Sweet & Simple Holiday Gifts by Sherry

 Each year, I organize gifts for the neighbors, my co-workers and the kiddos' teachers.  They usually consist of small things I pick up throughout the year or treats to make the holidays sweeter.  This year, as the cold weather arrives in central Texas, I decided to whip up some hot cocoa gift boxes for those special folks in our lives.  

The gift will consist of a cup with homemade hot cocoa mix, mini chocolate chips, marshmallows, graham crackers and ornaments.

I made homemade hot cocoa mix and placed it in a snack-size plastic bag, then added it to a clear pillow box with some mini chocolate chips.  To finish off the container, I added a cut doily, a strip of green doodlebug design cardstock and a sticker, all tied together with the Christmas doodle twine.

I chose a simple white mug without pattern so that it would fit in the recipient's cupboard of other mugs.  But, I knew I did not want to leave it plain when assembling this gift package.  I added a strip of chevron paper from the home for the holidays collection wrapped around the mug, then held in place with a house sticker and fancy frills border sticker.

 

The cute pixie combinations are perfect for showcasing the marshmallows.  I simply added a round topper to the pixie with Christmas doodle twine and added stickers to the other pixie.  So cute.

 This box --- this box is a fave.   I deconstructed a takeout box from an Indian kitchen.  It was super simple to make using only one sheet of 12x12 cardstock.  I added the mini box die cut and a house doodad as a closure.

The side view of the box.

 Inside the box, are the ingredients for a fun mug o' cocoa.  I tied up the graham crackers with the Christmas twine [a must have this holiday season!] and an adhesive tag from the cardstock sticker sheet. 

I also added in a small gift bag, made from a 3"x6" piece of patterned cardstock, filled with mints.

The hot cocoa gift ensemble includes various items for warming your neighbor's heart this holiday season.   Are you sending a small gift of appreciation and joy to your neighbors or co-workers this season?

Happy holidays!

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Hot cocoa

Place 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa powder in sauce pan and add 1/2 cup hot water.  Bring to a boil.   Add in milk and heavy whipping cream to taste.  Top with whipped topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.