Jam & Jelly Decorating Ideas

Homemade jams and jellies make wonderful gifts any time of the year. Whether you're giving them to family, friends or neighbours, make the presentation as appealing as the product. Use these wrap-up ideas to spark your own creativity:

• Personalize your gift with a label or tag, stating the kind of jam, your name and the date it was made.
• Stationery and office supply stores have an assortment of basic labels and tags. Tie on a tag with raffia or heavy twine, and be sure to include a recipe card.
• Use a glue gun to attach small artificial fruits, tiny pinecones or dried flowers to the lid of a jar or tie a spreader to the jar.
• For a fragrant gift, tie a bundle of cinnamon sticks together and attach to the jar when tying on the tag.
• Paper doilies now come in bright colours and metallics and need only an elastic or ribbon to hold them in place over the lid.
• Cellophane bags with gold stars or stripes are readily available at party shops and make an elegant wrapping when tied with a gold ribbon.
• Fill a small basket with brightly coloured raffia and nestle in your jar. Wrap a wide ribbon around the edge of the basket and trim with a bow.