Blogmas Day 16 - Bigger Gifts in a Jar

These are for those people in your life that deserve a bigger gift come Christmas Eve, but where you are always stuck for what to get them. A fun gift in a jar filled with many little things will have a wow-effect of its own, and if you manage to find a theme that fits the person, I think it will be a sure hit. It is a lot easier to find many small things to fit a theme, rather than one big thing to fit the person completely. 

Some of these things might be hard to fit in a mason jar, so feel free to use any sort of container that suits your need. Either go for a Christmassy one, or for one that suits the theme. You could for example use a packing cube as a container for a travel themed jar or a beach bag for the pool-vacation themed jar. Have fun with it!

For the traveler

This is based on the backpacking sort of travel. See below for ideas for a pool-vacation jar. 

Fill up your container with mosquito spray, rehydration powder, packing cubes, a travel toothbrush, mini bath and body stuff (if they hike and camp a lot try to find bio-degradable stuff). Get them a nice pillow case, as some of the pillow cases in the hostels around the world are questionable. In the same vein get them some ear plugs and a sleeping mask for plane journeys and those noisy 8 person dorm rooms.  Buy them a sturdy padlock and a nice luggage tag, and they are good to go. 

For the baker

Here you can gift them your favorite recipes. You can make a little booklet with all your best stuff, or give them “Cookies in a jar” as seen in my previous post. Basically you just add all the dry ingredients to a jar, and tie on the recipe and directions. Add a cute apron, a wooden mixing spoon, an assortment of fun sprinkles and maybe some cookie cutters. If you want you can use a cute mixing bowl as a container in stead of a jar. 

For the person in need of pampering

As seen in my previous post, there is a smaller version of this jar. But if you need to upgrade it a little get some foot salt, foot creme and a face mask. Add some cozy socks, a scented candle, some hand creme and a moisturizer for the face, maybe some lip balm. Perhaps you can wrap it all in a muslin cloth in stead of using a jar. Depending on your budget get the nicest stuff you can afford, and if the person has kids or a dog maybe add a gift certificate for baby sitting or dog walking, so they have time for a pamper session. 

For the movie buff

In stead of a jar you can use a popcorn container and fill it up with a DVD, some sodas (get really nice ones or ones with a fun flavor, like rhubarb). Put in some popcorn with popping instructions and some candy. Maybe add a cozy blanket, and a coupon for pizza and they are set for a movie night.  

Holiday in the sun

For someone who likes to go the beach, the pool or on holidays in the sun get a good sized beach bag with a fun, bright print and fill it up with sunglasses, sun cream and after sun lotion. Add a magazine or two for reading by the pool, some stylish flip flops and swimming goggles. Maybe add a nice sized beach towel or a gift certificate for a bathing suit. 

Winter cozy

If you are really stumped for a theme to fit the person almost anyone will enjoy the items in this jar. Add some fluffy socks, a hat and mittens. Get a good hand cream and a lip balm. Depending on their preference get a really nice tea or coffee mix and a mug and add that along with a book or magazine. This should keep anyone happy on a cozy, cold Sunday afternoon. 

Those were all my suggestions. I realize that for most of them I suggest putting the items in something other than a jar. Mostly as a fun and untraditional way of gift wrapping, but also because some things can be hard to fit in a jar. But if you find a jar big enough, by all means go for it!