12.09.2008

WFMW: Christmas-y Hostess Gifts

I feel like I have a Christmas party to go to every weekend this December!  I always try to take a little gift to the hostess when we go to parties.  Whenever we've been the hosts (and I can remember one party in particular which found me, after everyone had gone home, vacuuming the kitchen table because it had gotten so gross from the hors d'oeuvres) I really appreciated the people who thought to bring us a little something.  Parties are hard work!  It stinks to be the one left behind with the clean-up.  But they are so much fun too!

Anyway, back to the gifts.  Below are a few ideas of things to bring to a party this season.  I usually keep most of this stuff in the house, and I buy them when they go on sale so that I am not panicking at the last minute.

First, your average bottle of wine, perked up with a ribbon and a cute little spreader for dips and such:

Here's a close-up because I thought the spreader was so cute!

I usually have a stash of this type of stuff below around the house.  Teas, coffees, hot chocolate, and boxes of individually-wrapped biscotti.  I keep another stash of those clear cellophane bags (found at Michaels or similar).  Just put a few of these little goodies in a bag, throw in some tissue paper, tie it with a pretty bow, and tell the hostess that this gift is for tomorrow morning when she is too tired to make breakfast.  :)

How about buying cute kitchen towels when you see them on sale?  Then just tie one with a pretty bow and you have an adorable little gift that the hostess can use to hang for decoration...or to do the dishes when the guests go home!

Here's another twist on the wine theme.  (Can you tell I love wine when I am not pregnant?)  I bought a few generic vases when they went on sale at the end of the summer, and just added a vinyl letter and a cute ribbon.  This is a unique gift that the hostess can use at future parties to keep the opened bottles of wine from dripping all over her table.  (And yes, this photo was taken last month, so the pumpkins are giving me away!)

But don't you love the little button detail?  

Hopefully if you have a few of these items in a closet somewhere, it will be a little easier to get out the door to the next Christmas party.  Works For Me!


59 comments:

AndreaLeigh said...

You are so stinking creative! I love these idea, especially the vase. The ribbon and the letter really make it looks uber expensive!

Jennifer said...

Great ideas! Email me at jennifergray02@yahoo.com I couldn't email you through your profile because I don't have outlook set up on my computer :)

Unknown said...

so cute love the vase!

Harbor Hon said...

Carrie,
I love the vase with the bottle in it. Cute to put the button on the ribbon too. You just have a flair for making everything look so special. Thanks for sharing. xxoo

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

I love to have things like this on hand...it's the remembering to bring it when I am rushing out the door that gets me. :)

cherry said...

Cute! I am not a wine drinker but I know many that are. cherry

Anonymous said...

Adorable! Nice little extra creative touches.

Lynn said...

I LOVE getting hostess gifts! They really don't take a lot of effort and mean so much to the host or hostess. Love your idea about the cute kitchen towels, too. I usually think "food," but a towel would make a great little present.

Amy said...

For those who don't do wine, you could use the same ideas on a nice bottle of sparkling juice or even a homemade fruit punch decanted into a decorative bottle.

Kristen said...

I'm stealing that vase idea for some sparkling cider! I am BIG on giving hostess gifts, I think it's sort of falling out of fashion which is sad. Throwing a party is HARD work, even when done so willingly. I'm always grateful to those who are thoughtful to even bring just a "little" something!

blueladybug said...

Love all of your ideas especially the adorable vase idea! I agree with you that hosting a party is A LOT of work! Unfortunatly there are people out there who do not realize all the work that goes into the preparation of the party. A hostess gift is so appreciated! I wish there were more people like you.

Angie said...

Great ideas!! My fav is the wine bottle holder, I love that idea!! Where do you get your monograms from? I can never find them that big at Michaels

Anonymous said...

love the ideas. it pays to keep little things handy. i have a little 'gift closet' that i keep things i find on sale. you never know when you might need a quick gift. love the vase - the monogrammed made it very special.
~nicole

Sarah said...

Those are some great gifts! I want to have a party so that you can come and bring me one!

Hope you are feeling well!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

I always seem to take a bottle of wine...I will make it cuter next party, thanks to you!
I have made a 'Christmas potpouri' that someone made me that I loved and take that sometimes, too!

Screaming Meme said...

I think you are good at this! Id love any of those! :) I love giving hostess gifts...It means that you appreciate them for all they did...:) You are lucky to have such a busy Christmas! :) Isn't that what it is all about?

Unknown said...

These are great ideas!

The Writer Chic said...

LOVE that last picture. The green is gorgeous!

Shannon said...

Great ideas! That last one is so pretty and genius! :)

The Donahue's said...

Great ideas! I will be stealing one or two of these ideas, I have a few parties to attend this holiday season. (and I have a teenager's bday party Friday, I will be stealing the candy in a planter idea, so cute!! thanks for the tips!)

CMB said...

Carrie,

Those are all great ideas...I posted yesterday about parties, RSVP'S (or lack of) and hostess gifts! You can come to any of my parties!

~Coco

Wendy said...

Fun ideas...what a thoughtful guest you are!

duchess said...

What great ideas - I want to invite you to a party just to get one of those monogrammed wine holders. Love it.

Lisa said...

Very cute stuff!!! I'm looking forward to lunch tomorrow my friend! : )

Chris said...

I have been eying that green planter? urn? container? for MONTHS, and you just made me decide to buy it. THAT RIBBON with it is perfect. Great ideas all around!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

All fantastic ideas!!

Love the polka dot ribbon with the vinyl letter on the wine vase!!

Have a good day:)

Lisa

Anonymous said...

What terrific gift ideas! Thanks.

Unknown said...

I am loving that great green vase! Hmmmm...now if I could find a pink one somewhere....not for a hostess gift, but for myself! You are so clever!

Marina Berryman said...

Especially love the vase and the rolled up tea towel. Gives me some incentive to shop at Cost Plus World Market today!

Unknown said...

They're all so cute, but I really love the wine vase! How adorable!

Denise C said...

OH how cute! You are one creative gal, Carrie!!! Thanks for sharing your gift of creativity with us!!!
P.s. I am sooooo enjoying my book!!! Thank you again!

Sweet Simplicity said...

Cute ideas!

Joanna said...

Love the vase idea!

jennykate77 said...

Another post with some REALLY great ideas! My favorite stand-by is what you mentioned with the teas, hot cocoas, and biscotti...it always makes a great gift! Love them all!

angie {the arthur clan} said...

You are the queen of creative ideas Carrie...these are all wonderful!

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

Hi! I came over from Cherry's Jubilee. Your blog is great. Love this post. What graet ideas!

Holly said...

Cutie patootie!

Our Complete Family said...

Carrie,
Those would all work in my book, too!
Love them!
Merry December hun,
Les

Inspired Kara said...

You are such a wonderful gift-giver. I love it!!

Ms. Tee said...

Your ideas are so cute, Carrie! I'd love any of those gifts! :)

Tami said...

I love, love, love the vase idea. I will start looking for clearance vases now. Can't wait to make some of these. Thanks for the tip.

Beth@Pages of Our Life said...

Great Ideas! It is so thoughtful to have something to give the hostess. So do need to invite you over to get one of these cool gifts. LOL

Elise said...

Great ideas!! I am going to several Christmas parties this season, so this is wonderful!!
Elise

Debra Howard said...

You have such neat ideas. I just found your blog & have really enjoyed it.
Debbie

Unknown said...

Way cute ideas! You are so creative!

jennykate77 said...

Hey! I left you a bloggy award on my page☺

Jo said...

As always ~ adorable!

TidyMom said...

I LOVE these ideas!! we have a party to go to on the 21st and I've been trying to think of what to take the hostess!

~Tidymom

Free Art Printables said...

I love that idea! It's so cute!

Shell in your Pocket said...

I love the last gift..so cute with the initial!
-sandy toes

Jules from "The Roost" said...

You are so right it is alot of work and a very nice gesture. Great ideas!

Sit A Spell said...

All great ideas...I love candles...so I tend to have a stash of those. Hmmm, I think I'll get one ready for Fridays party!

Stephanie said...

What wonderful ideas!!! I just love the vase that you had the wine in!! That could be used for so many things.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!! Hope you don't mind but I became a follower :)

Jboo said...

Oh my -- those are all so cute!! Wish I lived near you -- I'd have a party just so that I could get a little gift from you!!

Hope your week is going well!

Janet

Carolina Mama said...

More great ideas! Thanks, sometimes I think I do too much. So there are perfect.

Raise Them Up said...

Thanks for the great ideas! I often forget to plan ahead for these kinds of events. But these are simple things I'll have to keep my eye open for.

ashley said...

so dang cute! i loove the vase!

Amber said...

Cute ideas! Will you come to my next party so I can be surprised by your charming & thoughtful hostess gift? ;)

It is so smart of you to keep a stash of little gifts on hand so you aren't scrambling around at the last minute. I'm sure your friends love your little thank you's for their hard work!

The Golf Widow said...

Great wine holder idea. The button did set it apart!

So do you have a gift closet?I feel like I enjoy buying for our gift closet more than actual people.I find the best deals when I'm not looking.