Sprucing Up a Thoughtful and Simple Gift

SPRUCING UP A THOUGHTFUL AND SIMPLE GIFT

This festive time of year is filled with Christmas parties and gatherings and preparation for the giving season. Besides gift buying for family and friends, it is important to recognize your hosts and hostesses with a small gift. This is an important etiquette detail that often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the season.

Bringing a thoughtful gift to your host or hostess is a classy and meaningful touch that brings joy to others. Sometimes it can be a challenge to decide what to bring. Do you need any help with those last little gift ideas? We thought it would be helpful to give a list of fun and practical gifts to bring to any holiday gathering, and easy ways to wrap them.

A simple gift that has been carefully packaged adds a touch of love and thoughtfulness. Giving a gift is a way of thanking a host or hostess for opening their home and for their hospitality.

What’s a great simple gift idea?

There are many items you can bring; some of these include food and drink items such as candy, chocolates, peppermint bark, nuts, coffee, tea, maple syrup, infused olive oil or a nice bottle of wine. There are also lots of non-food items that make wonderful gifts. These may include a nice set of napkins, a book, a dishcloth, a spreader knife, flowers, tapered candles, votives, a wooden spoon, or a bottle of hand wash like Mrs. Meyers soap. The possibilities are endless!

Food & Drink Gift Ideas

Candy
Chocolates
Peppermint bark
Nuts
Coffee
Tea
Maple syrup
Infused olive oil
Nice bottle of wine

Non-Food Gift Ideas

Nice set of napkins
Book
Dishcloth
Spreader knife
Flowers
Tapered candles
Votive candles
Wooden Spoon
Bottle of hand wash

Sprucing Up Your Simple Gift

To make even the most inexpensive gift look special, consider some of these easy tips to wrapping your gift with a personal touch, all of which are presented in the video below!

Some fun items for gift wrapping

Some examples of packaged host/hostess gifts

Find or reuse a piece of ribbon to tie up your gift. An easy go-to ribbon is grosgrain — especially red for the Christmas season. Anything tied up in red ribbon is an instant eye-catcher and is the easiest way to make the smallest of gifts look significant. No red on hand? Any ribbon or twine will elevate your gift.
Another tried-and-true hostess gift wrap is the cellophane bag. They come in a variety of sizes. You can place the item alone in the bag or add some colorful tissue, confetti paper or small chocolates for color. Once again, tie it up with a bow and it’s a wrap!
A tag, either store-bought or hand-crafted and attached to your gift is a nice way to present the package and ensure guests know that this thoughtful gift is from you. Another Christmas tip: add a bell to the tag. Nothing says Christmas like a jingle bell! Or, you can buy a package of holiday place cards and use those as your tags.
Tying the perfect bow can be a challenge. To get it just right, here are a few easy steps:
1. Pre-cut the ribbon with an extra inch or two to spare so you can trim the ends evenly once the bow (or knot) is tied.
2. Do not tie too tightly. A looser knot, while still secure, often looks best.
3. Tie the bow upside down. Once you flip the gift over, it looks just right!

Need some more ideas? Check out our video below to learn more.

The Reason Behind the Season

Gift giving can be an art, but it is really the reason behind the season that we choose to share in this thoughtful way with others.

Let’s remember the greatest gift we celebrate this Christmas. The ultimate gift was given to us at the birth of Jesus Christ and the promises of hope and light He brings. I have a simple visual that has helped bring the significance of the gift we celebrate every Christmas to life. Each one of us is offered this gift. Picture this object lesson: a small, gift-wrapped box with the tag reading, “To World, Love God.” As we receive this present and open our hearts, it is the most amazing gift and hope we can hold onto.

As the wrapping comes off and the box is opened it unfolds into a perfect cross — a reminder of the hope we have in knowing Jesus. He brings love, joy, peace, grace, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life in heaven. Truly the greatest gift of all wrapped up in One: Jesus Christ!

Gift to us all “To World, Love God”

Unfolded box from object lesson: the greatest gift of Jesus and all He brings

All of us at The Anchor wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas season. As we prepare to give gifts, let’s be thankful for the greatest gift of all, Jesus, our true anchor!