5 Impressively Simple and Chic Homemade Hostess Gifts

5 Impressive Homemade Hostess Gifts You’ll Be Excited to Give (and Receive) This Holiday Season
iStock/eclipse_images

If you’re ready to depart from the customary offerings, then you’ll love these homemade hostess gifts. We’re confident you’ll like them so much that you’d better make a few extra for yourself.

Yes, wine is great, and no one is saying you can’t still include a bottle with each of these presents, but let’s mix it up a bit this year. Some hostess gifts are cringeworthy. I mean, would you really want that decoupaged vase made from old holiday wrapping paper in your house? While others require forking out a lot of dough just to impress. Lavish gifts need not apply.

This season, I encourage you to roll up your sleeves, dear crafters, and let’s get some beautiful gifts lined up for your hostess with the mostess.

1. Infused Sugars

5 Impressive Homemade Hostess Gifts You’ll Be Excited to Give (and Receive) This Holiday Season

Perfect for coffee, tea, desserts, cocktails, and more, scented and flavor-infused sugars are sure to impress your hostess. A truly unique gift, these can be whipped up in a matter of minutes and will add an aromatic smell and special flavor to whatever you decide to use them in.

It’s as simple as putting your favorite ingredients – vanilla bean, orange peel and bourbon, edible flowers, etc. – in with a coarse sugar like turbinado (usually vegan), and storing in an airtight jar. Feel free to add a decorative label, ribbon, or other personal touches. The tutorial from Food on Fifth is a great place to start.

2. Personalized Tea Bags

5 Impressive Homemade Hostess Gifts You’ll Be Excited to Give (and Receive) This Holiday Season

In this tutorial from Nellie Bellie, loose leaf tea is transformed into the sweetest set of personalized tea bags. This particular method does not require sewing, although there are some how-tos out there that call for a sewing machine if you’d prefer that route.

These are great because you have control over the color of the twine, the tag’s shape and size, and whether or not you want to include a message on said tag. The DIY uses coffee filters – unbleached is a great choice – and the loose leaf tea and additional spices of your choice. Holiday themed flavors, like pumpkin, cinnamon, or peppermint, would be fitting. Arrange the finished product in a pretty mug or box.

3. Natural Room Scents

5 Impressive Homemade Hostess Gifts You’ll Be Excited to Give (and Receive) This Holiday Season

Probably my favorite on the list, this tutorial from The Yummy Life is such a pretty, inexpensive, and healthy way to infuse your home with a natural scent. Prepping the ingredients for all of your recipients can be done at one time and refrigerated for a few days ahead of giving.

If you really want to round out the present, then pair the scented jars with a mini crock pot. They have a two-cup capacity, which is perfect for holding the contents of a pint size jar. Have fun with the scents – you can use things like vanilla beans, citrus, cinnamon sticks, extracts, and so much more.

4. Fresh Breakfast Bread

5 Impressive Homemade Hostess Gifts You’ll Be Excited to Give (and Receive) This Holiday Season

Julie Blanner shared a delicious and economical gift idea. By using one a favorite breakfast bread recipe and a few embellishments, you can bake your way into the heart of your hostess. Since this is so cost effective, we recommend splurging on some really high quality, organic ingredients to make the flavor pop.

The original tutorial used reusable loaf pans that were purchased on sale for a dollar, but you can also use recycled content paper baking pans that can be composted when they’re empty. Tie these up with twine, and add embellishments like cinnamon sticks, herbs, parchment paper, edible flowers, ornaments, craft paper, ribbon, washi tape, and more.

5. Embellished Bouquet

5 Impressive Homemade Hostess Gifts You’ll Be Excited to Give (and Receive) This Holiday Season

Maybe you’re not the crafty type, or you simply don’t have time for any sort of DIY project this year. Well, we’ve got some ideas on how to jazz up a hand-picked (or store bought, if none are in season locally) bouquet of flowers in a matter of minutes.

Design Sponge has a tutorial on how to turn branches and blooms into something really spectacular. Plus, they had the genius idea of wrapping it all up in a tea towel (linen is nice), and including a wooden spoon attached with a ribbon. There are so many variations you could do here – metal cookie cutters, measuring spoons, a packet of seeds, or an ornament would all work well as a stand-in for the spoon.

Let us know what you think about our homemade hostess gifts on the  EcoSalon Facebook page!

Related on EcoSalon

How to Avoid Overspending this Holiday Season (and Beyond!)
5 Easy Ways to Decorate Your Thanksgiving Table (Without Losing Your Mind)
7 Warm and Inviting Eco-Friendly Home Decor Pieces You Won’t Want to Miss

Jamie Duncan

After starting out in public relations, Jamie finished college with a BFA in interior design. This combination of writing and design knowledge, coupled with her fashion and lifestyle expertise, has paved the way for an exciting freelance career. Her work has been published in magazines and online, plus she’s managed PR campaigns, and is no stranger to copywriting. Jamie’s a vegetarian and cruelty-free product fanatic. Connect with her on Twitter and check out her website to learn more.