I'm always in need of great gift ideas for friends, teachers, neighbors, etc. Here are two ideas from Julie and Christy.
Our family loves sipping hot chocolate during the Christmas season (even though it doesn't get very cold in Arizona). This year we found a simple recipe for hot chocolate mix and are using it to give as gifts to my daughter's friends. The gift container is easy enough for my daughter to make and looks so cute with the spoon tied to the can. To make the hot chocolate extra special be sure to mix in crushed peppermints, mini chocolate chips or mini marshmallows.
1 26 oz. package of instant nonfat dry milk
1 6 oz. jar of powdered non-dairy creamer
2 cups powdered sugar
1 16 oz. can of instant chocolate drink mix
Your choice of crushed peppermints, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows
Mix all ingredients together and fill cans. The amount of gifts this recipe will make will depend on how big your containers are. Include the following directions on a tag or on the inside lid: Mix three heaping tablespoons (you may need to adjust this amount depending on the size of the spoon you attach to the can) with one cup of hot water.
Julie Turner
Each year I love giving home baked goodies for Christmas and each year I get frustrated because most of the goodies I make don't turn out! I have to resort to store bought treats instead and it doesn't feel very personal. This year, I wanted to be a little more creative than just cookies on a plate and that's when this idea came to mind. First I found a mug at the dollar store then decorated the outside of it with rub-ons and ribbon. I tested the rub-ons first to make sure they would stay on during hand washing and surprisingly they did! Then I filled the mug with Hershey kisses and pretzel sticks and made a fun little card to go with it. This way, instead of trying to make chocolate covered pretzels, the receiver of the gift, can enjoy melting the chocolate and dipping the pretzels on their own! This fun project can also be used with more decorative rub-ons like flowers and sayings like "thank you". Perfect for any gift giving occasions or great gifts for friends or teachers!
