Winter Welcome Basket

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The holidays are approaching. Have you planned for all of the joyful madness? Thanksgiving dinner? Gift shopping? Family travel? Decorations? Christmas? Chanukah? There’s so much to do this time of year! I used to just decorate the exterior of the house – a simple doormat and some lights were enough for me. But with the kids getting older and wanting to help out more, we’ve been decorating throughout the house. With family and friends visiting for the holidays, here’s the perfect winter welcome basket to place in your guest bedroom. It’s got a little of everything – a bite to eat, something to drink, tissues, cough drops, and disinfectant spray – in a very cute lodge-inspired wooden crate.  Here’s how I put it together!

Materials:

• Large wooden crate
• Wood stain (in a dark color)
• Sand paper
• Hot glue gun
• Message or word to adhere to the front
• Holiday decorations

Directions:

Begin by staining your wooden crate. I chose a walnut stain that I just happened to have from another craft project I completed earlier in the year. I like how this dark stain gives that log cabin charm to this wooden crate.

Next, sand the crate along the corners and edges. This gives it a vintage feel. I used a fine grit paper and sanded the crate until it looked like something you may find at a flea market.

To finish the crate, I added the tin word JOY (an ornament I found at a craft store). Other ideas would include wooden words, plastic words, or stenciled words in phrases like “Happy Holidays” or “Family and Friends”. I like that Joy was universally simple, and I used hot glue to adhere it to the wooden crate.

Now it’s time to fill your wooden crate. I began by placing two small, pretend holiday trees inside. I like the “snow” on the trees. It takes me from this 90-degree South Florida weather to a much cooler climate.

Next, I headed to CVS for these guest room essentials: HALLS cough drops, a box Kleenex tissues, a bottle of Smartwater, a box of Premium Saltine Crackers, and Lysol Disinfecting Spray.

Place all five of these items inside your wooden crate. They fit perfectly with the small trees!

This is the fun part! Add in all sorts of holiday treasures. I found pine cones, ornaments, leaves, a small bird, and several other decorations to place in my wooden crate. And the finishing touch? This adorable raccoon, welcoming guests to relax in this room you have prepared for them!

Help your guests feel their best while visiting you! CVS is your go-to store for winter essentials from your favorite brands, like HALLS, Kleenex, Smartwater, Premium Saltine Crackers, and Lysol (kills 99.9% of bacteria on soft surfaces).

What winter essentials do you keep stocked in your home for friends and family?