Face it, when we get out of hosting a get together, there’s usually a sigh of relief. People will spend days and even weeks preparing for company. That’s why it is so important to show appreciation to those who host your holiday gatherings this year.

You can do that by giving a little something in return for their hospitality. Here are some of our top holiday hostess gift ideas that won’t break the bank!

1. Coasters are a perfect little gift that will show how thoughtful you are. They usually come in sets of four and all kinds of designs. You can get some to match the holidays or more intricate and creative sets that complement their year round decor. Try shopping at West Elm for a more trendy feel or, Sticker Mule for more creative and customizable coasters. When you have a set you like, place them in a muslin bag. That way they can also keep the set together and put them away when they want.

2. Kitchen towels are another thoughtful gift for the mastermind behind your gathering. They can dress up a kitchen or bathroom and add a little color. Kitchen towels can make any room cozier, and there’s towels for every holiday or occasion.

3. Make a candle to show your craftiness. A soy candle made with essential oils is a thoughtful homemade gift that provides you with a project and a great present. Check out this pin on Pinterest for an easy soy candle recipe made with essential oils. You can also check out our pins for more creative ideas here.

Hopefully some of these holiday hostess gift ideas will inspire you to give one a try. There are endless gifts you can make or give. You could stay simple or get more extravagant, just don’t forget to thank your host in some way. A Celestial Gift muslin bag is the perfect wrapping for presents. Check out some of our ideas on how you can transform a muslin bag into holiday wrapping.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. This holiday is the perfect time to celebrate with one of the most important women in your life. A thoughtful gift doesn’t have to be expensive, but will show your mom how much you care about her. If you haven’t decided what you want to get or make for your mom, here are a few ideas to consider. You can incorporate a Celestial Gift muslin bag in any of these ideas for beautiful, reusable gift wrap.

1. Manicure in a muslin bag. This gift is perfect if you don’t want to do a full-blown craft. All you’ll need is a few shades of nail polish, a miniature bottle of nail polish remover, and a bag to wrap it up in. You can add in a few extra things as well, like cotton balls, a nail filing kit, nail art pens or other useful tools. You can really make this as small or as large as you want!

2. Write down 365 compliments and place them in a muslin bag. The compliments don’t need to be particularly long or complication, but they will give your mom something positive to start her day with for the next year. Instead of just showing your mom you think she’s special, you can tell her with this easy Mother’s Day gift idea.

3. Instead of flowers, you can purchase a plant for your mother that will outlive an ordinary bouquet. Depending on the plant, your gift will live for years with the proper care. A lemon tree, or a flowering bush are great options. You can browse for the perfect plant at a nursery or a local home improvement store. When you’re ready to give the plant to your mom, you can leave the plant potted and wrap the pot in a muslin bag.

All of these ideas are easy and affordable, but still thoughtful. No matter which present idea you want to try for your mom, you can make an even bigger impression by hand decorating your bag. You can check out our Pinterest board for ideas on how to decorate your Mother’s Day Celestial Gift bag. Which one of these do you plan on gifting this year?

Easter is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start brainstorming ideas for what to put in your child’s basket. From year to year, it can be difficult to think outside the box with fresh ideas. Our list of Easter basket ideas have a blend of traditional items and unique gifts that your family will love. Another way you can mix things up and keep the holiday exciting is by using a creative alternative to a traditional basket, like a Celestial Gift bag. Our bags come in a variety of sizes so you can pick something that’s perfect for your family. You can even encourage your child to reuse the bag for something else after the holiday. For a fun project, you could even dye the bags just like you would an Easter egg. Here are some of our favorite ideas for what to include in your child’s Easter bag this year.

• Small books. No matter the age of your child, a book is a great thing to include.
• Limited edition candies. Easter candies are a cherished tradition for many families. While this idea may not be particularly creative, it is a classic and should always be included in Easter goodies.
• Puzzles are a fun activity you can do together with your child. There are lots that come out with spring themes. You can go as advanced or as basic as you want!
• New clothes. Clothing can be folded nice and small to fit in your Celestial bag. This idea is perfect if you have some teenagers that still get presents on Easter along with their younger siblings.
• Spring-themed baking mix. Pick up a box of your child’s favorite baking mix. You can cook together on Easter, or you can save the mix for later. If your store doesn’t have anything spring-themed, pick up some food coloring and get creative by dying your baked goods.
• Crafting supplies. Put an egg dying kit in your child’s bag and get to work expressing your creativity. Tired of doing the same old craft? You can spend the morning or afternoon doing a different spring-related project.

This Easter, surprise your family with some of these Easter basket ideas. And to really break the mold, use a Celestial Gift bag instead of an Easter basket. You can decorate the bags and save them and use them year after year. What are some of your favorite Easter traditions?

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect holiday to break out the slow cooker. Using a slow cooker is one of the easiest, most convenient ways to prepare a flavorful stew or cut of meat for St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Instead of spending the day over the stove, you can partake in festivities knowing dinner is cooking and taken care of. Celestial Gift bags can help you save even more time on slow cooker recipes. You can bundle herbs and spices in a muslin bag and cut down on prep time. Here are a few ideas for how you can use your slow cooker this St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Nothing is more classic than corned beef and cabbage. This traditional Irish dish couldn’t be easier when you use a slow cooker. One of the key ingredients in corned beef, whole peppercorns, can be difficult to fish out when you’re serving your guests. You don’t want someone to accidentally bite down into a spicy peppercorn! You can achieve the same flavor by measuring out peppercorns and placing them in a Celestial Gift bag before adding to your slow cooker.
2. Irish stews are also a popular choice for St. Paddy’s Day. Typically, Irish stews are packed with beef, potatoes and peas in a thick gravy. This slow cooker idea is easy to put together and extremely flavorful. For an extra-flavorful gravy, place several bay leaves in a cotton bag so the flavor infuses with your stew.
3. Dublin coddle is a well-loved Irish dish that’s made easy with a slow cooker. This slow cooker idea is perfect if you are looking to stay away from beef. Dublin or Irish coddle is typically made with sausages and root vegetables. Sprigs of thyme and bay leaves are an essential part of this dish. Stuffing a Celestial bag with those two magic ingredients will give you a hearty, savory meal that’s sure to please.
4. Appetizers are always a hit. If you’re hosting a party but don’t want to prepare a full-blown meal, make an appetizer in the crock pot. Meatballs with potato bites is a great option that’s still appropriate for the holiday. Or, if you don’t mind offering something less traditional, heat up a melty cheese dip.

No matter what slow cooker idea you decide to try this year, always remember to use a Celestial Gift bag that does not have a colored string. Our Pinterest page has a board dedicated to slow cooker recipes. Have you seen it yet? You’ll find recipes for all of these ideas and more!

The New Year is here, which means it’s time to keep an eye on 2019 Etsy trends! As an Etsy shop owner, it’s important to look at trends and determine which ones you can seamlessly incorporate into your shop. While many pieces on Etsy are timeless, finding little ways to freshen your product can often make a huge difference in sales. This year, the top trend on Etsy as stated by their trend expert, is “Being Real.” At Celestial Gifts, we are completely on board with this trend prediction. Here are some of the top reasons you should use Celestial Gifts as packaging to stay relevant with 2019 Etsy trends.

1. All-natural products have been trending for a while, and we don’t see any signs of that stopping soon. Since 2019 is officially declared as the year of Being Real, products with recognizable ingredients will continue to grow in popularity. This is great news for shop owners who specialize in making natural beauty products. Use Celestial Gifts for packaging as natural and effortless as your products.
2. Even though “maximalism” is on the rise, grounding a louder piece with earthy colors will stand out in a good way. The number one predicted color for 2019 is burnt orange. Even though bolder pieces are expected to trend, shoppers are still craving more natural colors. Our bags stain beautifully, and you could easily incorporate this color trend to impress your customers.
3. Shoppers will continue to be more aware and drawn to sustainability. Celestial Gifts bags are made from 100% U.S. grown cotton, and are biodegradable. When you use a muslin bag as packaging, you’re giving your customer something they can reuse. You shouldn’t have to compromise stylish packaging for sustainability. With Celestial Gifts, you give your shoppers a trendy, but still eco-friendly wrapped product. When you’re writing up your product description, be sure to mention your packaging is sustainable and made in the USA!

These are some of the best ways you can use Celestial Gifts to stay on trend with your online shop in 2019. Product packaging can really help leave a lasting impression on your customers, especially when you’re keeping up with leading trends. Do you think Being Real is a trend you can incorporate in your Etsy shop?