Who doesn’t love to receive a care package? Especially when you’ve recently relocated, few things can make a new place feel like home quite like personal gifts from friends and family you’ve had to leave behind.

And that’s what we’re doing today: compiling the perfect DIY housewarming care package to present to your loved ones when they move. I recently had a dear friend move away, and here’s what I put together to help her settle in.

I started my DIY care package by purchasing a beautiful pie plate in my friend’s favorite shade of sky blue. It just so happens to be my favorite shade of blue as well, so every time she uses it, I hope it reminds her of me and all of the happy times we shared whipping things up in the kitchen. Plus, it’s a nice little twist on your typical basket and will serve as the vessel for everything else I stock in her care package!

Next, continuing with the “kitchen” theme, I created a handmade dish towel (also a perfect match to the one I made myself) by attaching coordinating blue polka dot ribbons to a basic white flour sack towel.

After selecting your base items (in my case, it was the pie plate and dish towel), you can fill your container with whatever you like. Two particular gift items came to mind for me:

First, I designed a customized notepad that you can use for everything from your “To Do” list to items you need to pick up at the grocery store. I find these types of notepads indispensable, especially during times of relocation because there always seems to be just one more thing you need to do.

By including not only your monogram but also your name at the top, these sheets of card stock double as casual DIY stationery!

Second, I created a fabulous set of new address labels that will add just the right amount of return sparkle to whatever she drops in the mail.

At a minimum, you are offering your friend an opportunity to use her fantastic new address labels by keeping you updated on her move via old-school letters.

And she can even enjoy a snack while she writes because I tossed in a couple of her favorite comfort foods to round out the care package. Simply wrap whatever you bake in clear cellophane bags and seal in the freshness with a metallic twist tie.

Although the above ideas are great for personal friends and family, there are also thoughtful things you can do for your new neighbors and break the ice on creating new friendships.

For example, some other great aspects of a perfect housewarming care package might include:

• A potted houseplant highlighting a favorite flower or favorite color: If you don’t know what the new neighbor might like, use your own tastes as inspiration!
• A book of tried-and-true recipes: Fresh culinary ideas are great for breaking in a new kitchen.
• A compilation of favorite area restaurants or takeout menus: For the first few weeks of unpacking and settling in to a new place, eating out might be easier on a family, so helping them out by gathering menus from favorite restaurants can be a lifesaver for someone who doesn’t know the area.
• A list of local hardware or home improvement stores and gardening centers: These are typically some of the most visited stores for folks moving into a new home, and knowing where they are and some insider tips would be most welcome! For instance, it might be helpful for a new patron to know which ones have the best prices and selection, which have the most helpful staff, the busiest hours to avoid shopping and the best times to go, etc.

What other essentials and personal touches will you include in your perfectly planned DIY housewarming care package?