local honey– use as a face wash and natural exfoliant, stirred into your morning chai, or drizzled over toast
box of homemade biscuits (recipe below)
gift tag card made up from a dried pressed flower
lunch date voucher- favourite packed picnic lunch
giant gingerbread person in a crocheted pocket
jar of homemade almond pesto
gift wrapping- I’ve talked about using old maps as wrapping paper before. This particular one was gold, as I had found an unwanted old atlas on the street that someone had lazily put out there. At first I was dismayed at the thought of it sitting out there unwanted and unloved, getting rain damaged. We certainly didn’t need another atlas… then I remembered wrapping paper. Sure it was a bit sad that I was cutting into this large beautiful book, but I was certainly better than just going in the recycling bin which is where it was headed. Team it up with some wool to hold the folding in place, and no tape is necessary.
For more wrapping ideas, have a look at this rather awesome site on furoshiki, other wise known as the Japanese art of fabric gift wrapping.
(For last years 12 eco friendly Christmas gift ideas, see here.)
Coconut Strawberry Hearts
250g softened butter
1 cup (220g) sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp coconut essence
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
3 1/2 cups (525g) plain flour
strawberry jam
Cream butter and sugar together in a mixer until pale. Add vanilla, coconut essence and egg, then mix through rest of ingredients. Lightly knead biscuit dough and roll between two sheets of baking paper to about 5mm. Pop into the fridge for an hour or so until firm, and cut out to shapes. If the dough comes back to room temperature while you are still cutting, being tricky to handle, just pop it back into the fridge for a bit.
Bake at 170C for approximately 15-20 mins, a very light golden colour. Allow to cool and then add half a teaspoon of strawberry jam in between the two biscuits.
Eat two immediately to see if they are ok to gift. Yep? Ok, should be good to go.
For a similar recipe see Coconut Jam Drops.
Great ideas. I love the map wrapping paper idea. I’ll have to start keeping the atlases that are too damaged or graffiti filled from school and repurpose them.
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I think there are countless things you could do with old atlases, as the paper is usually very good quality. Damaged ones from school are perfect for repurposing.
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Thanks for the great ideas Brydie! I used to teach Geography so cutting up maps is almost sacrilegious to me but it’s better than an atlas rotting away.
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Rose I totally agree, and I while I cut into this particular one, there was a soft whimper to be had. This particular one would have been left to rot on the street though, then discarded in a bin. Does it help if I respectfully took out pages?
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I like the look of those biscuits. I don’t think I could give them away.
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That’s why I make such a big batch Debra.
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Oh you are seriously outdoing yourself…..divine 🙂
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Thanks Claudia 🙂
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What a great idea for wrapping paper!
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old ripped, outdated road maps are also good to use Tandy.
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Nice save on the old Atlas! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! 🙂
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the year is galloping by isn’t it Celia!
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Such a wonderful post, and now I am buzzing with inspiration and Christmas thoughts 🙂
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Excellent Kari 🙂 If you have any other Christmas ideas I would love to hear them.
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The biscuits are just gorgeous Brydie. So perfect looking and I can see these would make the perfect gift for the neighbours and my children’s teachers. Love the map-wrap! xx
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They’re definitely a good present for that sort of thing….or any old time.
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Great ideas. Your cookies look fantastic, too.
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Thanks Heidi
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Great gift ideas…love the pressed flower tag.
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That was the result of little fingers grabbing a fistful of flowers when I wasn’t looking, I had to do something with them 🙂
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Little fingers and your creativity turned out lovely.
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Love it all Brydie! I’m bookmarking for when I have just a little more time. I’m going to be a copycat (and maybe – ok, likely – more than once). xx
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I’d love to see what you get up to Spree!
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Some wonderful ideas, and so well done!
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Thanks Betsy
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I love the gingerbread cookie in a crocheted pocket.
Of course, I love anything and everything gingerbread.
Thanks, Brydie, you always have such great ideas.
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Heidi are you going to do your big gingerbread house this year?
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I love your gift ideas, I love the gingerbread in crochet!!!
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I had to slip a little crochet in there somehow 😉
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My daughters spent all yesterday afternoon baking gingerbread for early Christmas gifts. They made a triple batch though, so they could do lots of taste testing 🙂
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It’s serious business taste testing. It has been done frequently and at regular intervals, both raw and cooked dough needs to be taken into account. I’d say your girls did an excellent job, if only more people would do triple batches…
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Thank you for sharing this recipe, everytime I see a photo of those biscuits of yours I want to lick the screen!
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Ah, the imagery! 🙂 (actually I’m sure one of my little people have come close on occasion.)
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All wonderful ideas – the almond pesto looks yum – any chance of posting the recipe please?
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link should come up Keri? 2 bunches of basil, olive oil, parmesan and whole almonds blitzed up. I just taste test until it’s right, so not sure of exact amounts… a little chilli wouldn’t go astray in there either.
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It’s posts like this that absolutely bring out the cityhippyfarmgirl in you. What a lovely diverse and interesting bunch of ideas! The bikkies looks amazing and anyone receiving those would be sure to feel loved.
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Thank you Mariana. Those biscuits usually go pretty quickly so I take it as a good sign. I really do think food is such a good present, I’m always thrilled to receive something handmade so I really hope others feel like that as well.
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Love these ideas, especially the map-wrap…. Now, I’m seeking inspiration for how to wrap homemade cookies, fudge etc for Christmas gifts for teachers – what would you do??
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I do like using a beautiful opshop/thrifted plate for presenting gifted foodie goodies.
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Beautiful idea…thanks
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your presents always look gorgeous and generous – when you put a little of your own work in presents mean more
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Great ideas! I totally love the gift tag. It has such an elegant touch to it.
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Great post! Your biscuits look scrumptious. Love your map paper, and I think re-purposing a book left to rot in the street is fabulous. You gave it new life! I’ve done the same with torn/scribbled-on vintage kid’s books and rolls of 60s wallpaper.
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I love homemade gifts.. especially baking. I’ve made a similar heart cookie and you’ve inspired me to make some for Christmas this year:)
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Thanks for those lovely little ideas, especially using old books, w lovely idea
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Ater seeing your luscious photos on insta, I had to follow up to see the recipes. Question: how long do you think the coconut strawberry hearts will last, in an air tight container, before going soft? Dumb question, given that you would have to eat them as soon as you clapped eyes on them, but just wondering if I made them today, would they still be crisp on say Wednesday?
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They should be fine Amanda. I’ve done at least 5 days ahead of time. I do leave the jam to the last minute though, and just store the biscuits in airtight container like you said. If you had to do the jam ahead of time as well, maybe slightly lower the oven temp and cook them for a tad longer so they are crisper, but not gaining any colour.
Hope that helps!
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Ooo thanks for that! nice and cool here today so I,ll be rocking the kitchen!
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Awesome. Let me know how they go when you are finished.
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