With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, 'tis the season to start shopping for those last-minute gifts. Our real estate agents have some great hand-crafted gift ideas that are fun, creative, easy to make, and affordable.

To create special holiday gifts in Mason jars, you just need jars, a little spare time, and a holiday spirit. Think about things your family and friends enjoy, then pop them into jars with holiday ribbons and cute labels. Take a look at Mason jar gifts that your family and friends will love.

• Scented Holiday Candles
  During the holidays, everyone enjoys candles that fill the house with festive scents of pine, cranberries, gingerbread, and pumpkin pie. Look for holiday candles in short, round or square shapes that easily fit in your jar and won't fall over. Place your candle, decorate the jar with berries and ribbons, and attach a personalized note or Christmas card.
  
  
• Snowmen Hot Cocoa
  On chilly winter evenings in Atlanta homes for sale, what could be better than a cup of hot cocoa to warm you up? You can create a special holiday gift with two Mason jars containing different ingredients. Fill one jar with cocoa mix and a wooden spoon, then fill the other with marshmallows. Decorate your jars with buttons and a carrot nose, then tie them together with red and gold ribbons.
  
  
• Tea Lover's Special
  If you know someone who loves a good cup of tea, you can create a special Mason jar gift filled with all the tea essentials. Add some specialty tea flavors and a pretty stirring spoon to your jar, then fill the rest with shortbread or cinnamon cookies, breakfast wafers, or chocolate candies. Finish it with cute crinkly paper and a ribbon around the rim, then you're all set.
  
  
• Gourmet Popcorn Treat
  Popcorn is a favorite treat on a chilly night by the fire or when watching your favorite movie. It's a healthy snack, and there are so many gourmet flavors to choose from. If you know a popcorn lover who likes trying out different gourmet flavors, fill your jar with several gourmet flavors, several specialty seasonings, and a hand-written label, then put a festive bow on top.
  
  
• Savory and Sweet Delight
  If you have friends who love snacking and sweet treats, they will welcome a holiday Mason jar filled with a delicious assortment of crispy munchies and candies. You can add a variety of munchies to your jar:
  
  
  • Small crispy cheese crackers
  • Pretzels in different flavors
  • M & M's or wrapped chocolates
  • Toffee and hard candy
  • Peppermint canes or vines
  • Bite-size marshmallows

• Cook's Kitchen Helper
  For a family cook, a Mason jar filled with kitchen essentials is the perfect Christmas gift. You can fill your jar with a variety of items, such as a holiday apron, oven mitts, holiday dinner napkins, coasters, place cards, measuring cups and spoons, bottle openers, corkscrews, or bamboo serving utensils. As a special touch, add a gift certificate to a local kitchen store for cookbooks and cookware.
  
  
• Pampering Spa Day
  A relaxing holiday spa day is a gift anyone would wish for, but heading to the spa during the busy holiday season may not be an option. You can create a spa day in a jar filled with relaxing bubble bath, Epsom salts, sugar scrubs, body lotion, face and hand cream, and a pair of cozy slippers. It's the perfect ending to a busy day.

If you're considering buying or selling in the Atlanta area, contact us to help you find your next dream home.