DENVER -- No more paper plates and plastic wrap. You've gone to the trouble to bake your favorite Christmas cookies to give to family and friends, and they (the cookies, that is!) deserve more! And you know the plastic wrap always slides off the plate, and the cookies get broken -- besides not being very pretty, the old way isn't even practical. Here are some of my favorite ways to package cookies for giving.

Cookie Jar: Save large jars, like the ones salsa or spaghetti sauce come in. Remove labels and glue. (Tip: use either Goo Be Gone, or better yet, any household spray with silicone in it, such as WD40, Pledge, etc. to facilitate easy removal. Simply apply some of the product to the glue, rub in, let sit for a minute and wipe off. Wa-la, or "voila," as some people spell it!) Print a photo of your family on your computer's printer, use a vintage label, or a child's drawing to make a new label for the jar. Attach with double faced tape. Sand jar lid, paint with red or green acrylic craft paint. Perfect for giving small cookies.

The Amazing Cookies in a Bottle Trick: Remove the label from a 1 liter soda bottle by soaking it in hot water. Use an xacto knife to carefully cut the bottle in half around the middle. Cut 2 1" notches on opposite sides of the bottom edge of the top half of the bottle. Lay top of bottle on its side and fill with cookies. Repeat with bottom half of bottle. Slide the two halves together, notched edges of the top half fitting over the edge of the bottom half. Stand up carefully, and tape edges together. Cover taped seam with 1" wide red ribbon. Paint bottle lid red, screw on. Decorate bottle with green polka dots by placing green self stick office dots all over it. Kids of all ages will get a kick out of this one.

Confucious Say You Will Have a Sweet Christmas: Handled Chinese food take-out boxes are available at many paper stores. Fill with cookies, decorate box with press on stars, add a pair of chopsticks painted red and green and a hand written fortune to complete the look.

Eat Dessert First: Buy a canvas lunch bag at the craft store and decorate with scraps of ribbon and trim. Pre pack cookies in a plastic bag before placing in fabric bag. Add a big bow. A great gift for someone who packs a lunch to work or school, as the fabric bag can be re-used.

Cookies and Coffee: Get out the markers and ribbons and let the kids decorate some plain coffee bean bags. Fill with cookies, fold down top. Give with another bag filled with coffee beans. Perfect for small rich cookies, like shortbread or almond crescents, that pair so beautifully with a cup of deep, dark coffee.

Christmas Cookie Time: Buy a small quartz clock mechanism at the craft store and a round patterned cookie tin from the scount store. Use a hammer and awl or large nail to punch a hole about 1" in from the edge on the bottom of the tin. Use the hammer and awl to punch a hole big enough for the shaft of the clock mechanism to fit through in the center of the top of the tin. Follow directions on the clock mechanism's package to insert clock mechanism into top of tin and assemble. Determine where the top of the circle is and use that point to determine where the hours are. At the positions of 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, on the front of the tin, an inch or so in from the edge, glue small wrapped packages from a garland in place to mark these hours. Don't try to do all of the numbers as it will become too busy looking. (At least that's what I think!) Fill with cookies and attach small plastic envelope or bag with a note and a battery for the clock. When empty, the clock can be hung (from the hole in the back) as part of the holiday decor.