‘Tis the season to make people happy, which includes yourself. As lovely as it is to receive lovingly chosen or crafted gifts, it really is much better to give. There is enormous satisfaction to be had in putting the final touches on a homemade gift; twirling that ribbon around the scissors and zipping out a little curlicue.
I have made some awful Christmas presents for my family. It is only now, 25 years after I knitted it, that Mr. Friday finally tossed out a very organically shaped sweater that I knitted for him while I was pregnant. Very kindly he never mentioned that the sleeves were different lengths. Because he had watched me sitting on the sofa, night after night, occupying my usually nimble fingers in knitting him some fuzzy mis-counted seasonal warmth. Sometimes love is keeping your trap shut.
I am not so inclined to knit these days, thank goodness. Did you hear that sigh? That was my family finally breathing freely. But I think you should be warned, folks, that there will be some homemade items in your Christmas boxes. Mr. Friday and I are hightailing it out of town this Christmas, and I am working on the boxes of holiday cheer to mail to the far-flung offspring and siblings. Be warned! Ho, ho, ho!
As you might have guess from the accompanying illustration, I am a big fan of Ball canning jars. They can be antique, they can be recycled from last year, or you can find them brand spanking new in the grocery store. They are the perfect container for so many reasons – chief among them is that you can add a colorful bow and a gift tag and that ends your gift wrapping responsibilities. Pop one in a bag with tissue paper and you have a small, thoughtful gift. The endless possibilities with the fillings will keep you awake at night.
At four in the morning you will find yourself staring up at the ceiling, and using the old, reliable art major trick for managing problems: you are counting off on your fingers your co-workers, or your church committee, or the neighbors you actually speak with. Do you really have to give the jerk down the street who uses his super sonic boom leaf blower at seven in the morning on a Sunday a Ball jar of fudge? Don’t be silly – of course not. But what about the nice letter carrier, who delivered Harry Potter books right on time, and still remembers your children’s names? He gets a large jar. And so it goes.
One year, I don’t know what madness takes over at this time of year, I found about two dozen quotations (funny and profound, silly and lyrical) and printed them, and then cut them into little strips of paper, like the ones found Chinese fortune cookies. I rolled them on pencils, wrapped them with tiny rubber bands and stuffed them into Ball jars. Undoubtedly that was a year when the giver had more fun than the co-worker receivers!
Here are some Ball jar holiday gift ideas for you to share your love of the homemade this season. I would advise you to stay away from knitting projects this late into the season.
The Pouting Princess texted me the other day, asking for the secret family fudge recipe. Obviously, the apple does not fall far, does it? This can be your secret family recipe now, though you should be cagey and mysterious when people ask YOU for the recipe. Don’t give us away.
https://www.eaglebrand.com/recipes/chocolate-fudge-4139
Nigella Lawson doles out jars of spaghetti spice. The recipe makes about enough to fill 4 ½ cup jars – so look for little tiny Ball jars, or recycle your old olive jars.
1 1/3 cups dried parsley
1 ½ tablespoons garlic granules
1/3 cup crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup sea salt flakes or Kosher salt
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2235925/Nigellas-Italian-Christmas-Spaghetti-spice.html
Of course Martha has to out-Martha us, with jars of scented sugar. There must be someone on your list, maybe the naughty ones, who don’t replace the paper in the shared printer, who would like this: https://www.marthastewart.com/277236/gifts-in-a-jar/@center/307035/santas-workshop#237144
Candy cane bark! Stop wasting college tuition by buying peppermint bark at William Sonoma. Make some at home, and you will feel the love. Give some to your children, and they will temporarily forget how annoying you truly are: https://thefrugalgirls.com/2013/12/candy-cane-bark.html
And how about that cute yellow Lab next door? Doesn’t she deserve a treat? Loyalty can be had for a little extra biscuit action: https://recipegoldmine.com/foodgiftpet/doggy-biscuits-mix-jar.html
My children always loved this magic recipe for reindeer food. I type this as someone who had to channel her inner raindeer and gnaw on unwashed carrots at 2 AM on Christmas morning for many years. A jar of this will be appreciated in many homes the night before the big man arrives. https://christmas.organizedhome.com/crafts/christmas/magic-reindeer-food
This is strictly crafty and clever – and maybe you should make a couple for yourself! https://blog.consumercrafts.com/decor-home/pottery-barn-inspired-jar-vase/
And here is one that I plan on testing out on Mr. Friday first. After I light the candles in the Pottery Barn Inspired Jar Vase. He’ll like this much more than another stylish sweater. So will I. https://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/boozy-hot-chocolate-kit#.vbQxW7QX4
“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”
― J.K. Rowling
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