in response to the feedback & encouragement i received on wednesday, all i can say is thank you. i wish i could invite you all over for coffee around our big ol’ farm table. as blog comments, text messages, emails & phone calls came in sharing your stories & thoughts, i just sat here in front of this screen & ugly cried. i cried for your losses, your gains, your struggles, your successes & all of those in-betweens. you all are some amazing people & just know i am here cheering you along whatever journey you’re on. xo.
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hello there! i am so excited to share with you a little wedding gift basket i made for under $10!
we traveled to missouri this past weekend to celebrate with our dear friends in honor of their new life together. with the expense of travel & a one night’s stay in a hotel, i didn’t have much left in the budget for gifts. instead of showing up empty-handed, i put on my creative thinking cap & got to work!
whenever i am creating a gift, i like to think about what that individual values & how they spend their free time. this brainstorm session allows me to create a gift just as unique as the recipient! our friends love to sit on their patio in the evenings. they also love good food & drinks. a simple syrup gift basket was the perfect fit for their lifestyle.
here’s how i made their gift basket & stayed under $10*.
– i found the bottles at tj maxx for under $3 each & the wire basket at a thrift store for $1. you could also use recycled condiment jars & a basket found around your home for free!
– i made the simple syrups using my own recipe featured on hello luvvy. all of the ingredients for simple syrups can be found in your garden & pantry. in the simple syrup recipe, substitute the mint for any herb of your choice. for this basket, i made mint & lavender syrups.
– i found some straws in my party box to fancy up fun drinks! you can find colorful paper straws at target, craft stores, party stores or online.
– i made my own tags with my gift tag punch out (similar to this one) & wrote the names of each syrup on them.
– i used leftover tissue paper, handmade fabric ribbon & kraft tags with a little clothespin found in my stash to decorate the package.
– i used one of my happy flags & tied the following recipe for a simple syrup summer drink onto it with string.
* total expenses: $7
please feel free to print out this recipe for your gift basket!
if you have a bit more cash to spend, you could add a small bottle of alcohol so the happy couple could make homemade cocktails. for the non-drinking couple, a nice bottle of sparkling water & pretty glasses would be lovely. you could also add fun coasters or a package of paper napkins for their next patio get-together!
don’t let your limited budget get in the way of creating meaningful gifts! for more gift ideas, visit my homemaking page. happy creating!
love,
natalie