The holiday party season is in full swing. We’re not exactly the Hilton family, but we have our fair share of get-togethers over the next two weeks. There’s Milk and Cookies with Santa at a friend’s house next week…and there’s the annual Gathering of College Friends where we all pretend like we’re not way too old to be up this late.
Maybe I’m old fashioned, but when I’m invited somewhere, I like to show up with a little gift for the hostess. Nothing huge…just a little token to say thank you for allowing me and my hooligans into your home.
And to make things easier, I like to keep a couple of things in the house so I’m not racing out at the last minute trying to buy flowers or a bottle of wine. When I saw these pretty poinsettias at Target for $3.99, I snapped up a few to give as hostess gifts. Note: I’ve read conflicting reports about whether poinsettias are actually poisonous. Either way, don’t let you kids or animals nosh on them.
To fancy it up a bit all you need is an empty coffee can and some scrapbook paper. Note: Make sure your pot is going to fit inside the can before you do all this.
Cover the coffee can with holiday scrapbook paper. It’s a great excuse to use up some of my stash since I don’t actually scrapbook.
Stick your plastic poinsettia pot into your fancied-up coffee can.
Wrap a piece of big fat ribbon around it a few times and attach an ornament. I’ve been known to just grab one off my tree. Who am I kidding? That’s what I always do. Gives me an excuse to buy a few new ones on clearance after Christmas.
Show up on your friend’s doorstep with a big Merry Christmas. Done!
No coffee can in your pantry? You could just wrap the pot in burlap and tie it with ribbon or yarn.
This post is for Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes 2009. Even though you don’t see much of my home…just my kitchen counter.
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Want a few more ideas for hostess gifts? How about these:
Coupon-Giving: No Stress! @ Reluctant Entertainer – This isn’t exclusively a hostess gift idea but I love it! Especially the part about teaching your children that giving of their time is a precious gift.
Holiday Potpourri @ The Wisteria House (I’ll bet this smells divine.)
Christmas Coasters @ All Things Heart and Home
4 Holiday Hostess Gift Ideas with a Junk Twist @ Whisperwood Cottage
{ 49 comments }
Great hostess idea!
Great idea Kimba! I’m always happy to hear of someone else that has a “stash” of scrapbook paper, but doesn’t scrapbook!
A girl after my own heart, you are…
This is a fantastic idea! I love doing fun things with paper!!!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
Great idea. The can is so cute.
Such a great idea and I just so happen to have all the supplies on hand. Thanks for the inspiration!
I always take a hostess gift too.
One of my favorites is to wrap a 1/2 pound bag of starbucks coffe with a cute holiday dishtowel and tie it up with a cute ornament and ribbon
Great idea! I’m thinking that would be a great use for all the formula cans I seem to be accumulating, too.
Very cute idea, Kimba.
This is SO cute! Now where can I get a coffee can?
Our home is having an old fashioned handmade Christmas this year. I hope you will stop by.
Cute idea Kimba. I like simple hostess gifts too. I’m sure that would make the plant a little sturdier too. I can see this working at other times of the year too as hostess gifts, with potted tulips, a plant etc. Thanks for the idea. Merry Christmas!
What a fun idea! And poinsettias are so festive. Who wouldn’t love adding that to their holiday decor? Thanks, Kimba!
Christmas Blessings,
Heather
THAT is adorable!
m ^..^
That is just so cute!
This is a great idea! I love poinsettias… but don’t have much luck with them. Maybe I need to give it another try!
I really like that idea and wish I had learned of it earlier as it would have made nice teacher gifts also. I homeschool, but have one in preschool and his teachers would have loved that.
Thanks for sharing it with us! I may actually make a couple for around my own house.
Very cute Kimba!
The coffee can idea is GENIUS!!! I’m excited over it actually, lol.
CUTE idea!!
~TidyMom
I rarely go anywhere without a hostess gift either. I LOVE this idea!
They were $1/piece last week. I should have bought a bunch….UGH!
Really cute and super easy idea. I have plenty of materials to make this more than once, so I’ll have to give it a try!
Have a great week,
Jennifer
darling!
xo,
cristin
you’re brillant.
thanks for the tip!
Yep, love it!
Great idea! Looks so much better than the shiny paper!
What a simple yet cute idea! I have a bunch of empty food storage cans waiting for some type of project. I saw an idea that you can put Christmas presents in them. Wrapping the can with wrapping paper and putting a bow on the top. Perfect for odd shaped items!
Pamela
I always take something too. I can’t just show up at someones house:) This is a great little gift.
So so cute!! Great idea, thanks for sharing!! Merry Christmas!
Kimba,
Two thumbs up for classy, quick & easy!
Cathy
So cute Kimba…one question: I’m taken with that star on the final product. Can you recall where you got it?? Thanks!
Hi Susan,
I’m afraid I don’t remember. I’ve had a few of those stars on my tree for a while. I’m thinking they came from an after Christmas clearance sale at Target. That’s where most of my newer ornaments came from.
Like you, I have quite a stash of scrapbook paper and no actual scrapbooking pages to show for it! I love this idea!
What a great idea! I love the burlap idea. And can I just say…anything with big fat ribbons is automatically a-mazing. Merry Christmas!
Dropping by from Nester’s tour. What a great idea. I know I’d love to be on the receiving end of your hostess gift!
Come to my Christmas Goodies Recipe Exchange and link up Dec 15
What a fantastic idea! Love it. Thanks for sharin. I’m havin a blast with the Nesters tour. So fun to see everyone’s decorations and ideas. I’ve gained so much inspiration. Merry Christmas!
Kimba! Love your blog. Love, love, love. So happy to have discovered it. Thanks for mentioning my potpourri!! It really is the best smelling gift ever…and I’m totally copying your poinsetta idea.
LOVE that idea!
I would not have guessed that it was a coffee can! Love the paper you used!!
Amy
P.S. Thanks for the link about my hostess gift post!
Okay, that is an awesome idea!! I love love love the little star embellishment…it added that extra “oomph.”
Very cute Kimba! I feel the same way. I always like to bring a little something.
Manuela
Nice!!!!
Great idea! It is always good to have something like this on hand. Rite Aid has the poinsettia’s for $4.99 {and they’re a pretty good size}.
What a beautiful idea Kimba : ) I love it!
Great idea!!
I love it. What a quick and easy gift.
Ruth
Great hostess gift! I love it and can’t wait to use it!
Thanks for sharing! I’m addicted to pretty scrapbook paper but haven’t made an actually scrapbook in 10 years. Oops.
This is such a great idea. Creative, cute, and inexpensive!
LOVE this quick and easy gift. I’m including a link in my Inspire My Saturday post today. Thanks for sharing.
XO*Tricia
What a great idea!