Three last-minute holiday gift ideas!

I can't believe how quickly this month is passing by. I started off totally ahead of the game, I had tons of holiday shopping completed before Thanksgiving, but now I'm somehow running behind again. This always happens. I end up with those last five people on my list, and I cannot for the life of me figure out what to buy for them.

If you relate with my situation, maybe the answer isn't buying? Maybe the answer is making your last few gifts? Here are three last-minute gift ideas easy enough to complete in an evening! You'll notice all three of these ideas need some sort of printed photo, so it was another great fit for our Canon USA collaboration. All the photos used here were actually printed out on our PRO-100 on Canon's semi-gloss photo paper.First up, a custom wine label! Wine is my favorite foodie gift because it's the one I like to receive. Plus with all the cookies and candy everywhere during the holidays it's nice to give a gift that can be saved and enjoyed until the holidays are over. This gift can be inexpensive or a splurge, and it's a great gift to make multiples of, like if you wanted to give something to all of your friends at work.This is SUPER simple to make! Step 1. Use photoshop to create a new canvas 5 inches tall x 10 inches wide and 300 dpi. Next, crop 10 photos from your year into squares (2×2 inches, also 300 dpi). Copy and paste all of the little squares into a collage filling the top of your rectangle. You could actually pull something like this off in PowerPoint or Word too, if you don't have Photoshop. Type a personalized message at the bottom. I like to sign our names with ink after it's printed. 2. Print and cut out your label. You'll also need some scotch tape. 3. Wrap the label around the bottle and tape it together in the back. 4. Done! Now add a pretty ribbon and it's ready to gift.Next up, silhouette mugs! These are a great gift for a newlywed couple or a family! Think outside the box, because you can do pet silhouettes too.Print a small profile photo of someone special. The print size should be 3×4 inches or smaller, depending on your mug size. Trace the outline of the silhouette with a thin marker. Cut the silhouette out with scissors, creating a stencil. Use a piece of tape to tape your silhouette onto the mug and use an ink pen to trace around the photo. Trace over your pen outline with your porcelain marker and follow the instructions listed on the package to set the ink (some pens require baking while others air dry). When it's completed your design will be permanent!Last but not least, cookie and brownie mixes! These are great gifts! You'll need a 38 ounce jar for each mix. 

Here are the recipes, in case you're curious. 😉

Mint Brownies

Blend together the softened butter and sugar. Stir in the egg. Now stir in the remaining ingredients so everything is well blended. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough on the baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes.The first step to making your delicious baking mix gifts is to make the recipe yourself and take photos of the finished product. I've seen these jars without the photo and I think it adds so much! Of course, with these recipes you can skip that step and use our photos if you want to! Download Cookie + Brownie Photos (If for any reason this download doesn't work for you we'd be happy to e-mail you the photos support AT redvelvetart DOT com)

After you have your photos, use Photoshop (or like program) to add the name of the recipe to each one and print them out leaving space on the left side of the photo so that it can be folded in half (see below). Use scrapbook paper to line the inside of the card and provide them with baking instructions. Fold the card in half so the recipe is enclosed and only the photo is showing on the front. Last, use some string to tie your card to your jar! Which gift idea is your favorite? Do you still have a long list of gifts to buy or make? xo. Elsie (Emma + Laura too!)

Credits // Authors and Photography: Elsie Larson, Emma Chapman, Laura Gummerman