5 easy and inspiring do-it-yourself holiday hostess gifts

T'is the season of holiday parties galore. When it comes to deciding what to bring the hostess with the mostest, it's tempting to go straight to that default bottle of wine or bubbly. But if you want to step up your game and standout from the crowd, a quick search online brings up some do-it-yourself goodies like scented sugars (think a mason jar filled with, you guessed it, sugar, and layered with vanilla beans or even rose petals). Other cinch finds? Rosemary trees wrapped in festive fabrics and pre-measured gingerbread cookie mix in a jar tied with a decorative bow. Thanks to Pinterest, the Martha Stewart-like ideas are seriously endless. To help sort through the clutter, we turn to two pros to get their take on some of the best tokens of the season.

Expert #1: Martina Stritesky knows how to throw a killer bash. As the girl boss behind White Bow Events she has executed talk-of-the-town soirees for 50 to 500 on both sides of the coast. Making tasteful and impactful statements is her forte, so naturally she's got a tip or two on how to choose a memorable do-it-yourself holiday gift. Her chic ideas:

Morning-after basket:
"After a night of entertaining, your hostess will surely appreciate waking up to a yummy breakfast basket. How to: line a beautiful basket with a pretty tea towel and fill it with all the necessities to start her day off right—coffee, milk, fresh-squeezed juices, muffins, jam, granola, fruit (you get the gist)."

Potted herbs
"This little DIY number is simple to pull-off and impressive to receive. How to: Pick-up some fresh herbs like basil, mint, sage, thyme, chives, and rosemary and plant inside pretty white pots. Add to a small wooden crate and tie with a grosgrain ribbon."

Mulled wine
"Nothing smells better around the holidays than the warming of mulled wine. How to: Fill a basket with all the necessary ingredients—a bottle of dry red wine, oranges, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. For extra points, add ceramic mugs and a handwritten thank you note."

Expert #2: Denise Wild is a TV host, author, and all around powerhouse sewing and craft expert (www.denisewild.com). For hostess gifts with a homemade personal vibe, she suggests:

Scrabble Frame
"It's a creative gift that's perfect for a wordsmith, a writer, or anyone who loves board games. How-to: Glue Scrabble tiles (you can order them online if you don't want to break up your personal board game) onto an existing frame, adding any extra holiday adornments you want. Mix it up by adding glittery or scrapbook paper in the background."

Mason Jar Ornaments
"Who doesn't love a handmade ornament for the holidays? Choose the adornment based on your host's interests or decor for bonus points. How-to: Tie a string around the outside ring of a mason jar lid. Cut a piece of scrapbook, glittery or chalkboard paper to fit inside the jar lid ring. Put the paper inside the ring, then put the jar lid centre behind the paper. Use hot glue around the inside edge of the jar lid centre to keep everything in place. Glue on a holiday adornment of your choice."

Which hostess gift would you want to receive? Let us know on our Facebook page?