12 (Days of) Christmas gift ideas - part 1

I have always wanted to do a really cool Twelve Days of Christmas for someone, but I usually think about it on December 15.  So today I have 12 gift ideas for you that you can use as Twelve Days of Christmas gifts, or just choose your favorites as December 25th Christmas gifts.

All these impressive gift ideas I'm about to show you come from Heritage Makers digital personal publishing.  They're high-quality, gorgeous, and you can personalize anything--from adding your photo and name to changing the overall style if you prefer.  Keep in mind that because these need to be published at Heritage Makers and then shipped, you should allow 7-14 days for delivery.

DAY 1:  Countdown to Christmas
These darling metal prints have a finish that allows you to use a dry erase marker on them!  Some clever person came up with this cute idea to countdown to Christmas.

Choose a Santa style

 

or a Nativity style

 

I copied over these metal prints to 11x14 prints.  Then I just added a frame since the glass is writable with a dry erase marker.

 

 

2023 UPDATE:  Heritage Makers became YPhoto under Youngevity (which purchased Heritage Makers in 2013).  YPhoto uses only templates, so the creativity showcased here is no longer available there. Best-in-the-industry quality and permanent cloud photo storage with guaranteed privacy are required for anything recommended here by Photo & Story Treasures, so we highly recommend Forever.  

There are pre-designed prints similar to these--still dry-eraseable--available at the Forever website here.

Using Forever's Artisan program for digital scrapbooking, you can make items similar to those shown here.  This video tutorial shows you how to craft with high-quality scrapbook pages, and this one shows you how to use Artisan to create something unique and then print at home (for instances in which you need thinner paper, sticker paper, etc.)  You can see just a few examples of crafting I've done using Artisan here, including cards, magnets, dry-erase boards, and other products.

I am working on updating each of these items, designing them using Forever's Artisan digital scrapbooking program.  As I do so, I will update this post.  Better yet, I'll include a direct link so you can just order without having to design anything yourself!

Day 2:  Let Us Take Care of the Dishes
This is a simple business card (it's 2-sided, so you'll need to click the link to see the greeting and personalization)!  I think this would make a fantastic gift at busy Christmastime.  You just attach this card to a package of paper plates!

If you're giving this to a lot of recipients, the business cards are the way to go because they come in a pack of 50 for about $10.  

Day 3:  Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
This card can be personalized with your name (and even the name of the recipient, if you like), then cut out and placed around the neck of a bottle of juice, sparkling beverage, soda, etc.

Day 4:  A Little Extra Dough
One of my favorite Christmas neighbor gifts is frozen cookie dough.  As the recipient, it's nice to not be getting so many treats at once and be able to have some in January instead if I want!   This sticker can go on the outside of a ziploc bag or plastic container with frozen dough inside--cookies, bread, rolls, etc.

Day 5:  We WASH You a Merry Christmas
This gift idea is practically ready to go--just cut out the circles, punch a hole, and tie to a yummy-smelling hand soap.

Update 2023:  Here are the ones I made this year using Artisan (Forever's digital scrapbooking software).  I think they turned out so cute!

As promised, here's the link to order them.  (They aren't personalized with a name like they are here, though, so don't worry.)

Day 6:  Holiday Time Potpourri
I love the smells of Christmas!  Potpourri is such a fun gift--easy to give, and lovely to receive.  Simply combine dried orange slices (or several drops of orange essential oil), two cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and whole nutmeg in a 2-inch wide resealable plastic bag.

Then cut apart these tags made from a double-sided scrap page.  (Simmering directions on the back.)  

I know we're only halfway through our 12 ideas.  Did you find something you loved?  Whether or not you are looking for 12 gifts or 1, I hope you found something unique and fun. 

Next week I'll show six more clever gift ideas for Christmas gift-giving.  See you then!