BlogHer - Homemade Gifts - Comments

Flowers in vases and snacks on platters...

Kristy Sammis — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:04:51 -0600

I LOVE receiving flowers of any kind as a hostess, but if I'm giving flowers, I always make sure to bring them pre-arranged in a vase or container. I actually read that it's rude to bring flowers without a container, because then you're asking the host/ess to stop what they're doing and immediately tend to your gift, which takes times and resources! If you bring them in a vase, the host/ess can just plop them down wherever.

Alternately, if I bring a little snack or appetizer or dessert, I like to arrange the food on a simple platter of some sort, and give the platter as a gift. This is nice because it combines the homemade with the store-bought. :)

---
Kristy Sammis
BlogHer's Conference & Event Planner
e. kristy@blogher.com

No candied fruit this year!

Judith in Umbria — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:46:51 -0600

That means no Sugarplum loaves that my friends are used to. Oh, there ìs a bit of candied peel, but none of the astonishingly high quality stuff I was buying.

I am giving ceramics from our wonderful Deruta, and in them will be palline di coco, which are juicy coconut macaroons shaped with an espresso cup. The ones who have been very nice may get either dark or white chocolate sauce with rum to heat and go with them.
The best I get are from my friend, Tina, who brings me wooden crates filled with produce from her garden and jars from her pantry. Wonderful.

http://www.judithgreenwood.com/thinkonit/

oooh, great ideas!

RenaissanceTrophyWife — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:31:16 -0600

Yum-- I love baking and the recipes, esp cookie scones and truffles, will be a huge hit.

I think the right amount depends on how well you know the hostess-- and homemade may not necessarily be worth more, if you put a lot of thought into a store-bought gift that's perfect for the person. If you're giving en masse, however, homemade gifts have that nice personal touch without requiring a whole lot of extra work.

For friends who love wine, I've given bottles packaged in built NY wine totes (http://www.builtny.com/) which are reusable and chic-- that's always well-received.

As far as mass gifts go, I love Scharffen Berger minis or homemade goodies packaged in a glass box or mason jar. Then you can just tie on a ribbon and be all set!

Renaissance Trophy Wife: the modern girl's guide to smart lifestyle investments

http://renaissancetrophywife.wordpress.com

thoughtful gifts are my favorite

keeeks — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:28:56 -0600

Besides my chocolate bark (thanks for the link!), I really love to give and receive anything that seems like it took time/thought/love to bring my way. Obviously, homemade food gifts top that list, but there's plenty of other ways to show thoughtfulness and graciousness. Recently, a houseguest brought home a perfect little vintage trivet from a thrift store for my husband's French press. It was inexpensive, but it showed that she was thinking about us.

I tried this

Dawn6751 — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:25:50 -0600

Last week I made some fabric gift bags. They came out great. Check out the picture on my blog http://onemomentplease6751.blogspot.com/ and see other ideas for gift wrap alternatives.

Dawn

Peas in a Pod

Alissa-Taylor Gifts — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:54:41 -0600

I get my "awesome" (or lack of) craft-skill from my mom. I am with you, I would rather spend the money and buy the perfect gift because my craty gift would either turn out all wrong, or I would never finish. My boyfriend's mom makes all of her holiday greeting cards (I watch). My roommate really likes scrapbooking...I look through them when she is finished.

Alissa - Taylor Gifts

Taylor Gifts Blog

How about recycled gift wrap?

craftplayground — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:32:27 -0600

Here's another idea for eco-friendly gift wrap--make your own from recycled cereal boxes, cracker boxes, and such. Kids will love decorating these, and they are reusable (and quite fun).

Also (and I realize this does not technically comply with the zero plastic challege, but I think it's still in the eco spirit) how about making gift toppers that look like snowballs from plastic shopping bags.

Instructions for both are on The Craft Playground www.craftplayground.com

That's a new one!

GreenMoms — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:57:23 -0600

Gift Tins! Great way to recycle in a nice container. Good idea. I always just think to put food in those. Fantastic to limit gifts to just gifts of experience too. That is very low waste. You have reminded me to work on that for this year. Thank you!

GreenMoms, Melinda

www.GreenMoms.com

Green On! Your Children Will Thank You For It.

Great Ideas and Cloth Gift Bags

GreenMoms — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:53:28 -0600

Love your inspiring ideas! You are very diligent about requesting no plastic wrap when ordering online. You have inspired me to work harder at that. I order from eco-friendly companies, but they still pack in plastic sometimes and non-recycled boxes etc....
My GreenMoms group is having our annual gift bag making party tomorrow night and it is such a fun event. There are about 10 of us that iron, match ribbon and sew. We have a potluck and this year we have cut about 180 bags. That's 18 bags each! We get all our fabric, ribbon, and thread from freecycle or friends and family who have fabric they won't use.
Here is a link to how to make gift bags. It is really easy:
http://www.greenmomscoastside.com/GreenMomsCoastside.com/Blog/Entries/20...

GreenMoms, Melinda & Janice

www.GreenMoms.com

Green On! Your Children Will Thank You For It.

re: love your ideas

greentalk — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:48:33 -0600

Beth, I love these ideas. You know you inspired me to go ribbon only when gift wrapping last year.

Anna www.green-talk.com

I used gift tins

Condo Blues — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:34:27 -0600

One year I had a bunch of gift tins from cookies, etc. still sitting in my basement waiting for me to fill with food treats to give to people over the holidays. Instead I filled then with gifts! That year I was doing low waste family gifts like zoo memberships and event tickets so they easily fit into the tins.

Why don't decorating and DIY projects always work out like they do on TV? Condo Blues http://condo-blues.blogspot.com/

Capessa green contributer - Sustainable Syle http://www.capessa.com

I should have linked to this article!

bethfly — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:15:52 -0600

I just blogged a Zero Plastic Packaging holiday challenge before reading your post here. Bravo. I should have linked to this article when I wrote about making your own gift bags. Sounds like a fun social event!

Beth Terry http://www.fakeplasticfish.com

I love these tips, Beth. I'd

Amy Gates — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:26:38 -0600

I love these tips, Beth. I'd never thought of requesting no plastic or styrofoam when ordering something, but it certainly seems like a reasonable request.

As for wrapping gifts this year, I think we are going to focus on using some of the many play silks we have around here and I might pick up a few more too (the kids love them anyway) to make sure we have enough.

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

I picked up holiday retail

Super Jive — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:17:20 -0600

I picked up holiday retail work at a company that uses no packaging unless their product is liquid. I am so excited about getting my discount to be able to give my friends holiday gifts in simple recyclable paper!

My family has been on my case for years about not using plastic bows and such. Nuts to "festive." If it's not recyclable/reusable I'm not going to go there.

Great post and I'm always so glad to know I'm not alone!

Blogher Pop Culture Editor | I, Asshole

Thank you Mommy Q!

Fade2Black — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:50:21 -0500

You are too kind.

What a wonderful post. Of course, it's a big warm and fuzzy to learn that someone someone actually reads what I write.

Cupcakes are definitely here to stay!

My best wishes to a fellow Blogger and Cupcake Admirer.

Zen Cupcake