In the spirit of the season, I have teamed up with 29 incredibly talented and creative bloggers to share some fun neighbor gift ideas, or little gifts to share with people you need to remember during the holidays. There are thirty different great ideas on this list, so be sure to scroll through and visit them all!
Luminary Kit Tutorial and Free Printable
One of my favorite neighborhoods during Christmas is the one that puts out luminaries lining every foot of road from beginning to end. It’s really really magical!! Even if you can’t convince all your neighbors to do the same, you might be able to encourage them to create a little magic by remembering them this year with a luminary kit.
This is such a super simple thing to put together. There are several levels of effort you can put into the gifts, from just wrap it up to really pretty and really fancy luminaries. But first, the wrapping!
Luminary Kit Gift Materials:
- White paper bags (however many are in your votive box)
- Box of votives
- Brown craft paper
- Ribbon
- Edge punches
- Free printable luminary gift tag
Cut a 5in x 12in strip of brown craft paper. Along the long edges, use your puncher to add detail.
Wrap your stack of white paper bags with the brown paper, taping it together in what will be the backs of the bags.
Top this with the votives; your choice whether to wrap these or not! I think it looks more polished with some wrapping paper myself. Tie the bundle together with a ribbon. I added a little bit of green and some jingle bells to my package just to make it a little prettier.
Now, some options on the luminaries. Of course, your first option is to do nothing. That’s perfectly fine–we all have those months! Second option is to use a pair of scissors to cut Christmas trees into the sides. Simply fold the bag in half and free hand your tree. If you need a stencil, cut one out of cardstock and trace onto all your bags.
Option 3 is to use the edge puncher again. Fold the bottom flap down on the bag and then fold the bag in half. Punch along the center seam. I found it pretty difficult to punch through so many layers of paper, so I chose not to connect mine up the center. Maybe your puncher will be newer and sharper than mine so you won’t have that problem!
Option 4: Cut out holiday shapes and glue them to the fronts of the bags. They’ll show pretty shadows on the fronts of the bags when the votives are lit.
Now for the other 29 ideas! Click through and check them out!
Our Thrifty Ideas – Soda Tags Neighbor Gift
Dessert Now Dinner Later – Muddy Buddies
Pretty Providence – Treat Pops
Blooming Homestead – Cookie Decorating Kit
Yesterday on Tuesday – Cookie Mix
The Happy Scraps – Homemade treat packaging
Over The Big Moon – Pepper Jelly
Just Us Four – Paleo Pumpkin Granola w/ Tag
Wait Til Your Father Gets Home – Rudolph Ornament
Happiness Is Homemade – Holiday Cookie Dough Tag
Cupcake Diaries – Twizzlers Holiday Tag
One Artsy Mama – Crochet Gift Card Pouch
Reasons to Skip the Housework – Hot Cocoa Set
Made to Be a Mama – Dishes Gift Set
Lets Eat Grandpa – Neighbor Gift
Dukes and Duchesses – Home for the Holidays Cocoa Gift
See Vanessa Craft – Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Scrub
Carissa Miss – For Your Mistletoes
Occasionally Crafty – Salsa Neighbor Gift
Simply Designing – Mulling Spices
Domestically Speaking – Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie + Printable
Creations By Kara – Christmas Bread Wrapper
Frog Prince Paperie – Luminary Kit
Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke – The Gift of Dishes
Giggles Galore – Homemade Vanilla
One Krieger Chick – Playdough in a Jar
Food Folks and Fun – DIY Coasters Gift Set
Susan Noble
Wednesday 5th of November 2014
What wonderful ideas from so much talent. Love the Luminary Bags they are so beautiful in the different areas of our gated community
Heidi Fowler
Monday 3rd of November 2014
Such a pretty idea! I've been hopping through the roundup, and I wanted to let you know that the link for this post from the roundup did not work. It went to a page not found page.
Vanessa Barker
Monday 3rd of November 2014
This is such a cute idea. My Grandparents neighborhood always does luminaries thru the whole neighborhood. It's so beautiful!