We have had far too many Snow Days here for my liking lately. A couple of weeks ago, the temperature dropped to -44 degrees (celcius) with the windchill! We've also had several feet of snow recently, plus some freezing rain to top it all off. Needless to say, we've spend a lot of time inside doing crafts, Christmas baking and watching movies.
All of these snow days have made me think that it would be fun to make some "snow day survival kits" as unique, handmade Christmas gifts for teachers, neighbors and friends this year. In a pretty little tin, I've put some things that a family could use on a day stuck at home - some sugar cookies in a jar, a cookie cutter, hot chocolate mix in a jar, and some chocolate spoons to mix the hot chocolate with.
Want to make your own Snow Day Survival Kit Christmas gift? It's so easy and doesn't have to be expensive at all! You may already have a lot of the supplies you need for this easy DIY gift on hand.
Materials:
- one medium mason jar (I used a blue heritage one from Greenmunch)
- one small mason jar (also from Greenmunch)
- a large tin basket (here's a similar size from Amazon)
- a cookie cutter
- ribbon and/or twine string (mine's from Greenmunch)
- scrapbook paper
- white cardstock, a printer, and this free printable (for the labels and tags)
- scotch tape
- plastic or wooden spoons
- semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
- crushed candy canes and/or sprinkles
- lollipop bags or pieces of plastic wrap
- pre-made or homemade hot chocolate mix + mini marshmallows
- homemade sugar cookie mix (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt - directions below)
Directions:
First, print out the free Snow Day Survival Kit PDF printable on a piece of white cardstock (click on the photo to download):
To make the chocolate spoons (this is fun to do with your kids!), melt a few blocks of chocolate in the microwave, and dip the tops of some chocolate spoons into it (we made four per gift basket).
Before the chocolate dries, sprinkle the spoons with crushed candy canes and/or sprinkles. Place a lollipop bag or a piece of plastic wrap around the top of the spoons and secure with baker's twine tied in a pretty bow.
For the hot chocolate jar, fill the small mason jar with hot chocolate mix and a handful of mini marshmallows. Cut out the "Christmas Hot Chocolate" label, and fasten it around the jar with tape.
To make the sugar cookie jar, mix together 1 ½ cups of flour, ½ tsp. baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Fill the mason jar with ¾ cup white sugar, and then pour the flour mixture in (I really had to tap the jar and push the flour mixture in with a spoon to make it fit my mason jar). Put the "Christmas Sugar Cookies" printable label on the lid before screwing on the ring and cut out the tag with the baking instructions. Punch a hole in the top of the instructions, and thread a piece of ribbon or twine (long enough to go around the jar) through the tag and a cookie cutter. Tie around the mouth of the jar.
Decorate your tin, basket or box with the "Snow Day Survival Kit" label and a piece of scrapbook paper or ribbon as shown above.
Place the two jars and the chocolate spoons in your tin. You could also include a card. To gift the kit, wrap it all up with some cellophane tied in a matching ribbon bow.
Your unique, handmade gift basket is ready to give!
Looking for more Gift in a Tin gift basket ideas? Check these out:
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I was just curious what size of jar you used for the cookie mix? Also... not sure if you knew or not but you have a spelling error on step # 4 of the cookie printable. I think it should be "or" not "of". anyway.. just so you know.
Thanks!
Krista
Thanks so much for letting me know - I'll have to fix that ASAP. I used one of the smaller blue Ball jars.
You also go from #2 to #4.. no step 3. =) Thank you so much for the ideas and printables! Super cute and the teachers are going to love them!
Thanks for letting me know, Sonya! Happy New Year!
What size tin did you buy off Pick Your Plum?
Thanks!
I bought the large sized tins.
I love this idea and plan to do it for my nursery school staff.
Is it possible to get your original file of the printable so I could change the wording? (I have some staff that celebrate Christmas & some that celebrate Hanukkah.)
Thanks for your consideration. Happy Holidays!
Sorry, the file isn't editable. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and have a happy New Year!
I just landed on these adorable gift tin ideas and I am so excited now for upcoming holidays. I can easily do this. I make my own gift baskets each year, but these are so neat. Thanks so much for putting all of these ideas online with clickable links to make the project so easy.
Hi! Love this idea! Any chance you have a printable template for the snowflake that is on the lid of the Christmas Hot Chocolate jar?
Thanks a bunch 🙂
I'm working on making these this year for Christmas. I'm so excited they are adorable! 1 question I may have missed but Ive read it over a few times. How much sugar for the sugar cookies? I don't see it in the recipe written out on here.
nevermind silly me, I found it..
I just wanted to know if you can alternate between the flour mixture and the sugar when you are layering it in the jar
Hey Carly,
We don't see why you couldn't 🙂
Okay good to know.
Thank you!
I just made the cookies and the hot chocolate! They are both to die for thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Alternating flour, sugar, flour, sugar etc. Works great!
That is so awesome!
Thanks for sharing it's really helpful for me.
Great work. Well done. Hats off for your hard work.