Homemade gifts in jars

Some people are just crafty. We mean that in a good way. They seem constantly inspired to create things, and have the skills to make them come out beautifully. If that’s you, you already know what we’re about to say: A homemade gift doesn’t have to be fancy to have meaning, the very fact you made it goes a looooong way.

Another secret about homemade gifts is that they don’t even have to be very complicated or clever to make a big impression. In fact, simplicity is part of their charm.  So even if you haven’t thought  of yourself as the kind of person who gives homemade gifts in the past, this could be the year.

Spreading holiday cheer was never easier

We sometimes think of making gifts as daunting. The irony is, homemade gifts can take less time, effort, and of course, money, than buying them. For one thing, you can make gifts in batches, so it’s nearly the same work to make 20 as it is to make just one. And in the end, you’ll have such a nice stash of thoughtful gifts, you might end up spreading holiday cheer a little wider than you originally planned.  Homemade gifts are always appreciated by teachers, hostesses, and friends.  But how about a little something for that nice neighbor that lent you the moving dolly, or the mom of your kid’s friend that always invites him for play dates?

A gift that never gets used up

Glass jars make the perfect wrapping for your homemade gift. Whether it’s cookies, bath salts, or salted caramel sauce. All you need is a little ribbon and a cute tag, and you’ve saved a pound of holiday trash. And not only is there less waste in the giving, there’s no waste at all when the gift is gone. Because glass jars are easily repurposed for a zillion other uses, from collecting loose change on the counter to storing dry goods.

Other ideas for wrapping that's actually part of the gift: Bee's wrap is a unique, functional way to wrap just about anything! Decorative tea towels tackle oddly shaped gifts with ease. Or consider presenting your homemade pie in a glass dish to keep. 

Instead of starting with a list of who to give to, decide what you want to make. Chances are, lots of people would love to try your favorite cookie mix or nurture themselves with  a salt scrub but never buy it for themselves.  Or, you might even consider what kind of wrapping you'd like to give, then think of how to fill it!

8 great reusable packages for homemade gifts 

Holiday Cookies

Holiday cookies are so pretty, why hide them? Bake up a batch and give them in a cylindrical jar or 3 Qt covered baking dish. For something different, try Spiced Mexican Wedding Cookies from The Kitchn

 

 

 

 

 

Warming Mustard Bath

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup mustard powder 
• 6 drops wintergreen or peppermint essential oil
• 6 drops rosemary essential oil
• 6 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Directions to include: Add 4 Tablespoons to a running bath and swish around to disperse the powder. For a foot soak, use 1-2 Tablespoons. Gift it in a .5 liter square  or cylindrical canning jar.

 

 

 

Infused Oil or Simple Syrup
Herb-infused oils make inexpensive, yet beautiful gifts and our clip top preserver bottle is the perfect vessel to present them in. Fancy simple syrups (no, that's not a contradiction) are a great gift for the bartender.

Rosemary Infused Oil:

1/2 cup olive oil
3 fresh rosemary sprigs (each 5 inches long)

Directions:

In small saucepan, combine oil & rosemary. Cook over low heat until a thermometer reaches 180 F, about 5 minutes. Remove and let cool to room temp. Transfer the sprigs to a bottle, then add the oil. Seal and refrigerate up to 1 month

 

Homemade Quickbread
If you're giving breads this season, consider baking and presenting it in the same pan. A glass loaf pan doubles as refrigerator storage in it's next life. Another idea is to wrap it in Bee's Wrap, a unique gift in and of itself! Try this festive recipe for Cranberry Orange Nut Bread from Local Kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lavender Orange Sugar Scrub
Combat the dry, flaky skin of winter with this ambrosial body scrub. Gift it in a .5 sq liter clip top jar.

 

Salted Caramel Sauce
Create the most amazing Salted Caramel Sauce with only four ingredients: sugar, butter, heavy cream, and salt. These simple instructions from Two Peas and Their Pod show you how to succeed. These sweet tulip jars are ideal for so many kitchen made gifts, from jams to oven dried tomatoes! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wholesome Hot Chocolate
We love this ridiculously simple, additive-free mix from Deliciously Organic. Package in a round or square Kilner clip jar (tie on a mini bottle of liqueur for grownups).

Relaxing Bath Salts
Give a relaxing and detoxifying soak to someone you care about. Half liter jars work perfectly for gifting. We suggest the Weck tulip jar or Kilner round clip jar.

Just add 20-40 drops of pure essential oil (adjust to strength of particular oil) to two cups epsom salt and hand mix until thoroughly blended

Use 1/3 to 1 cup per bath.