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Creative Holiday Giving Ideas

ByDiane Henkler Updated:

Tomorrow is November 1st!  Do you know what that means besides being the first day of the month?

How to wrap a plant for a Christmas gift.

It means it is 3 weeks until Thanksgiving and about eight weeks to Christmas!!!  This year I plan to be ready on all fronts…

…Decorating, baking, and gift shopping.

No running to the mall for gifts in mid-December or worse yet, last minute.  Instead I plan to be able to sit back in one of my new comfy recliners and gaze at the Christmas tree all December long, while watching classic Christmas movies and maybe even munching on a few just out of the oven Christmas cookies.

Total holiday bliss… but for this scenario to happen, I have to get in holiday gear… NOW!

 

If you have been reading my blog for awhile then you know I love the holidays and being able to make and give gifts to my friends and family, but I also like to add my own style to the items I buy before giving them.

Nature-gifts-to-give-at-Christmas

Last month I did just that… I got started on my holiday preparations.

I like to give gifts that can keep on giving, like a plant.  Vinyl storage bins make a perfect cover to hide the ugly plastic pot a Christmas plant comes in or a pot of Rosemary that has the pyramidal shape of a Christmas tree. The scent of rosemary and pine in a room smells divine and once the holidays are over the plant can be planted in a garden for the recipient to use to season their cooking and recipes all year long.

Easy to do holiday decorating ideas

The bin is adorable just as it is, but I wanted to add my own style so I added a few jingle bells to the rim so that when I bring it to the party as a hostess gift, the sounds of Christmas will accompany it.

How to Add Jingle Bells to the Rim of a Holiday Storage Bin

Gift-giving-ideas-for-the-holidays

supplies needed:

  • 16 red jingle bells from the craft or dollar store
  • Black pipe cleaners… a.k.a… chenille stems
  • Wire cutters
  • Awl
  • Chalk
  • Measuring tape

Christmas gift ideas from Thirty One gifts

1. Cut the black pipe cleaners into 16 –  2-inch sections with wire cutters.

Unique Christmas gift wrapping ideas

2. To evenly space jingle bells around the rim, use chalk to make a mark every 2 inches on rim.

How-to-add-jingle-bells-to-a-tote

3. Directly under a chalk mark, carefully push the tip of an awl through the vinyl fabric. Since it vinyl, the fabric will not tear or un-ravel.

4. Push a cut pipe cleaner through the hole.

5. Slide a jingle bell over the pipe cleaner and then twist ends to secure. Trim ends if needed with wire cutters.

How to add jingle bells to any object the easy way

I then made sure that all the twists were on the inside of the bin and not on the top of the rim.

Place plant in. Since the storage bin has handles, carrying it to the party will be easy. You can even tie a red ribbon bow on top fo the rosemary.

Have you started your holiday preparations yet?

Christmas gift giving ideas and pretty holiday gift wrapping ideas.

One of the best gifts you can give friends and family (especially) is a beautifully decorated house. Do you have tried and true approaches you use every year? Are you open to something different? Checkout out my Christmas decorating gallery.

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14 Comments

  1. Peggy Christopherson says:

    Thanks Diane for more great ideas. I’ve been following your blog for over a year now and i wish I could accomplish event just 25% of the stuff you do. You are so organized and I’ve been using some of your tips to get organized and your have helped me tremendously. I would love to personalize the moosin’ around storage bin. Thinking about putting some garland around the top edge and making some small poinsettias to to add to the garland. This especially appeals to me because I live in Wasilla Alaska and often have moose in my yard. Had a cow and calf visiting just a couple of days ago. I also will be sending for the wine tote. it will be a perfect gift for a relative. Thanks for all your ideas.

    Reply
  2. Jennie Holmes says:

    Hi Diane, guess my post did not go through.
    Anyway, I do love reading your post’s. So creative. Loved following your kitchen remodel. I used your fall gift giving idea to put together in a paper bag. The fall leaves gave a vibrant color to package.
    I would use the personalized tray with ribbon around the handles and add a cheese ball with knife spreader.

    Reply
  3. Jennie Holmes says:

    Hi Diane, I just love reading your post and all your creative ideas.
    I used your fall idea of placing a food gift basket inside a paper bag, Tied it with a fall colored ribbon.
    I would use the personalized tray with ribbon woven around the handles and a cheese ball with cheese knive.

    Reply

  4. Hi Diane!
    I think I would personalize the moosin’ around storage bin with a stand of green garland. I would attach it with green chenille stems as you attached the jingle bells!!! Thanks for getting the juices flowing! Happy holidays to you and yours ? Thanks for the opportunity to win these fine items!

    Reply

  5. I inspired with your creative ideas.i like your way of explanation for step by step procedure and then i am looking for your next post.

    Reply

  6. Thank you Diane, I like this Thirty-one shop. Your are so creative and inspirational. Thanks again!

    Reply
  7. Norma Rolader says:

    I love your ideas for gifts ..I also love to give

    Reply

  8. I love the bells on the holder and the little strip of glitter on the tissue paper. Just that little extra makes such a huge difference!

    Reply
  9. mary heicher says:

    Hey Diane, I started mine a couple months ago.
    In my younger years, I was going up till x-mas eve.
    Now I’m too old for that and have learned
    it’s much less stressful to get-er-done! lol

    Reply

  10. I did some of my holiday shopping on Amazon Prime Day back in July :D My rule is that if I see something that will make a good gift for family or friend, I buy it and set it aside. I’ll also be making cookie dough soon and freezing it in ready-to-bake portions, as well as making and freezing amaretto cakes for gifts. Here’s to a stress-free, no-going-to-malls December!

    Reply

  11. Diane!! Again you have given me a great idea for my kids for Christmas!!
    I love the tray! It always is a challenge to decide what to give our 6 married kids!
    This is perfect! What is the timeframe to receive once I order them? Thanks!
    Also I have made the garlic pretzels soooooo many times! Addictive!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Nancy – The tray is perfect gift for your kids and can be personalized in many different ways. Good question about delivery time. I just added it to the post. You need to order by December 11th for guaranteed holiday delivery. The garlic pretzels… my fave and like to said… Addictive. Wish I had some right now.

      Reply

  12. As usual…another set of great ideas! Bring on the holidays!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Amy – Thanks. I am going to be ready, decorated, shopped and wrapped early this year so I won’t feel frazzled and will be able to truly relax and enjoy the holidays this year. :-)

      Reply