Today I’m over at Skip to My Lou as part of the Bake Craft Sew & Crochet Along. I am sharing a wonderful zakka-inspired gift bag perfect for holiday gift giving. In fact, you won’t want to miss all the handmade gift ideas! I have joined over 100 bloggers to share some amazing homemade gift ideas…….and I get to be part of an amazing sewing giveaway too. More on the giveaway below.
Be sure to check it out. I was inspired to make these humble gift bags by a desire to give teachers money at the holidays. I always want to give teachers money (or gift cards) because they spend so much of their own on classroom supplies but it can feel odd and uncomfortable. A sweet little gift bag adds just the right amount of handmade to the whole exchange. It’s also a great way to give money to anyone in an extra special way…your broke Uncle or ramen-eating sister, anyone really! It is my favorite way to take the awkwardness out a gift of cold hard cash.
I find little gift bags so handy that I pulled together ten other inventive ways to use them:
1. Jot down your favorite sangria recipe, tuck it into the gift bag and attach it to a bottle of wine as a gift for your spunky neighbor.
2. Tuck little surprises into each bag and build your own advent calendar or 12 Days of Christmas treats
3. Holiday party sweets for kids: Surprise your little guests with a bag of holiday sweets after a holiday party.
4. Dinner party surprises: Give a bag of specialty chocolates or after-dinner mints to each person at a holiday dinner party.
5. Cookie Recipe exchange: Copy your famous snickerdoodle recipe onto an index card and store it in the gift bag, attach the bag to a tin of cookies for your host.
6. Tea Lover’s Gift: Tuck a dozen bags of speciality tea into the gift bag and warm the hands and hearts of a tea-loving friend.
7. Gift for a friend: Surprise a friend with a few thoughtful gifts in her own reusable bag.
8. Hang the gift bag on the Christmas tree with special sweets for a Christmas morning treat for the kids.
9. Attach a gift bag with a special note or extra gift card to another gift to make it extra special.
10. Slip a fabric napkin and handful of family recipes into a gift bag and attach it to specialty kitchen supplies as a gift for a foodie.
I hope you are inspired to make a handful of gift bags! Now, be sure to enter the giveaway for a sewing machine (can you even beleive it!!). There are about a gazillion ways to win! Good luck.
This sewing machine is so AMAZING it even has a name! Meet Rachel.
kim t. says
I love all of the precious handmades from my children.
Melissa Q. says
That’s so sweet Kim!
Gigi says
Great gift ideas!
It’s so sad but I can’t remember receiving any handmade gifts except for artwork from my kids for all the holidays. What does this say about me?
Melissa Q. says
OH no!! This must change…gotta get Leila stitching.
Chacoy says
My sister made me a beautiful scarf that she knit herself, it is perfect, soft, warm and it was made with love!!!
Chacoy says
My sister knit me a beautiful scarf that is warm, soft and every time I wear it I think of her!! Love it!!
Chacoy says
My comment keeps saying duplicate comment so I hope this one works?!!
I love all the handmade gifts my son has made me growing up but appreciate any and all handmade gifts that are given to me. I love that every time I look at it it reminds me of them and that they put so much thought and time into something for little old me!!!
Melissa Q. says
Ugh, sounds like the robots are acting up! Sorry! I got your comment. 🙂
Jen says
You are amazing. I love the way your pocketbook strap sits on your shoulder.
Melissa Q. says
Aw, thanks you!
Kristen Gilmore Powell says
these bags are adorable and i Love your 10 ideas!!
Melissa Q. says
Thanks K! Good luck!
Heather Karickhoff-Bahm says
Best handmade gift: a quilt made by my grandmother.
Melissa Q. says
Sounds perfect!
lesley says
a holly hobby quilt when i was little from a lady at our church – i still have it
Melissa Q. says
Holly Hobby! I loved Holly Hobby and my aunt made me a handmade Holly Hobby doll. Oh, the memories!