hassle hostess gift that can be found in mini-Christmas tree form around the holiday season. This no frills gift only requires a Christmas ribbon wrapped around its base.
- Cinnamon Pillar Candles: Use a hot glue gun to glue cinnamon sticks around the outside of a 3-inch unscented pillar candle. Tie the candle with a ¼-½” Christmas ribbon, using a few dots of hot glue to secure it in place. Wrap the candle with cellophane, and you have an easy DIY gift to hand out at every party this holiday season!
- Zucchini Bread Bundles: Bake small loaves of zucchini bread in ceramic or glass bread pans. Wrap the loaf (still in the pan) in parchment paper and tie with baker’s twine and a cinnamon stick. Use this amazing zucchini bread recipe from one of my previous posts, or try a variation of this gift with banana or cinnamon bread!
- Gingerbread Cookie Jar Mix: For the hostess at your next party, fill a ball jar with your favorite gingerbread cookie mix! All you need to do is layer the dry ingredients, add some festive fabric to the lid, and tie a gingerbread cookie cutter and the recipe around the top. (If you don’t have a family recipe try, try this easy recipe from the Gingerbread Blog).
- Coffee Gift Set: In a small basket, put a pound of your favorite roast along with a fun coffee mug. Fill the mug with individually wrapped plastic spoons that are dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy. Peppermint, M&Ms, marshmallows, sprinkles, and coconut shavings are all great choices!
- Christmas Wine: Buy your favorite bottle of red wine and wrap it in a Christmas themed tea towel. Tie the towel at the top of the bottle with some red velvet ribbon and a bag of mulling spices, so your hostess (and her man!) can enjoy a glass of warm wine on those cold December nights!
- Christmas Pasta with Pesto: For the hostess that is also a foodie, fill a small basket with some yummy goodies. For a cheap option, buy pasta in Christmas shapes and pair it with a jar of homemade rosemary tomato pesto. (This recipe by Nifty Thrifty is delicious!)
Have fun DIYing for the hostesses that are a part of your party schedule, and Merry Christmas from everyone at Party411.com!
Now this is an old fashioned list! So old fashioned its almost retro and cool again no? Hipsters are going nuts for crap like this.
Here, I made you some crochet underpants - oh and here's this pot belly style kettle from 1867 that I restored. ;)
Merry Christmas for this upcoming 2015 Party411 peeps!
Posted by: Alex | September 21, 2015 at 06:04 PM