disclosure: this post is sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart.

Have you ever noticed in all the Christmas movies that someone is showing up with a handmade gift?

The girl that owns the coffee shop is having a holiday party and her best friend shows up with a Christmas basket of cookies made from a recipe handed down for generations. Or the innkeeper hosts a meet-and-greet with Santa and the local ice rink owner brings in an ice sculpture that looks like a miniature version of the inn. Or the guy that’s in charge of his family’s Christmas tree lot invites everyone over for hot chocolate and the local restaurant owner brings homemade marshmallows.

The perfect gift for the perfect event.

I don’t really know how to make homemade marshmallows or create an ice sculpture and I don’t have a Christmas cookie recipe that came over on the Mayflower.

But I do have a few ideas up my sleeve.

Ideas for every hostess on my list.

Simple ideas.

Personalized ideas.

Creative ideas.

And today? I’m sharing all the ideas with you.

Here are six creative and simple hostess gifts you can make yourself and the best part?

They can’t wait to party with you.

Hostess Gift Idea Number 1: Monogrammed Silverware Caddy

Or as I like to call it.

Party in a box.

Here’s the silverware caddy that I started with.

It came from the Better Homes and Garden line at Walmart.

You can see it here.

Step 1: Trace a small circle with a pencil.

Step 2: Trace a single monogram with a pencil.

Step 3: Paint the letter and the circle with black craft paint.

Step 4: Use a q-tip to add small polka dots around the outside.

Step 5: Let dry.

Step 6: Fill with plastic utensils. Add plates and napkins to the back and tie off with a bow.

Hostess Gift Idea Number 2: Dessert Charcuterie Tray

This is such a simple idea that I wish I would have thought of it before December 1.

Before I showed up empty-handed to my first party.

It’s a simple gift that lives big.

Step 1: Purchase assorted cookies from a local bakery (or you could make them yourself).

Step 2: Wrap them in wax paper inside gift boxes.

Step 3: Wrap gift boxes with paper and ribbon.

Step 4: Stack boxes on a tray.

(I LOVE this wood tray from the Better Homes and Gardens line at Walmart. The brass handles truly set it apart and it’s the perfect tray to layer cookies on at a party.

Step 5: Wrap the entire tray with ribbon.

Step 6: Add a tag explaining this is a dessert charcuterie tray in a box. All the hostess has to do is unpack it and set the dessert assortment out on the tray.

Hostess Gift Idea Number 3: Layered Hot Cocoa Mix

This gift takes minutes to make and is a perfect gift for all the cozy afternoons ahead.

It’s hot cocoa mix layered with all the fixin’s.

And it took only five minutes to put together.

Step 1: Start with an air-tight container.

I used this one from Walmart.

It has a lid that seals when you open the handle at the top and then reseals again when you push the handle closed.

Step 2: Add in the hot chocolate mix.

I just used a store-bought hot chocolate mix and filled it about halfway up.

Step 3: Add in mini marshmallows.

Step 4: Add in a layer of mini chocolate chips.

Step 5: Push the handle closed to seal it.

Step 6: Top with a box and candy canes.

Hostess Gift Idea Number 4: Gift-wrapped Walnut Cranberry Bread and Platter

This recipe is so yummy.

My best tip? When baking this—make one loaf for your hostess and one loaf for you.

It has bits of apples and walnuts and cranberries and tastes like the holidays.

Step 1: You can find the recipe for the apple, walnut, cranberry bread here.

Step 2: Bake the bread and let it cool.

Step 3: Wrap the bread in plastic and then wrap in gift wrap and tie with a ribbon.

Step 4: Add the bread to this pretty bread plate.

Here’s the one that I used. I actually bought it by itself in the store, but I found this platter bundle that’s even less expensive.

Step 5: Tie the bread with a ribbon and add a personalized tag.

Hostess Gift Idea Number 5: Monogrammed dish towels

These hostess gifts are under $5 each.

The kitchen towels are such high quality and they come in a package of two for under $5 for the set.

Here’s how you can personalize them for your hostess.

Step 1: Choose your dish towels. I found these in Christmas colors here.

They come in a set of two for under $5 from the Better Homes and Gardens line at Walmart.

Step 2: Design your monogram. I designed mine using an app called Monogram it and I printed it out on the computer and cut it out.

Step 3: Tape the image to a window and then put the dishtowel over it.

Step 4: Using a washable fabric pen, trace the image onto the dishtowel.

Step 5: Paint the monogram onto the fabric using fabric paint.

Step 6: Let dry.

Step 7: Wrap your dishtowel around a wooden spoon set and tie with a bow.

Hostess Gift Idea Number 6: I Love You a Latte Mug

I saved the simplest for last.

Not all hostess gifts have to involve a lot of time or prep.

This makes the perfect girlfriend coffee date gift.

I filled a simple white mug like this one from Walmart here with brown crinkles and a Starbucks gift card.

After I took this picture I wrapped it in cellophane and tied an ornament to the top with a white ribbon.

I hope these ideas inspire your next hostess gift.

I hope your holidays are happy and bright and merry.

I hope you take a moment to enjoy friends and family and all the joy the season brings.

But most of all? If you know the coffee shop owner? Tell her she can bring those cookies to my next party…

…along with her recipe. 🙂

I am so happy and honored to be part of the BHG Live Better Influencer Network at Walmart.

All opinions are my own.

Please see my disclosure page for more information.

Affiliate links are also used in this post.

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