And panic has ensued.

I haven’t done a lick of shopping, though I have made lists from which to start the process. I didn’t do my puppy photo shoot, haven’t sent cards, haven’t decided on my wrapping theme for the year, and though Scott and I have been baking a bit, nothing has been packaged to deliver to friends and co-workers.

Egads.

Though I admitted I suffer from holiday present anxiety, I love to take extra time with gifts. For those of you who are struggling to come up with a fun idea for a friend or relative, take a look at what I did two years ago for my brother, who is a whiskey afficionado. Takes little money, and a slight bit of creativity.

You’ll need:

  • product of choice – I used small bottles of Jack Daniels
  • wooden dowels, cut to desired length
  • pieces of foliage or decoration (I found mine at Michael’s in the 50-99 cent bins. 
  • a vase/pot 
  • styrofoam for holding the dowels
  • ribbon and moss to complete the look

All you need to do is stuff the styrofoam into your vase, preferably a colored one (though my sister knocked over my first attempt, hence I had to use a glass vase last minute) and start arranging.

after Adrienne broke the original…such a masterpiece.

Glue whatever product (candy, small bottles, lottery/gift cards, etc) to the dowels. Make sure they are secure.

Play around with the arrangement until you are satisfied, and then tie a matching bow around the top of the vase.

Voila!!! Easy, inexpensive, and super creative. Looks like it takes a ton of time, but it can be done in a matter of minutes.

I plan on doing this for a few people this year, though I think it wouldn’t be appropriate to do whiskey for my little cousins…

Hope your holiday season is bringing you much joy (and little anxiety!),

-Al