Looking for little inexpensive Christmas gifts for coworkers

[diannem]

I am looking for ideas for little inexpensive Christmas gifts for coworkers. I did the M&M/poem last year. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[cardmaker2]

I haven't done this, but I have seen something similar and I think it would be nice.

You can often get a pair of Christmas potholders for very little; tie them around with a nice ribbon and attach a copy of one of your favorite Christmas recipes.

Do you make candy or seasonal treats? I usually make about 8 batches of peanut brittle, put half a batch worth in a sandwich sized ziploc bag and attach a bag topper to dress it up. There are lots of festive recipes out there if you don't make candy.

[dddddiana]

A couple of years ago I worked with 30 people who ALL gave gifts to everyone.

So what I did was make a 'box" of gift tags for each person. I picked 8-10 designs and made 20 for each person. It sounds like a lot of tags and it was, but it was very easy to do because I would stamp a set and color and tie strings/ ribbon on them while I was watching the news and TV.

I gave these to everyone earlier in the month of December. Everyone loved them and were very appreciative. Everytime one of my coworkers used one as they wrapped their christmas presents they would come to me the next day and tell me. I also included in those tags a couple of birthday and baby tags to use in the future.

After Christmas I was told numerous times how the recipient of the tag loved it as well.

I found a gift box recipe here on splitcoast for the box. Each present cost about a dollar and just a little of time to color and put together.

$30 for 30 thoughtful and well-loved gifts.

[KalaKitty]

Last year I did the snowman poop poem with a little bag of mini-marshmallows. What is the M&Ms poem?

[bound4london]

Christmas M& M Poem

As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them, you will see
The 'M' becomes a 'W',
An 'E', and then a '3'.

They tell the Christmas Story--
I'm sure it's one you know.
It took place in a stable
A long, long time ago.

The 'E' is for the East,
Where the star shone so bright.
The 'M' is for the Manger,
where the Baby Jesus slept at night.

The '3' is for the Wisemen,
Bearing gifts, with which they came.
'W' is for Worship,
Hallelujah! Praise His Name!

So as you eat these candies
Or share them with a friend,
Remember the meaning of Christmas:
It's a love that never ends.

[bound4london]

There are various hot cocoa packet holders out there. They are cute, inexpensive and appreciated. At this time of year the stores tend to sell the individual packs with various flavors for about 50 cents or less.

Whimsie Doodles version

Just Give Me stamps version

I know there are more out there too because I used one last year but it was neither of these versions.

[bound4london]

Cookies or Soup in a Jar

And don't forget to check out the amazing holiday tutorials here on Splitcoast

[mztamela]

I've purchased nails and attached a ribbon and tag with this:

The Christmas Nail

"This is the Christmas Nail. It is to be hung on a sturdy branch, a branch near the trunk, a branch that will hold such a spike without being noticed by well-wishers dropping by to admire one's tinseled tree. The nail is know only to the home that hangs it. Understood only by the heart that knows its significance. It is hung with the thought: The Christmas tree but foreshadows the Christ tree which only He could decorate for us, with nails such as this."

[Jami]

SCS is doing the holiday tutorial blitz and I'm sure there will be some great ideas there.

Taylored Expressions just finished a 12 Days of Handcrafted Christmas - a series of videos. Lots of her ideas are inexpensive.

Snowman Soup is always fun - especially if you can get cute mugs at the dollar store.

Last year I made chocolate covered oreos and chocolate covered ritz crackers filled with peanutbutter (those were AWESOME!). They are very rich so you can easily package up just a few per person in a cello bag or little box or tin and stamp a topper or tag.

A few years ago I made this Reindeer Food and it was a hit.

Nugget tins are cute filled with mini chocolate or with tea lights - like this one or this one.

[scatty]

Great ideas everyone. Thanks for sharing!

[Novell]

I used my Sizzix Gingerbread house treat bag die and filled them with a cocoa pack, holiday shaped chocolate marshmallow treat (from Wal-Mart) and a chocolate covered peppermint stick (also from Wal-Mart). They all loved it.

This year I had them help me save up a bunch of empty toilet paper rolls. I am going to make little treat holders out of them.

[SammyStamper]

Last year around this time I found packaged chocolate dipped pretzel sticks at Target. I have made them myself, but I choose to just buy the Archer Farms ones instead. I put a few together with another treat and attached a little card.

I have also done the snowman soup in a cheap mug I got on clearance after Christmas and the reindeer poop.

I did the clear ornaments one year with the acetate hanging inside. One year I covered them with Modge Podge and mulberry paper (remember that stuff!) with an embossed snowflake.

I would suggest staying away from anything religious as you don't always know what others beliefs might be especially at the office.

This year I made the note pads from PTI and bought some mini gel pens to go with them. I'm debating a little stack of gift tages but I'm not sure that is going to happen!!