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

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

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

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

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

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!

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The post 5 Impressively Simple and Chic Homemade Hostess Gifts appeared first on EcoSalon.

Make your own homemade hostess gifts to say “thank you” this holiday season.

Every holiday season you vow to make homemade gifts to gift to friends and family who open up their homes for all those holiday parties, dinners and get-togethers. You realize that because your family and friends hosting these get together means that you don’t have to! And that’s huge. You don’t have to clean your home in preparation, make tons of food, come up with a holiday cocktail to wow guests or clean up a huge mess after everyone leaves. You get to have fun instead. The hosts of all your holiday fun really do deserve a sweet thank you gift for all their trouble, don’t they?

To make your life easier, we have put together a roundup of easy ideas for homemade hostess gifts that you can make ahead of time for the hosts of your holiday parties. They can also double as gifts for all your regular giftees as well. And don’t forget your child’s teachers and coworkers!

9 Homemade Hostess Gifts for the Holiday Season

1. Cranberry Lime Infused Vodka – The perfect holiday hostess gift for those adult holiday parties. Crantinis, anyone?
2. DIY Terrarium Kit – A clever gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Gift to a plant lover.
3. Teacup Candles – Use vintage thrift store teacups for a twist on homemade candle gifts.
4. Homemade Vanilla Extract – It’s actually pretty simple to make your own homemade extract, but it’s also pretty impressive. Don’t forget to gift it in a pretty jar.
5. Natural Branch Coasters – Everyone needs coasters and you need creative ways to use those branches you cut off this fall.
6. Infused Olive Oils – Make and gift your own lemon, garlic, chili and rosemary infused olive oils and make the day of your foodie friends.
7. Pumpkin Spice Bar Soap – Make your own pumpkin spice soap for gifts in under 10 minutes according to this how-to.
8. Photo Magnets – Use photos of family and friends to make meaningful photo magnets.
9. Homemade Heating Packs – Fill these homemade heating pads with lavender for a thoughtful and great-smelling gift. They can be used to warm sheets on a cold night.

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Top Image: myofficeaz.com

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