Small gifts keep friendship alive

Upcycling with Becks cocoa™ tins.

Gifts for a favourite person

You probably know the saying: “Small gifts keep friendship alive”. It doesn’t matter what you give, but rather that it comes from the heart. Although it sounds trite, there is a lot of truth behind it. Especially when the recipient realises that you have put some thought into what you can do to make him or her happy.

Small gift ideas with a big impact

I have come up with a small gift idea that I am sure many people will be happy about. And the good thing about it is that it is also a clever upcycling idea.
It involves gift packaging with the aluminium cans from Becks cocoa™. They are far too good to throw away and are the ideal size for packaging small items. Due to the smooth surface, they can be super upcycled!

Enjoy the cocoa, get crafting – and bring joy to a favourite person

Of course, the first thing to do is to enjoy the delicious Becks cocoa™ yourself until the tin is empty 😉 Preferably with a good friend, your children or the nice neighbour next door. Then the tin can is ready for upcycling or, more specifically, for reuse in a new way.
In this way, you also do something good, as it doesn’t end up in the bin, but becomes a real highlight as a little packaging!

Upcycling idea for pleasure and botany lovers

The tin cans are great as gifts, filled with homemade snacks or as a planter for plants or herbs.

Of course, there are many more great Becks cocoa™ blends. Besides the ingenious product names like Chill Bill, Sinnerman forte or Choc Orange, the special thing about the 20 drinking chocolates is that they are made with the best cocoa varieties worldwide. Wherever possible, organic quality ingredients from fair trade are used. They are sweetened with cane sugar or coconut blossom sugar. Selected spices and natural flavours make the cocoa specialities a true moment of pleasure. Just give it a try. There are also tasting sets, so you can taste all the Becks cocoa™ specialities 😉

Tin cans become unique gift packaging

When the cocoa is drunk up, the tins get a new purpose – as pretty packaging 🙂

Material:
  • Paint or chalk effect spray
  • Seaweed cord, thicker decorative rope or felt string
  • scrap of kraft paper or cardboard
  • Scrabble letters (available in craft stores or use an old game)
  • Washitape or printed adhesive tape
Tools:
  • Hot glue gun
  • Letter or slogan stamp
  • Black ink pad
  • Scissors
  • Paper glue

Instructions:

  1. Apply a blob of hot glue to one spot on the top rim of the can. (Attention: Do not touch the glue with your fingers).
  2. Fix the cord at this point and wind it tightly around the can. It’s best to unwind it directly from the roll, so that the cord doesn’t run out 😉 Every few rounds, keep pushing it tightly together.
  3. When you have reached the bottom edge of the tin, apply a little hot glue again and glue the last piece of cord in place.
  4. For spraying, take a piece of old newspaper and put it in the can and hold it like this (otherwise you will get spray paint off).
  5. Hold the can in an old cardboard box and spray it from top to bottom at a distance of about 20 cm. Do not stay in one place too long, otherwise you will get paint noses. Very important: spray outdoors, not indoors. Allow to dry well.
  6. Now add a greeting in the form of a tag or a stamped cardboard sign.
  7. Or simply stick on some Scrabble letters or washi tape. There are no limits to your imagination 🙂

Enjoyment balls as a healthy snack – and a tasty gift idea for the tin packaging

As a small gift idea, I have a super delicious recipe for indulgence balls with cocoa, coconut and dates! I always find these sweet balls a good healthy alternative when the cravings for sweets come. It’s quick and easy to make, and it’s a nice gift idea with a treat factor! Are you familiar with these indulgence balls or also called Bliss Balls? I first saw them as breastfeeding balls in a pregnancy book. Bliss balls are small balls, mostly made of nuts and dried fruit. Flaxseed and nut puree are also popular. They can also be made with puffed amaranth, chia or quinoa. You can experiment a lot here. They are healthy and full of nutrients – simply ingenious as a healthy snack for in between meals!

Recipe for indulgence balls with cocoa & coconut

Ingredients:
  • 300 g dates
  • 100 g ground almonds
  • 60 g coconut flakes
  • 40 g drinking chocolate powder
  • 5 g chia seeds
  • For rolling: Coconut flakes
Utensils:

Stand mixer or food processor
Plate

Preparation:
  1. For the dough, put all the ingredients in a mixer and mix until an even dough is formed. The dough should be sticky but not too dry.
  2. Moisten your hands and form about 15 balls. Simply press some of the dough together with your hands.
    Then sprinkle some coconut flakes on a flat plate and roll the balls in it.

The delicious balls are ready!

In an airtight container, they will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Or you can freeze them and then take them out individually as needed. As they defrost quickly, you can just take them to work in the morning or enjoy them as a little afternoon snack at home.

Now I just put the treat balls in sandwich bags and put the bag in the gift box. Turn the tops of the bags slightly outwards.

Alternatively, the tin can also be used as a planter for herbs, mini peppers, houseplants, etc. If the plastic pot of the plant is too big, simply remove the plant carefully and tap off some soil over a newspaper. Fill some gravel or expanded clay into the gift box and press the plant into it. The little gift for a favourite person is ready!

I wish you happy hours,
have fun enjoying cocoa and being creative,
Yours Lena

Text and image:: Lenas Kreativliebe