Do-It- YULEself GIFTS

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HEIRLOOM OR VINTAGE HANDKERCHIEF SACHETS:

Tie up dried aromatic flowers (buy or dry yourself) in handkerchiefs to give to the women in your family. These are especially nice if the handkerchiefs belonged to a grandmother or aunt. My relatives loved theirs.

SUPPLIES

Vintage handkerchiefs
Sachet flowers
Rubber bands
Thin satin ribbon (1/8 to 1/4-incb wide)

APPROXIMATE COST

Handkerchiefs: $1 to $3 apiece
Sachet: not more than $5
Rubber bands and ribbon: $3

STRATEGY

The hardest part is finding a floral sachet with a wonderful smell. Last September, I bought some homemade sachet by the ounce from a woman who grows flowers and sells them at the farmer's market. I've also bought a pot of lavender in the spring, then cut and dried it in the fall (That might not help you this year, but put it on your to-do list for spring.) Check the more unusual gift stores in your town (not the mall, generally) for a homegrown sachet.

Hand wash and iron the handkerchiefs. Pour about 1/2 cup of sachet into the center of the handkerchief. Gather up the ends and wrap a rubber band around the part near the ball of sachet, so the sachet is tightly enclosed. Tie a matching ribbon around the rubber band, making a bow with long ends. Either tie a tiny gift card on with the ribbon or wrap the sachet as you would any other gift. (Gift bags work well.)

GOODIE BASKET

Your friend loves your recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Breads Make up a box of measured dry ingredients, mini-loaf pans, and a recipe card. For that relative who's impossible to shop for, put together a holiday appetizer basket - a good salsa, a log of soft goat cheese, blue corn chips and heating directions. Optional: serving bowl or plate.

SUPPLIES
A basket, fruit crate (check your grocer on delivery days), or an open box wrapped on the outside with holiday paper, ribbon, tag
Colored tissue paper or dish towel
Basket gifts
Colored 4x6-inch index cards for recipes (lined or blank cards--it's up to you)

APPROXIMATE COST
Depending on the goodies, about $15 to $20
Index cards: Less than $2
Laminating: $1 to $2

STRATEGY

Line the container with colored tissue paper or a new dish towel. Arrange your gifts in the container, tie on a ribbon and tag or sticker tag. You could tie on a cinnamon stick for the baking basket or a pinecone. Print by hand or glue on a printout of your recipe on a colored 4x6 index card. Be sure to include the date and your name.

If you want, most office supply stores ran laminate your recipe card within a few minutes. Laminating plastic onto your recipe will make it durable and wipeable. Cut out the recipe leaving at least a 1/4-inch laminate border so the plastic holds together.

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