Creative Christmas Or Gift Packaging For Cookies And Treats?
Decorating By czyadgrl Updated 29 Nov 2006 , 11:08pm by mom2csc
Hi everyone!
I read this thread when it first came out & was in love with the paint cans as well, however something came up & I had to leave the computer. Always thinking about those paint cans I finally put myself to it & I found the thread again!!! Yipee!!!
Love the new ideas that have been added. I have done the little tins & baggies in the past for neighbours & friends, however last year I did a few special ones for a couple of close friends & family. For my dearest friends I made baskets with a bottle of wine, eggnog, chocolates, their favorite type of cookies & a classic christmas movie, & for my sibilings I did the same & added a letter letting them know how much they ment to me & wrote about some of our childhood christmas memories. I think it will be something I will do year after year!!!
DebsPrize, are you talking about the paint cans or something someone else mentioned in the thread?
Paint cans are very easy: you can find the empty paint cans in gallon or quart sizes at Lowes and Home Depot, probably other hardware stores too. The labels you can layout on the computer or if you're crafty, do a cut and paste thing like a scrapbook page, stamps, whatever, then stick them on the cans. I would put the cookies in a plastic bag just for extra freshness inside the can.
I tied on those special paint can opener keys with curly ribbon, as many people like to dive right in immediately!
I have made mugs in the past for small gifts. In the mugs I put a snack size baggie of miniature marshmallows(snowman poop), a hot chocolate mix, a pepermint lollypop(or peppermint stick) and chocolate kisses. I tied the mug in clear cellophane with a ribbon. I added a sticky label with clipart of a snowman and the following:
YOUVE BEEN NAUGHTY SO HERES THE SCOOP. ALL YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS IS SOME SNOWMAN POOP.
These were a big hit. You could add the mugs to a basket of cookies or other treats if you wanted to give a larger gift.
I love the paint can Idea.. I went out and purchased some and can't wait to decorate them... I got the ones that are lined... epoxy lined I believe..(I read that they are fda approved) If that really means anything... Thanks czyadgrl for sharing the idea.
i don't know if any of you all have a dollar tree in your area..but that is were i usually get my boxes and baskets from...and now they are doing this thing if you need a lot of them you can pre order or whatnot...but a couple of Christmases ago I found these really nice boxes...they were rectangle and had a latch on them...but the key is have to get there pretty early in the season to the goods 
Belovedeve.. I purchased some of those tins last year at the dollar tree.. this years tins aren't as nice...but they are still cute...The Dollar tree direct program is nice... I tried to use it once but they were out of the product that I was requesting... maybe another time.
found a cool website, lots of cool stuff, prices are good for some things and others seem pricey, but they're unique at least!
www.creativefoodpackaging.com
edited: umm sorry, they sell by cases of 100 or more for most things. Stll a cool site, but unless you have A LOT of gifts or packages, nevermind......
I have found TONS of xmas tins at thrift stores i can't go do much shopping new baby at home so i don't know what i'm gonna do this year
found a cool website, lots of cool stuff, prices are good for some things and others seem pricey, but they're unique at least!
www.creativefoodpackaging.com
edited: umm sorry, they sell by cases of 100 or more for most things. Stll a cool site, but unless you have A LOT of gifts or packages, nevermind......
This is really a great site for packaging! I can see cookies in Chinese-style takeout containers, white, with my business card as a label on them .... rounded bottom containers with top closures like the standard Chinese takout containers with bonbons or truffles in them....and the prices are really fair. If you do a lot of baking/selling, this is a good website ... if you get the plain white version of whatever style you select, you can store them and use next year, or for valentine's day, halloween, easter treats, you get the idea!
Great site to have found! CC'rs come through for each other again! Thanks czyadgrl!
abodessa, you're totally right. I ordered 100 chinese take-out boxes from Uline last fall. They started out as my Christmas cookie packaging.
Then they were chip and snack mix "bowls" for a poker party with card suits on the side. Then they held home-made dog treats for a breast cancer fundraiser, and cookies for another.
I think I have around 20 left - just waiting for the right occasion to use them again!
I too love the take out boxes... I just packaged some cookies in some zebra print boxes yesterday... They are cute and can be elegant and they are inexpensive.. which is a great combination.
Thanks, Y'all!
(For the great ideas!)
I love, love, love to give gifts like this for Christmas. Last year, I ended up spending quite a bit of $$ on the holiday. I bought 3 larger baskets, and filled them with "custom" gifts for the recipients.
For my diabetic friend, I filled one with gourmet coffee, a mug, sugar-free cookies and biscotti. Then I added a "cinnamon buns" flavored body wash/shampoo from Philosophy.com.
For my hairdresser friend (who absolutely cannot and doesn't really cook), I filled one with the coffee, the mug, special kitchen towels to match her decor, etc.
But this year, I'd like to do the home made cookies/treats thing like y'all. Perhaps this would save me some serious cash?
Love this thread--keep 'em coming! 
--Knox--
The dollar tree direct program is where you can purchase an item in bulk... if you see an item in the store and they don't have the amount you want or if they are out of stock... you call this 800 # and if they have them at there.. they will either ship the items to you or to the store for you to pick up.
I have seen people use different size tins and stack them like a tower and tie with ribbons, I have also seen this done with gift boxes. My Mom always does lots of cookies. She has used baskets, tins, gift boxes with Christmas scenes on them. The last few years we have bought inexpensive cookie trays with Christmas scenes and she puts her cookies in sections, she also makes 2 or 3 cookies that are alot more work (like the Christmas mouse, a snowman made out of nutterbutter cookies and dipped in white chocolate and also a snowman head made out of a peanutbutter ball or some kind of candy that can be dipped in white chocolate and decorated) she uses these cookies to add the finishing touches. Then she wraps them in the clear wrap and ties with ribbons. Maybe adds an ornament or a cookie cutter they are always a hit and they taste AWESOME!!!!!!
The dollar tree direct program is where you can purchase an item in bulk... if you see an item in the store and they don't have the amount you want or if they are out of stock... you call this 800 # and if they have them at there.. they will either ship the items to you or to the store for you to pick up.
Thank you missnnaction!
oh 1 more thing. have any of you guys ever ship petite fours?
I have.......all I did was piped a little bit of melted chcoolate onto the bottom of each one that matched the color of the coating and stuck them in a tupperware container......the chocolate adhered them to the bottom enough that if they were turned upside down during shipping they wouldn't fall all over and get smooshed! I'm sure you could do this on a cake board too and stick them in a nice decorative tin or something.....it makes them stay in place for shipping...but they release easily when someone goes to pick them up!
I didnt read this whole thread, so perhaps some ideas have already been said, but last year walmart had some rally cute christmas tins that I used to fill up with goodies....I gave them to neighbors and friends and the bonus was that the tins kept stuff nice and fresh longer! I am definately hoping they have some of those again this year (they also had some christmas plates that I used for smaller gifts) I love that press n seal stuff for covering a plate of goodies!
Okay, I haven't had a chance to read through this entire thread yet but thought I'd throw out another idea. I don't know if it's been mentioned yet. Several years ago when the cookie mixes in a jar were "the thing" I went to a local fast food place and asked to buy some of their drink carriers. You know, the cardboard carriers that lay flat and allow you carry two or four drinks. This place had the plain brown carriers (without any logos). I stamped up the carriers with some nice christmas stamps and then stamped tissue to match. I just put a jar of the cookie mix in the middle of the tissue and then into one of the areas in the carrier. I filled the other little areas with cookies in cello bags and mugs with candies and even drink mixes in jars. Each of these items was first put in the stamped tissue before going into the carrier. It made for a full and pretty presentation. I also added some pretty ribbon and a tag to the handle. I wish I had pictures but I dont.
Another idea is to stamp or decorate plain gable boxes and then put goodies in there. I'll attach a pic of some I've done in separate post.
Oh and I've done the paint cans too. One thing I learned is that you still need to wrap your goodies in cello or something to protect them because the coating inside the cans is not food safe.
Yvette
Pics of decorated gable boxes. Not Christmas themed in these photos. The second photo shows a clear envelope attached to the front of the box with the card slipped into it.
The last couple of years I have found really inexpensive aluminum christmas trays at Walmart for 99 cents.I use these with a doilie on top and arrange the cookies and then wrap with cellophane like a gift basket.They were really cute!!
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