Home » Gift » Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Printable Gift Tags

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Printable Gift Tags

I should be in panic mode right now. There are only 5 days ’till Christmas. And I haven’t even begun to create the 20 gifts on our list for neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family.

But I’m not worried in the least. Ya know why?

Because the gift I have up my sleeve is so do-able to create in bulk and so affordable at $2.50 each, I’m not even going to break a sweat over it.

“Quit stalling, Lauren, and tell us what this gift-to-end-all-gifts could be!”

I hear ya! Introducing…stovetop simmer satchels.

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.

If Christmas had a scent…this would be it. When you add these 6 scent-sational ingredients together in a small pot of water on the stove, simmering on low, you’ll fill your home with the most incredible aroma.

It’s festive. It’s nostalgic. It’s divine.

Best of all, it’s something you can’t just find at Target or on Amazon because it’s heartmade.

My sister-in-love Jodi gifted us a batch of this simmer last year, and we loved it so much, that we made more for ourselves, and everyone we know. And let me tell you, it was such a hit! So, I decided to bring it back again this year. Why reinvent the wheel when we can become known as “those stovetop simmer people”? Hey, that’s a reputation I’d be proud to have.

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.

Stovetop simmer satchels make a great last-minute gift because they’re best enjoyed on Christmas morning. (Instant atmosphere!) My fellow procrastinators, this is one time when procrastinating works in our favor!

The step-by-step tutorial for this project is going to be short because it’s just that easy. [Update: I have a video for ya that’s only 30 seconds long.] I even have FREE printable gift tags, so you can add a personal touch to your gifts. After a quick trip to the grocery store, you’ll have everything you need to whip up your own batch of simmer for the loved ones on your list.

Read on for the run-down, rockstar.

Supplies

Here are the supplies you’ll need (with measurements for one bag of stovetop simmer):

  • naval orange | grocery store | $1
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries | grocery store | $0.40
  • 2-3 cinnamon sticks | *Amazon, Dollar Tree, or your grocery store’s ethnic food aisle | $0.40
  • 2 tsp. cloves | grocery store, ethnic food aisle | $0.25
  • 2 tsp. whole allspice | grocery store, ethnic food aisle | $0.25
  • sprig of evergreen | Home Depot or Lowe’s Christmas Tree refuse bin | FREE
  • treat bag | Amazon, Target, party store | $0.10
  • twine | Amazon or Dollar Tree or craft store | $0.10
  • Stovetop Simmer Gift Tags | FREE download below
  • hole punch | on hand | FREE

TOTAL cost per gift: $2.50

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.

TIP #1: Any place that sells Christmas trees like Home Depot or Lowe’s usually have a bin off to the side with excess tree branches that you are free to take home. Mark and I usually grab a handful for projects like these.

TIP #2: For much more affordable spices and cinnamon sticks, check out the ethnic food aisle.

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.

Assembly Instructions

Crank up the Christmas tunes and make your simmer-assembling a party! Invite the kids or a few friends to join in on the fun, passing the bags down the assembly-line. Or if you’re working solo, just lay out all your bags and start building them one ingredient at a time. I usually start with the largest item and work down to the smallest.

Drop them in your treat bag, tie them up with some twine, and your custom gift tag. Done and done!

TIP #3: I recommend assembling these pretty close to the time you’ll be giving them just to keep things fresh. But you can store them in the fridge for a few days if needed.

TIP #4: For an added boost, simmer a batch on the stovetop while you work and enjoy a whiff of this amazing gift you’ll be giving your beloveds.

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.
Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.

30 Second Video Tutorial

2021 Update: I decided to create a quick 30 second Reel for Instagram just to demonstrate how do-able this gift truly is. Enjoy!

Free Printable Gift Tags

I’ve seen the light when it comes to do-able, meaningful gifts, and I want to do my part to help you experience the same. So, I’m sharing a FREE printable of some gift tags I whipped up especially for this gift. It includes the following instructions on each tag:

Stovetop Simmer Satchels & FREE Custom Gift Tag | Evidence that inexpensive and last-minute gifts can be meaningful! Here's everything you need from supplies to assembly instructions to the adorable holiday gifts tags with instructions for the recipient (yep, they're FREE). If Christmas had a scent, this would be it! Yum yum yum.

Slice orange and cover ingredients with water in a small pot. Simmer on low heat to infuse your home with the scents of the season. Refill water as needed. Enjoy!

Enjoy, they will.

TIP #5: Print your gift tags on cardstock to give them some heft! And you can use the back to write a personalized note if you so please.

These gift tags are FREE for all of my email subscribers, so you can enter your email address below and then pop over to your inbox to download the PDF. (Fine Print: This design is for personal use only and not for commercial purposes.)


Just be forewarned that when you sign your name on these gift tags, you might start getting requests for stovetop simmer for years to come. That’s what happens when you give the gift of a sensory experience as amazing as this one. But when you look at the pricetag and how easy it is, that might not be a bad problem to have. {Wink.}

Hope you enjoy some simmer yourself!

To Close

Stovetop simmer is evidence that gifts don’t have to cost a lot or stress you out in those final days before Christmas in order to mean a lot to the recipient.

In fact, I’m so passionate about this subject, I wrote a book full of do-able, heartmade gifts like this one. It’s called Thinking Outside the Gift Box: 75 Simple & Meaningful Gift Ideas to Spark Your Creativity.

Prepare to Kickstart Your Creativity with Thinking Outside the Gift Box: 75 Simple & Meaningful Gift Ideas by Lauren Lanker | Now available in paperback!

Both the digital and paperback copies come with a Printables Toolkit of 11 instant downloads created to help you carry out the 75 gift ideas in that book, such as my “What I Love About You from A to Z” mini-book. That particular gift is one of my most popular projects of all time and is a perfect last-minute gift for your bestie, significant other, or kiddo that will make them feel loved to the moon and back.

Click HERE to learn more and grab your copy of the book.

"What I Love About You from A to Z" Mini-Book | Creative gift idea that will lavish your recipient with love through 26 different affirmations, one for each letter of the alphabet! Gotta love it when gifts are inexpensive, yet oh so meaningful. This is a great one for birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Christmas...or ordinary days!

May these days before Christmas be as sweet as the simmer on your stovetop!

See you in the new year.

*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for helping to support this site!

signature
| | | | | |

14 Comments

  1. Lauren,

    Your Gifter’s Holiday toolkit 5 day challenge changed my whole outlook on gift giving this year. In addition to creating a notebook with the daily printables, I printed the corresponding email and added them with each section as a reminder of what I learned in your video for the day. When I bought the book, I printed it and added it to the front of my notebook.

    I got all my Christmas cards sent out on time, all my gifts organized, wrapped with ease (thanks to my Gift wrap inventory) and boxed up to ship out in a timely manner without the typical hustle and stress that usually goes along with it.

    I made my craft room my hub for everything and either played Christmas music and sang along or watched a Christmas movie to enjoy the festivities of the season. I have never felt better about gift giving.

    I added a small touch what I took from and ran with out of the book to my gift giving this year. A family recipe book!!! I texted all my siblings, their wives, and my parents and asked them to send me their favorite recipes. Then, typed them all up in a cute format, put them in notebooks ans mailed them off. Did i mention I included whose favorite each recipe was? What a fun and SIMPLE (and inexpensive) gift! I consider myself pretty crafty but this literally took ) crafting ability.

    This idea is perfect because I could NOT decide what to do for my coworkers, can’t wait to go shopping!

    Thank you for making my life and the way I look at gifting so much easier.

    Stacie

    1. Wow, Stacie! Your comment made my DAY/WEEK/LIFE! The fact that you took the time to print out my emails…my book…and really made your toolkit a mammoth resource to support you for YEARS to come just warms my heart to no end. The best part is that you were able to shift your approach to gift-giving so that it brought you more joy…and also incredibly blessed your family and co-workers. And I feel like just twirling around the room, saying, “This is why I do what I do!” Truly. I feel like all the time and effort I poured into the toolkit was worth it for YOU. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this. Happy new year to you, Stacie dear!

  2. What an awesome idea for those last minute gifts!! And I also might be trying it for some Christmas scent in my own house too ;). Merry Christmas!

Your comments make my day!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *