Creative Holiday Office Gifts

Before I retired, when I was a hard working school librarian, I used to create a lot of arts and kitchen crafts items to give as gifts to my co-workers for Christmas, Valentine's Day and other holidays. Since I was on a tight budget, I would usually start early, making jelly and other items to put in homemade gift baskets. I would also work on arts and crafts items for those special people at work.

I have included some ideas for gift baskets and some directions for making bath salts from inexpensive materials that are even better than the ones you buy in a store. These baskets will be gifts from the heart.

Today I still do the kitchen crafts and gift baskets for our friends and family, but put most of my craft designs on Zazzle, CafePress or Etsy. Zazzle products can be personalized which makes the gift more special.

Many of the items on Zazzle, CafePress and on Amazon are very economical if you watch for the sales and the free shipping. Here are some economical suggestions for holiday or any time gifts for your co-workers.

Introduction picture: Louisiana Sunset by naturegirl7. Click the link to buy it.

Such things as homemade jellies, cookies, bread, sweets, tea blends, vinegar, bath salts, soap, etc. arranged in attractive baskets with mugs, holiday towels, pot holders, biscuit or bread mix, candles, etc. were always well received. If you shop for sales, these could be quite economical.

Most of your female co-workers will really appreciate relaxation baskets stocked with bath salts, candles, scented soap, wash cloths, lufa sponge and other supplies to help take away the stress of a hard day at the office.

You can choose from many different mug styles and colors at Zazzle. Personalize the mug by adding your co-workers name in the "customize" feature on Zazzle.

Just visit zazzle.com/naturegirl7* to see the mugs and any of the other Zazzle products designed by me, naturegirl7.

There are six boxes of tea in this set. You could make 6 homemade gift baskets by dividing it up and including a couple inexpensive holiday mugs, a potholder or tea towel and some muffin or scone mix in a basket or colorful box.

Scone, muffin, biscuit or bread mix adds some substance to a "tea time" gift basket.

Bath salts are very easy to make. All you need are some epsom salts and/or rough sea salt and some essential oils in your choice of fragrance. We like lavender because it is a soothing fragrance, which promotes relaxation and sleep. You can find the essential oils at many craft shops that sell soap making supplies and also at what we used to call "head shops" in the sixties. The epsom salt and sea salt can be purchased at many grocery stores. Get plain sea salt with NO iodine. Mix the epsom and sea salt (about a 1 to 1 ratio) in a container with a lid, leaving room at the top. Or you can use a glass bowl and stir. Add a few drops of the oil and shake it to mix. Keep adding the oil and shaking until you get the desired scent. I usually leave mine in the jar for a few days, so the scent can completely permeate the salts.

When you're ready to put together the gift basket, pour some into a small container or even a labeled zip-lock craft bag. Add a bar of scented soap and a couple of candles and a pretty washcloth (folded, rolled and flared like a flower, use rubberband on bottom to secure) to the little basket or soap dish and voila, you have a relaxation kit that any woman in the office would enjoy.

This lavender soap is luxurious and would add to a relaxing bath.

Here are more little gifts to add to the relaxation basket.

If you don't have time to make your own, here is a nice one.

Before Zazzle and CafePress, I would hand paint or applique designs on T-shirts and sweat shirts and /or sweat pants for those who were special friends. Now I put most of my designs on-line along with the ones I've created from photographs. And Zazzle has ties, hats, mousepads, key chains, magnets, cards, posters and more.

Zazzle has very unique designs for many interests whether it be sports, nature, outdoors or the holidays. One of the outstanding features of Zazzle is that each item can be customized by the user with text or pictures. Click on the picture to view the item at Zazzle.com.

You can find other gift items at our three Zazzle Galleries, Naturally Native Creations (zazzle.com/naturegirl7*), Louisiana Lagniappe and Wild & Wonderful Louisiana (zazzle.com/tiger45*) .

Personalized Tiger Shirt by tiger45 & Black & Geauld by lalagniappe

Great choice for the tailgater in your office.

Get a team gift bag to make up a goody bag for the sports fan on your list.

You can find other gift items at our three Zazzle Galleries, Naturally Native Creations (zazzle.com/naturegirl7*), Louisiana Lagniappe (zazzle.com/lalagniappe7* and Wild & Wonderful Louisiana (zazzle.com/tiger45*) .

Scap Bookers Would Enjoy These Under $10.00 Gifts - Postcards and Stickers

How-to books are always appreciated by friends.