Host/hostess gifts are fun gifts to make – they really allow you to get
creative and fun. There are so many ideas you can turn into the perfect gift,
but here are just a few to inspire even more ideas:
Usually at parties, guests consume beverages, specifically wine, before,
during or after the meal. Instead of spending too much for those cute little
wine glass trinkets that help people remember which drink is theirs, make them
yourself. Find a very thin gage wire (it has to be easily bendable and very
slight in size – go with a 22 or 24 or lighter gage) for the actual piece, and
then pick up some interesting beads – maybe hand blown or different shapes. Cut
some wire off – no more than an inch to an inch and a half – and place the
bead(s) or special charm on the wire. Then, take the wire cutter with it, form
the wire into a circle. On one side of the circle, make a tight loop – this is
where the circle will be secured to prevent the trinket from falling off the
glass – and at the other side bend the wire back a bit so it can easily fit
into the loop. This may take some practice, but you will certainly get it after
a few tries. If you have excess wire, just trim it off. You should make at
least four wine glass trinkets, but eight-twelve would be a great set for any
host/hostess.
Another great host/hostess gift is home-brewed liquor. This is great because
you can make several at a time, and many of the home liquors do not go bad with
time, they only get better. Some favorites include Kailua
and blueberry or muscadine wine. You may have a family recipe, or you can find
one online. Purchase some bottles – there are several wholesale bottle
companies that allow you to purchase a case at a great cost – and get to
brewing. Make a fun label on your computer, print it out and place it on the
bottle before visiting. Your host/hostess will love the new home-brewed liquor
experience, and many of the guests will more than likely inquire about your
great recipe.
One more great gift you can make for a host/hostess is soap. Most bathrooms
are set up to be functional for guests, but they also like to add some fun to
the functionality.
Purchase some glycerin (either clear or the creamy white available today) in
bulk (so you will have some around for later) and either find some molds around
the house (cookie cutters in neat shapes, different candle holders or tins) or
buy some specifically for soap making. Melt the glycerin in a double boiler,
pour into your mold and let sit overnight – you may even want to place the soap
mold into the refrigerator to make sure it forms right. Then, presto – you have
soap.
If you want to spice it up a bit, place some instant maple sugar or other
flavored oatmeal in the glycerin when it is melting in the double boiler, or
add some potpourri and liquid scent to the mix.
Once you have your soap, you can easily package it using clear saran wrap
and some pretty ribbon.