How to Make Gift Containers for Homemade Christmas Cookies

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By Jeanne Grunert
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Make Festive Containers from Recycled Items

Homemade Christmas cookies are one of the many joys of the holiday season. Most families love receiving them, and many people enjoy baking them! Instead of spending money purchasing metal containers or decorative containers at the store, you can make them yourself from recycled items. With a bit of planning and creativity, you can make attractive cannisters and containers suitable to give as gifts when filled with your homemade goodies. This project is also great for kids and makes a fun school project.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Empty containers such as oatmeal or grits cannisters, coffee cans. Any tall, narrow, round cannister works well.
Tape
Scissors
White paper
Pretty tissue paper printed with Christmas or other designs
OR use recycled wrapping paper or any wrapping paper

Step 1

Clean the empty cannister. Oatmeal or grits containers with plastic topics make the best containers. Wash all plastic containers with warm soapy water and dry them. For cardboard cannisters such as oatmeal containers, use a damp cloth to wipe out the inside.
Step 2

After the cannister is thoroughly clean and dry, you can decorate it in one of two ways. Method one uses white paper as an underlayer with a second layer of pretty printed tissue paper. Simply measure the cannister, cut out a layer of white paper, and tape it over the cannister. Measure the tissue paper, cut and layer over. Tape it all together or use craft glue. You can leave the lid plain or cut a circle to cover it.
Step 3

Method two uses Christmas wrapping paper. You can easily use recycled wrapping paper if you have any on hand. Measure, cut and tape around the cannister.
Step 4

Use any remaining tissue paper to line the inside of the container. Stack cookies and wrap with plastic wrap before placing into the container. Sturdy, round shaped cookies or very hardy bar cookies work best if you plan to ship them by mail. Add a bow and a card and you have a beautiful and nearly free Christmas package for your friends or neighbors!

Comments

psychonurse said

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on 12/29/2008 Good article. I try the GREEN approach, too. I find vintage christmas cannisters 2 thrift shops, After cleaning them well, I,too, use cellophane to line them. "Waste not-want not" and each costs less than a dollar!