Wow that is a lot of recipes to choose from. I think I will have to do a couple of those as I already have some jars that I wouldn't mind seeing go away.

I also love the meal in a basket ideas - I may have to use a couple of those again I can use up some of the many jars I have.

wow! thank you gayla50 what a great assortment of recipes!! thank you!

I have a few books with the "in a jar" recipes. I'll see if I feel frisky later and can post them. There are a few papercrafting things I'd like to do this year. I want to make "snopwman soup" in a recycled soup can for my friends in my Bible Study class. I will post a "pop top can tutorial" in scrap area in a bit. Inside, you put a packet of hot cocoa mix, a candy cane, and some maarshmallows. Decorate like a real soup can and your done!

__________________
Alicia (Tree-hugger wannabe)
mom to Shawn, Jake, and Toad
"Chick" out the Scrapbooking Forum for great handcrafted Occasion Ideas!!

Oh! Another cute idea is something I read in Familyfun magazine but cannot find it on the site... I have it in my files. You use a coffee mug (I would buy used) and put cake mix and something else in a ziploc and there are instructions of how to make it into a cupcake.

Heres familyfun.com homemade Christmas ideas:
FamilyFun: Gifts from the Kitchen - and More Family Fun

__________________
Alicia (Tree-hugger wannabe)
mom to Shawn, Jake, and Toad
"Chick" out the Scrapbooking Forum for great handcrafted Occasion Ideas!!

Off to Uni!
Coffee, biscuits, pasta, pasta sauce, shower items.
Deluxe- Meal suggestions and ingredients, disposable plates.
Premium – Towel set, antibacterial wipes, washing powder, laundry basket.

Leaving Home
Coffee, biscuits, tea, bags, sugar, Long Life milk, corkscrew, pot noodle, pasta sauce, pasta, tomato ketchup, baked beans, washing up sponge/brush, rubber gloves, duster, Mr sheen, washing up liquid, WD-40

New Home Essentials
Hot chocolate/ tea/coffee, soap dish, hand sanitiser, hand lotion, dish towel, potholder, potpourri, scented candle, screwdriver set, new address cards

New Home
Scented candle/potpourri, coffee, tea, 2 mugs, biscuit assortment, local shops info/local take away info, small long life milk,
Medium- paintbrushes, dustcloth, gloves, antibacterial spray, paper towels.
Deluxe- small pot plant, sparkling wine

Welcome Home dinner
Colander filled with Pasta, pasta sauce, grated parmesan, coffee, cake, dark chocolate, Pasta tongs, grissini sticks.
Medium- Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, ciabatta bread

Welcome to the neighbourhood
Snack mix, water crackers, cheese spread, spreader knife, pate, cookies, cake, nuts, coffee, tea

Housewarming Special
Biscuits, cake, coffee, tea selection, peppermint sweets, 2 mugs, nuts, scented candle, Sparking wine/beverage.

Sweet Delights
Flavoured coffee, hot chocolate, truffles, chocolate covered raisins, hob nob biscuits, Earl grey tea, Lady Grey tea, Turkish delight, amaretti biscuits, shortbread biscuits


Soup’s On
Soup bowl , napkin, soup spoon, crackers, croutons, 4 varieties of soup.


Global Tastebuds
American style salad dressing, Tex-Mex sauce, French mustard, Risotto Mix, Indian chutneys, Thai sweet chilli dip,

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
Chocolate covered fruit/nuts, truffles, Belgian chocolate, chocolate bars, drinking chocolate

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
A selection of hot sauces, pickles and marinades from around the world.
ie-Jamaican hot sauce, pickled Jalepeno peppers, Greek peppers, Tabasco sauce, thai sweet chilli dip.

Diabetic Basket
This is our guilt free way for you to send a special treat when dietary restrictions dictate. We have included cheese, crackers, nuts, sugar free candy, sugar free cookies, tea, pretzels, and a sugar free chocolate bar.

Diet Spring Basket
Fruit, assortment of juices, mineral water, rice cakes, Weight Watchers soup, crackers

Springtime
Belgian chocolate, fruit sweets, herbal tea, shortbread biscuits (green and yellow theme)
Birthday Celebration
37.5cl champagne, Belgian milk chocolate, mini birthday balloon/ cupcake with birthday sentiments

Tea Tasters Platter
Breakfast tea, Earl Grey tea, Assam tea, Green tea, Fruit tea, Lapsang Souchong tea, Darjeeling tea, Bone china mug/cup and saucer.

Tea Basket
Fruit cake, English tea, Earl Grey tea, strawberry jam, marmalade, shortbread,


Stressed Out
75cl Chardonnay, Earl Grey tea, chocolate, relaxing bath products, bath pillow, bath scrunchie, scented candle, Reflexology massage voucher, chocolate.

Hugs for mom
Inspirational/poetry book, photo frame, body spray, candle, bath salts, cookies, tea, floral arrangement. Packaged in a planter


Relax and Pamper
Photo frame, relaxing bath products, hand towel, aromatherapy massage voucher, bath pillow, novel, bath scrunchie, scented candle.


Pamper your Love
Bubble Bath, Body lotion, hand cream, bath salt, candles, candle holder, massage voucher, small bottle champagne, popular novel.

Relaxation Time
Arran aromatics Geranium set – day cream, foam bath,shower gel, moisturising soap, geranium candle in glass holder
Cotton waffle robe, cucumber eyepads, Mini Blossom Hill Zinfandel, acrylic wine glass, berry mint footscrub, liquer filled chocolates, 2 scented wooden roses, pink body buffer, floral decoration.
Deluxe-Aromatherapy Massage voucher/Reflexology voucher, nail brush, moisturising hand cream, foot cream, manicure set.

With Sympathy
Selection of tea and coffee, biscuits, trimmed with a black bow, faux flowers.

Words of comfort
Contains a book of sympathetic quotes, cake, coffee, tea, nuts, notepaper and pen.



Sympathy Gift basket
Is filled with carefully selected items. A willow handled basket which is filled with a nice assortment of tea, biscuits, cheese, crackers, scone mix, preserves, premium coffee, fruit and nuts. A gift basket is a great alternative to giving flowers.

surprise party in a basket
Sparkling wine, party poppers, party flute, cupcake with birthday sentiment and candle, chocolate,

survival gift basket
perfect as a finals week gift, bar exam gift, tax accountant gift or a stress relief gift basket.contains an energy drink, coffee, power bars, savoury snacks, chocolates, Jelly beans, a chocolate, assorted candies and gourmet crisps. Great stay awake, get energy, keep you going goodies.

Breads basket
3 packets of flavoured bread mix, wooden spoon, loaf tin, in a mixing bowl.

Cookie baking sheet, mixing bowl, measuring cup, wooden spoon, cookie mix, cookie decorations

Breakfast basket
Pancake mix, measuring cup, whisk, pancake syrup, muffin mix,muffin paper cups, coffee/tea, in a mixing bowl/ on a tray.

I've been starting to think about homemade gifts for Christmas, too. Money is getting a little tighter for us, and we want to give gifts at Christmas without looking like money is too tight. For my family, I think I need to go beyond the gifts in a jar.

I'm thinking about doing scrapbook calendars from Stampin Up! and wanted to pass the idea along. It's pretty affordable (10.95) and is a 12x12 calendar. I make a scrapbook page on each month. Then at the end of the year, they can rip off the pages at the perforations and slip them into a real scrapbook.

But I need some other things to go with it... so I'd appreciate some other ideas, too. You guys have come up with some great stuff.