• Use glass jars with lids that will seal tight to make jar mix gifts.red hot chili pepper in a glass jar image by Elena Moiseeva from Fotolia.com
  
  When looking for creative ideas for a homemade gift, try a variety of jar mix recipes. From hot chocolate to soup mixes, these recipes are easy and make the perfect gift. A trip to your local retail store and a couple of ingredients from your pantry is all you will need to show off your creativity by making a jar mix gift.
  
  

Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

• To make a cinnamon hot chocolate jar mix, you will need a 16-ounce airtight glass jar with lid and cinnamon sticks. Mix 1 3/4 cup non-fat milk powder, 1/2 cup non-dairy creamer, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 cup cocoa, 1 cup icing sugar and 1 cup of miniature marshmallows in a large bowl. Pour the mixture into the glass jar and screw the lid on tight. Tie a ribbon around the jar with a label telling the gift recipient to dissolve 3 tbsp. of the mix with 3/4 cup of hot milk for each serving. For added decoration, tie a couple of cinnamon sticks to the ribbon.
  
  

Fiesta Dip

• Make a fiesta dip gift mix using 1/2 cup dried parsley, 1/4 cup dried chives, 1/3 cup of chili powder, 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup ground cumin and 1/3 cup of dried minced onion. Mix these ingredients in a large bowl and then pour into a 16-ounce glass jar with lid. Seal the lid tight and tie ribbon around the jar lid. Tie the instructions on the ribbon, which should say mix 3 tbsp. of fiesta dip mix, 1 cup of sour cream and 1 cup of mayonnaise in a bowl, and serve with tortilla chips. To decorate the jar, purchase plastic peppers and tie them to it.
  
  

Cheese Soup

• Create a jar mix of instant cheese soup by layering 2 cups of instant coffee creamer, 1/2 cup imitation bacon bits, 1/2 cup cheese sauce powder, 1 tbsp. dried parsley flakes, 1 tbsp. chicken bouillon granules, 1 tsp. dried minced onion, 1/2 tsp. pepper and fill the rest of the 32-ounce glass jar with instant potato flakes. Tie a satin ribbon around the jar with the instructions that read, "Stir the mix with 5 cups of boiling water to make creamy cheese soup." You can also write down other ideas, such as garnishing the soup with grated cheese and chives or adding broccoli to make broccoli cheese soup.