Here is a last minute gift idea I made for friends that would be a perfect way to engage your children and teens when they are home for Christmas — homemade stovetop potpourri!
When I was little, Sister and I would make crafts together as my gift to family members. One year we made spice ropes, another year we filled hairspray caps with plaster and stuck a fork inside to make a recipe holder. Our creative skills were on fire! I have fun memories working with her on these crafts instilling in me the spirit of giving.
For this project, I got the idea here on Pinterest from The Crafting Chicks. All the ingredients and a free printable are available on the link. But, I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version.
Gather all your ingredients and Ball jars. I always purchase my Ball jars at Jabo’s Ace Hardware because they have the best selection and I can use the $5 off coupons they send me in the mail for being a reward customer (and if you use Rakutun they reward 2.5% back to you). I purchased the cinnamon sticks at Fiesta International Market and sourced the cloves and cinnamon in bulk from Whole Foods. The cranberries and oranges came from my local grocery store.
Then I got to work bagging up the spices into small snack size ziploc bags. I placed the oranges and cranberries inside first and tucked the spice bags to the side. Your little children could help with counting each orange and cranberries that go into the jars. Note: I didn’t slice the oranges, per the recipe, because I wasn’t sure when people would make their potpourri.
Once the jars are filled, I wrote messages on black scrapbook paper and cut the paper into oversized circles to place over the top of the jar seal, and then finished with the Ball jar rim. I tied the printable around the mouth of the jar with baker’s twine. Your older kids could write the message in gold paint pen.
Now, pile the jars into a basket and take your little ones with you for deliveries. Your friends and family will delight in seeing their faces bring a gift to fill their home with the smells of Christmas that was made with love!
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
