Does the term “neighbor gifts” bring you joy or strike fear in your heart? I’ve definitely experienced seasons with both emotions. I want to share love with the people who support me and my family – teachers, neighbors, mail workers, trash collectors, church members, the list always seems to grow! But if it causes you unbearable stress, it is not worth it.
Our goal at Orson Gygi is to take the stress away, fostering joy in this tradition of gift giving. We’ve compiled this guide of ideas & shopping links and hope it will help you with whatever stage of the process you’re in!
Fun ways to bundle Gygi favorites (and free printable gift tags!):
Throw some premade/prewrapped treats into a festive cellophane bag, tie with a ribbon and tag – and voila! You get a thoughtful neighbor gift that doesn’t take much time or energy to put together.
We’ve compiled a few ideas here with packaging, food products and non food products and linked up all the places to get them so you can take the planning stress out of your agenda. Each bundle idea also has a free downloadable page of gift tags to match! These tags are one sided so there is plenty of space to write your to’s and from’s.
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Everyone’s favorite spreader, paired with a bag of candy cane pretzels. You can shop more Christmas Candy options here.
Links:
• Christmas Cellophane
• Short Handle Spreader (99¢)
• Baker’s Twine
• Download tags (pdf)
Serving Up Christmas Wishes
A simple but beautiful pie server and a dish towel that actually comes from a set of three! Easy peasy.
Links:
• Kitchen Towel Sets (divide the sets into multiple gifts!)
• Pie Server, wood handle ($1.99)
• Pie Server, white handle ($1.99)
• Baker’s Twine
• Download tags (pdf)
Have a Holly JOLLY Christmas
See what we did there? Jolly Ranchers come in assorted 2.5lb bags!
Links:
• Christmas Cellophane
• Assorted Jolly Ranchers
• Baker’s Twine
• Download tags (pdf)
We Whisk You A Merry Christmas
Another one of the dish towels from before, along with a mini spatula and a whisk that we love for hot cocoa.
Links:
• Kitchen Towel Sets (divide the sets into multiple gifts!)
• Mini Santa Spatula – set of 2!
• Whisks
• Baker’s Twine
• Download tags (pdf)
Have a Flipping Awesome Christmas
The BEST brownie spatula doesn’t need anything extra – fancy it up with some ribbon or twine and you’re set!
Links:
• Brownie Spatula, white handle ($1.49)
• Brownie Spatula, wood handle ($1.49)
• Baker’s Twine
• Download tags (pdf)
May Your Holidays Be Sprinkled With Joy
Pair some pre-mixed holiday sprinkles with a new cookie cutter. Sprinkle joy!
Links:
• Holiday Sprinkles
• Holiday Cookie Cutters
• Baker’s Twine
• Download tags (pdf)
Here’s the running list of amazing ideas for Neighbor Gifts:
Treats:
Caramel and Chocolate Pretzel Rods * Candies: dipped nuts, dried fruits * Homemade Cinnamon Rolls * Cookies * Caramels * Cupcakes * Cookie Mixes * Treat Plates * Giant 12 inch Cookie from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe * Homemade Vanilla Extract * Bag of mulling spices for wine or cider (whole cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, dried citrus peel) * Homemade hot fudge sauce * Homemade Apple Pie Filling with recipes * Almond Poppyseed Bread * English toffee * Chex Mix * Popcorn * Whisk full of Hershey’s kisses * Unfrosted Cookies with a bag of frosting * Homemade Chocolates and caramels * Homemade jam * Cinnamon Caramels * Vanilla, measuring spoons, and cookie cutter * Snowman Soup – hot chocolate, marshmallows, and candy canes * Mini Jars of Honey Butter * Winder Dairy Eggnog * Rootbeer and Tootsie Rolls with tag reading “Have a Rootin’ Tootin’ Christmas” * Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears * Chocolate Caramel Turtles * Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls * Bratzelis (Swiss Cookie) * Pass out Advent Calendars on December 1st * Banana Bread * Cookie Press Cookies * Neighborhood Hot Cocoa and Treats Night * Homemade Peach Syrup with Pancake Mix * Homemade Egg Nog * Homemade Buttermilk Syrup * Homemade Dulce De Leche * English Toffee * Chocolate Covered Cherries * Muddy Buddies
Food:
Homemade Salsa and Chips * Jalapeno Jelly * Flavored Cooking Salts * Homemade Baguettes * Homemade Rosemary Artisan Bread * Flavored Vinegar * Chex Mix * Bread * Fixings to make taco soup * Uncooked pasta and homemade tomato sauce * Einstein Bagels and cream cheese * Frozen homemade chicken pot pie * Bread Board, Loaf of Bread, and Homemade Jam * Hot French Bread delivered just before dinner * Freeze Dried Apples * Cheese Curd from Beaver, UT * Artisan Bread and Soup Mix * Flavored Oil with Embellished Wooden Spoon * Tea cup with Tea
Other:
Wrapping Paper and Tape * Collection of favorite short stories * Spreaders * Brownie Spatulas * Window Cleaner and Roll of Paper Towels * DIY Room Sprays * Red Box Code with Microwave Popcorn * CD with favorite Christmas Music * Whisks with tags that say “We Whisk You a Merry Christmas * Bath & Body Goods * Paperwhite Flowers in a pretty container * Kitchen Towels
Service:
Food Drive for Refugees * Assemble Food Kits * Neighbor Party and Donate to a Charity * “Gift of Giving” – kits with Kleenex, water, chapstick, granola bars, fruit snacks, and sanitizing wipes – given to each neighbor to give to someone they see in need. * Pick one charity for the neighborhood to donate to. Send out a flyer informing everyone. * Gather money in envelopes and donate to a charity * “Light the Night” Neighborhood event – everyone donates money to buy Gift Cards for families in need * Hot chocolate stand in the neighborhood and the proceeds go to a family in charity in need*
We have gathered a few recipes over the years as well:
In the end, the spirit of the season is all about finding joy. So, use this Neighbor Gift Guide to find a recipe or a utensil or service project that brings you and your neighbors joy! If you have more ideas for gift giving, we’d love to hear them in a comment! Thanks for being here. And Merry Christmas.
