We love using plain, old-fashioned packaging at holidays, especially when giving food gifts. We stock up on craft paper, rough butchers twine, and postal mailing tags.

Here's a pictorial guide to how we packaged our homemade Cocoa Molasses Toffee for friends near and far this holiday.

This is a quick, non-fussy way for those of us who feel better at baking than crafting to do up our little treats. People always seem to love the old-fashioned look - it promises extra-good treats, we think!

All of these materials are also very economical. As much as we love the creative Martha Stewart lines and other great packaging, we find the costs a little steep. All of the packaging for a couple dozen bags of candy cost us less than $5. (Still using the same ball of twine from two Christmases ago...)

What you need:

• Small brown paper sacks - about $2 at Target for 2 dozen


• Brown twine - check Target or craft stores. It runs less than a dollar.


• Hole-punched postal tags - also at craft stores. Big office supply stores also carry these.


• A spray of decorative flowers from a craft store - I used gold sprayed glittery things. Usually I use red berries.


• Homemade candy or other individually wrapped goodies. This can work for small cookies too.


• A hole puncher


• Scissors