As anyone who knows me can attest, Christmas is my favorite holiday. I begin shopping for gifts on December 26, scooping up bargains throughout the months. By late summer, everything on the gift list has been purchased, allowing me to relax. Some of my best Christmas ideas have come to me while out cruising the mall looking for that perfect gift.
Many of us have more products than we know what to do with, making it difficult to create a wish list. Homemade gifts are often more used and cherished than those purchased in a store so I make gifts for people I know best. I make soap in cute shapes for the children in the family, baked treats for grandma and grandpa, and beautiful ornaments for my aunt who seems to have everything.
Wrapping often makes even the most basic present more elegant. All of my packages feature tissue paper with designer patterns and ribbons with custom messages. Recipients love the cute messages I get inscribed on the ribbon and they often save the decoration to reuse the following year. When I organize the work holiday party, I wrap favors in boxes with our corporate imprint. Everyone is always impressed by the quality of the container and imprinted logo.
Holiday parties are always a fun time and I learned that activities sometimes make the event more fun. When it is my turn to hold the holiday festivities, I bake a gingerbread house and let everyone decorate it with candy canes, gumdrops, and frosting. Decorating the Christmas tree is another event that guests enjoy and since we have our holiday dinner on Christmas Eve, the ceremony is particularly meaningful. Guests string the lights, outfit the tree with my ornaments, and delight when the tree is lit.
Though I do not claim to be a creative genius, I have learned to make my own Christmas wreaths and garland and often sell these at local school or charity fairs. People seem to love the different styles and colors, purchasing several items to give as gifts. If they realized how easy these were to make, they might think twice about buying from me!
One idea I plan to implement this coming year is a neighborhood decorating contest. We live near the town center so it should not be difficult to get some retailers to donate prizes. Everyone already seems eager to participate and our neighborhood will look so fabulous that this event should become a tradition.