Lots of great ideas!! Now I have some ideas for the next couple Christmases
I think this year I am going to go with a mug rug and a mug filled with cocoa fixings, and/or maybe a small bag of coffee. The trouble is, now my head is about to explode with about a billion different mug rug options! I have been googling and searching pinterest for a couple days, as well as thinking about various blocks I could miniaturize or appliqué/embroidery designs I could use.
I honestly don't get the whole pillow case thing. Always just seemed odd to make pillow cases to me for some reason. However, after hearing all your suggestions I did pick up material to make one for my teenaged cousin. She loves sea turtles, and I saw a cool pillow case kit with an appliquéd sea turtle (using the Honu Sea Turtle pattern by Lisa Carter). I loved bright greens and blues in the fabric kit, so I picked it up.