Three-dimensional, white paper star with small, celestial-shaped cutouts, hung in front of a lit backdrop.
What do the holidays mean to you?
iilo is a values-based creative services agency in Western Canada, so for our team, the holidays often mean staying warm with loved ones when the weather outside is frightful.
As a business, we take an annual one-week break at the end of each year so our team can rest and recharge, and many folks also take additional vacation time. However, our mission to amplify social and environmental initiatives continues, and we prioritize sustainability and impact while celebrating the holidays!
We collected some holiday ideas from our team that’ll bring joy to both people and the planet.
Brighten your holidays with low-waste decorations
Reduce waste and save money by using what you already have to decorate and wrap presents! Search your drawers and closets for items that you no longer use. Single earrings and shiny necklaces make excellent Christmas tree ornaments. Meanwhile, colourful scarves and old calendars can be reused to wrap gifts.
Have a stash of old greeting cards? Follow iilo marketing strategist Hannah McCormick’s lead! She and her sister started a family tradition of creating greeting card stars, which they continue to do two decades later!
Upcycle greeting cards into a star decoration
Download this five-point star template to create a greeting card star decoration.
Trace the template on a greeting card and cut out the star shape.
Optional steps: Glue wrapping paper or an upcycled paper bag to the non-decorated side of the star. Record dates and memories on the star.
Fold the star into a three-dimensional shape by following the lines on the template.
Fold along the solid grey lines so the decorated side (i.e. the original front of the greetings card) is on the outside of the fold.
Fold along the dashed grey lines so the decorated side is on the inside of the fold.
Attach a string or ribbon to the folded star.
Hang your star wherever you’d like and enjoy it for years to come!
Buy gifts that give back
Support local businesses
Did you know that buying from local, independent businesses directly supports your community? Based on research by LOCO BC, BC businesses re-circulate $63 back into our local economy for every $100 you spend (compared to $14 for multinational corporations).
Local businesses strengthen our social fabric by:
Providing great jobs
Supporting local suppliers
Keeping money circulating in the community
Donating to local causes
Support Indigenous-owned businesses
When you buy from Indigenous-owned businesses, you’re also helping to promote Indigenous economic prosperity and preserve Indigenous cultural heritage.
Here are some of our team’s picks for Indigenous-owned businesses that offer wonderful gift ideas:
Indigenous Box is a direct-to-consumer and business-to-business social impact gifting service and retailer. They partner with hundreds of Indigenous entrepreneurs, linking them with thousands of customers who are hungry for connection and care about reconciliation.
West Coast Wildflowers is an Indigenous woman-owned and operated e-commerce shop with a retail store located on the traditional territory of the Ligwiłda’xw Peoples on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. They offer local and high-quality products for women and children including apparel, jewellery, home decor, artwork, and more!
Support charitable initiatives
Imagine that your holiday gift has the power to positively impact a stranger’s life. Buying a fundraising calendar can do just that.
“I love to give fundraising calendars, specifically those made by the collective that I’m part of — Ink & Moon! We’re a group of women who come together annually to create a fundraising calendar, and we donate all proceeds to a cause that’s close to our hearts. This year’s funds are being sent to Anera, one of the few organizations on the ground in Palestine and Lebanon providing food, water, medicine, and hygiene kits.” — Keiko Lee-Hem, graphic designer & illustrator
Want more ideas for gifts that give back? Gifts for Good (also a women-owned, Certified B Corp, like iilo) makes impact gifting easy. They’ve curated hundreds of premium corporate and personal gifts that support the work of non-profits and social enterprises around the globe. You can even let recipients pick their gifts or give to a charity, which is a perfect way to thank clients or employees at the end of the year!
Show love by sharing goodies
Nothing says love like a tasty treat! iilo co-owner, Lisa Hemingway, loves to share sweets with her neighbours, and Nanaimo bars always go in the tin!
“If you’re travelling, Nanaimo bars make a great bring-along gift — just freeze them ahead of time. The crumbs from the edges of the pan are also yummy in ice cream, and they don’t usually last long in my home.” — Lisa Hemingway, iilo co-owner
The holidays can be a busy time, so don’t be shy about asking for help. Potluck meals and treat swaps are convenient ways to enjoy a variety of goodies.
A treat swap is when you gather a group of friends to share holiday treats. Each person makes a large batch of one recipe and brings their creations to a meeting place. After swapping, everyone leaves with a variety of goodies to enjoy!
Enjoy our gift to you
Since iilo is a full-service creative agency, our annual tradition of “sharing a goodie” is to share a holiday graphic that you, as an individual or organization, are free to reuse.
This year, we hired long-time iilo collaborator Trina M’Lot (graphic designer & illustrator) to design a graphic inspired by our desire to rest over the holidays.
We hope you’ll unwind into a joy-filled and peaceful season.
Feel free to download and share this custom holiday illustration designed by Trina M’Lot, Blue Yonder Creative!
