Welcome to my final homemade Christmas gift ideas post! Today we are wrapping up the lovely gifts that came out of our kitchens so they’re ready to give to family and friends. This is actually the fun part for me. I get to play with tissue paper and tie pretty bows. Call me crazy but I really do love to wrap gifts.
Here is what I have for my gift bags: Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
- English Muffin Bread (click to get the bread tags)
- Vanilla Sugar
- Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
- Chocolate Christmas Tree Pretzels
About the pretzel molds…I picked the mold up in JoAnn one day because I thought it looked like a fun and easy thing to do. Well…it was fun but not exactly easy. I did get the hang of it on my second try so let me give you a few pointers!
- After you melt your chocolate, use a spoon to drizzle it into the mold. Follow the directions on the package but be careful not to fill each tree very full before you put the pretzel in.
- Put the mold on a cookie sheet so you can carry it easily to your freezer or garage. My garage is freezing so I just put the tray out there for a few minutes. The chocolate hardened nicely.
- Place the pretzels almost to the top of the tree. They will fall out if you place them much lower.
- To get a clean outline, use a wet paper towel wrapped around your finger to clean the overflow chocolate off the mold. This worked really well and was fast.
- I used semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate. Just melt about 3/4 cup of the chips in the microwave. The mold has 6 trees so in no time you can have a dozen of these ready to go.
To put the gifts together, I gathered white tissue paper, gift bags, gift tags, ribbon and these little wreaths to use as a tie-on. I listed sources at the end but you can find these things (or something similar) at any craft or discount store. Start by placing the tissue paper in the bag and just add your gifts. Tie a bow to close the bag handles. Add the tag and tie-on.
Sources and Shopping Links:
- Large cellophane bags (English Muffin Bread)
- Medium cellophane bags (cookies)
- Narrow cellophane bags (pretzels)
- Shaker bottles
- Wilton Christmas Tree Pretzel Mold
- Vanilla Beans
- Oblong brown kraft bags
- Mini wreaths (similar)
- Watercolor Christmas Tags
- Gingham Christmas Tags
If you feel like you’re running out of time, but still want to give homemade gifts, just make the English Muffin Bread and pair it with Cinnamon Sugar. The shaker bottles can be found at craft stores and the link above is for a Prime listing with 2-day shipping. Or just make the cookies and add beautiful packaging. The point is not necessarily what you are giving…it’s that you made it yourself.
{To make cinnamon sugar just mix 1 or 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with 1 cup sugar.}
I’ll be back on Sunday with my final decor post of the year…my 2016 Christmas Tour. I’ll see you then…
*Some links on this page lead to shops and websites (like Amazon) where I am an affiliate or to eBay where I am a content creator. Click HERE for my complete Disclosure Statement.
I LOVE your posts. I was obsessed about reading your holiday decorating tips and easy gift ideas. You have a lovely sense of style and are so warm and gracious. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us!
I read your suggestion about using Baker’s Joy for spraying my pans when making bread so I bought some today. I made some Cranberry Orange bread and I was AMAZED at how well the bread came out of the pan. Absolutely the BEST tip I’ve heard in ages! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’ve made my holiday baking so much easier!
I’m glad you tried the Baker’s Joy…it’s amazing isn’t it? Happy New Year!
Absolutely love the little wreaths. I have been looking for small boxwood wreaths since end of November.
Love all your ideas.
I am enjoying your blog. Just subscribed this past week, so haven’t had time to try anything yet. Hope to print your holiday tags and recipe cards as soon as I get cardstock. Can’t believe you are in Findlay. I went to Defiance and my cousin went to Findlay. Always enjoyed Wilson’s hamburgers during the college days. Are they still in business? Have a beautiful Christmas with your family and a healthy and happy New Year.
Hi Becky!
Yes Wilson’s is still alive and well. In fact, I just drove through a few days ago. I rarely go downtown so when I do I usually take a detour there!
My favorite blog ever! So thankful I found it! Thanks for all the wonderful ideas and the many “gifts” you provide. Blessings to you and your family!
Thank you for the chocolate pretzel idea. You inspired me to try it. I found the tree mold at JoAnn’s just like you said. (on sale!) I’ve never worked with chocolate molds before and your tips really helped. My “trees” came out beautifully the first time! Thank you!
Oh I’m so glad! This made my day…thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Ann, I have just Loved ALL of your holiday posts. Time-saving wonderful ideas! Have made the English Muffin bread, fabulous Cranberry icebox dessert (made it Twice already) & another today to take to church tomorrow???? Printed off the gift tags too. Thank you so much for All! Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Love the gift bag – did you make the gift tags? Our printer isn’t color so can’t print some of your things. Love the gift tags and ribbon too!
Such lovely ideas Ann. Everything looks so festive! Thanks for the gifting/wrapping ideas. And I think it would be fun to make those Christmas tree pretzels. Have a wonderful Christmas!
You have some wonderful ideas here and I LOVE those little watercolor tags you made. Thank you so much for sharing them here. I just copied them over (or hope I did- I am on a new computer and don’t know my left thumb from my right finger right now).
You do things up just beautifully, Ann! I think everything is GREAT! xo Diana
Simple & Elegant ~ Thanks, Ann!
I’m going to make your English muffin bread ???? today! I’m sure it wil be delicious! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
A very pretty gift bag of Christmas goodies made with love:).
I would love to receive one:)
Oh wait! With your delicious recipes and easy instructions for gifting, I can make my own!:)
Thank you so much Ann for every post this year. I’m sure it was hard to blog with the passing of your mom. Hugs to you and your dad,
Kathleen in Az
I made your chocolate-covered candy canes and gave them as hostess gifts and to members of my chorus after our last concert. They were a big hit! Thanks! ☃ ????❄️
Thank you, Ann, for this attractive yet easy-looking post. Like you, I love wrapping and making the presentation as thoughtful as the gift when I have all the items at hand and am organized. It’s extremely frustrating when the scissors go missing or the tape disappears so I usually have two of everything right at hand. I’m fairly new to your blog but what I like about it is that besides providing continual “eye candy” for us readers, you keep it simple! I don’t feel stressed out when I read your blog; many are so over the top, they create a mental panic-mode as I know I’ll never have the time or (more importantly), access to the materials being used! I love decor but am older now, living in a condo (storage is an issue) and don’t drive anymore, therefore, items aren’t down the street or in the local shops in my little town. Your blog doesn’t seem to rely on these amenities that are, perhaps, a ten minute drive away for some readers; that’s why your blog is absolutely stress-less and thoroughly enjoyable for me to read!! Merry Christmas and thank you from Ontario, Canada!
Thank you for your lovely comment…I appreciate your honesty! I want this blog to be a happy place for you all to visit. I will just keep doing what I’m doing. Christmas wishes to you!
You are so wonderfully crafty!
I love your Blog and get so excited when I see your email.
Thanks so much for sharing all your wonderful ideas with everyone!
God Bless you and your family and Merry Christmas!
I LOVE your posts! Keep ’em coming!
I went to a craft fair earlier this month. One of the vendors had for sale some of your free printables in frames. I told her I recognized them and I knew where she had gotten them from. Thanks for sharing such lovely things with us.
I love your posts, Ann! Email and Facebook. Thank you for sharing your creativie talents; for your clear and helpful instructions and hints. I wish you a continued beautiful holiday and Blessed Christmas and upcoming 2017! Peace be with you
Great ideas.Beautiful gift bag.
I love the pretzel sticks. I’ll be on the lookout for that mold next year.
So very inspiring and classic. Thank you for sharing. I especially love the red and white checked ribbon!
Love the white w/red stripes ribbon! Where can I find it? Thank you and Merry Christmas ????????
Hi Olga! I had a hard time finding a source for the ribbon that wasn’t sold out. Here is my affiliate link for World Market. You can order it online.
http://rstyle.me/n/b9ywhrb4svx
Merry Christmas!
I brought the English Muffin Bread to my brothers house as a hostess gift for Thanksgiving and the loved it!!! I put it in a basket with the cinnamon sugar and a small fall mum….. I think I will do the same for Christmas but substitute the mum with a pointsieta. Than you for the inspiration!!
Well Ann..here we are another year later. Thank you for all your wonderful posts this year. I look forward to being inspired and entertained each week. And yours is still the only blog I subscribe to…I get everything I need right here! Happy holidays to you and your family!
Thank you Catharine…that is just about the best compliment you could give. My email subscribers are so very important to me. Thank you for following along!
Merry Christmas!
I just realized you had a link to the pretzel mold! Sorry!
Did you write “Peace ” or did you buy it that way…so pretty ????
The bags came in a pack and had the words printed on them. I got them at T. J. Maxx. Merry Christmas!
Everything you do is just so lovely. I too would like to see the pretzel molds! One thing that I thought of when looking at these photos was that if I wanted to do this it might be too late to find some of the supplies. I went to a few craft stores last week and everything was either extremely picked over or gone. So maybe in the future you could do this a bit earlier in the season.
I know Laura…and I will try to do better. This year really got away from me but I had the best of intentions. I love feedback like this so thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Merry Christmas!
Love it ????
Still new to puter… Found the picture of the Pretzel Molds. Love them. TY
Nice I’d like to see a picture of the pretzel stick molds pls. ty.
Great last minute gifts
I’m doing the muffin bread with the cinnamon sugar
Tasty
Packaging is lovely and simple
Cute ideas Ann!
Thanks for all the tips on making the chocolate pretzels. Love the little wreaths that adorn the gift bag.
Ann, just want to take a moment to say how much I appreciate your posts when they pop up in my email. Enjoy each and every one. I wish for you a better year next year, and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.