[tammych]

I also do a Cookies in a jar recipe. But we put the recipe ingredients in a gallon ziploc. Then we decorate a white paper bag. I use sponge paint but you could do whatever.
We put the gallon bag in the decorated bag with tissue paper. We also make a card with the recipe on one side and a personal note on the other. We use a hole punch and a ribbon to attach. They turn out really nice.
I send a letter home to ask for volunteers to send supplies. Then I give each volunteer an item to send.