Just a little something....

You've been invited to a friends home for a meal, a party, for tea.... it's nice as a guest, to show one's appreciation for the invitation and to bring a little something.  A small gift that your friend will use, simple yet meaningful.  Often it's a homemade gift such as jam, banana bread, cookies, etc.  But also there are things I pick up when I'm out and about that I feel would make a nice little gift once put in a gift bag and tied with a pretty ribbon.  Many times its a a tea towel with a package of pretty paper napkins, taper candles tied with a ribbon, or perfumed soap in nice packaging (Homesense is great for this).  The possiblities are endless.  I decided for Christmas, I'd like to try to make a hostess gift.  I am not exceptionally crafty but the odd time I break out the glue gun and give it a go.  This is where places like Pinterest are invaluable.  I decided to make cinnamon candles, an idea I first saw on Pinterest.  I bought cream colored vanilla candles, ribbon and pretty gift tags from Homesense and a container of cinnamon sticks from Costco and went for it.  I put a dab of glue on each cinnamon stick and stuck them randomly on the candle and then decorated the candle with ribbon, etc.  The "non-cinnamon stick" candle I decorated with a pretty bottle decoration I bought at London Drugs for $2.99, added ribbon to the top and bottom, and voila!! 

This is the final product, which I'm happy to say smell lovely and look nice. I plan to give these as gifts when we go to the many Christmas gatherings we enjoy over the Christmas holidays. I will pop them in some tissue paper and a gift bag, tie with a Chrismasy ribbon and there's my handmade gift that was relatively simple to make.

I hope this encourages you to keep your eyes open for little "gems" that can make thoughtful gifts to those who invite you into their homes.  Just a little something to say thanks...

If you personally have any thoughtful ideas for hostess gifts or have received a hostess gift that you expecially appreciated, please feel free to let us know!!

Blessings,

Laura