There’s absolutely no reason to go broke buying gifts throughout the year for friends, family and co-workers. Nothing means quite as much as a gift that is made with love and care. Planning ahead and making all your gifts will save you a ton of money and a lot of headaches. Here are some terrific homemade gift ideas that are easy and fun to make:

Dollar Store Gift Baskets: Your everyday dollar store is a gift giving haven. You can make really inexpensive gift baskets using dollar store items. For instance, you can divide sets of fingernail polishes, candles, soaps, etc. or separate multi-pack food items like hot cocoa or crackers to make multiple baskets. Most dollar stores also have a great selection of plastic totes and storage containers that can be used in place of the traditional basket holder.

Bath Salts in a Bottle: Nothing is easier to make than scented bath salts. Just use equal parts of Epsom salt, baking soda and sea salt. Add some scents and pour into craft bottles that have been decorated with ribbons or other embellishments. Make sure to include instructions on how to use. No one should soak in bath salts for more than 20 minutes! It can be very drying otherwise.

Body Mists: Body mists are cooling, refreshing and very popular among the ladies. To make your own, pick up some spray bottles at your local pharmacy, beauty supply or craft store. Sterilize and fill each of them with distilled water. Add your choice of essential oils and you’re ready to give a lavish gift!

Hand Painted Golf Tees: Sometimes coming up with homemade gifts to give the guys can be a challenge. Here’s an easy and great gift to make them. Buy some ordinary golf tees and give them all a custom paint job. Choose neutral or wild colors. Or monogram them with the recipient’s initials.

Decorated Bird Feeders & Houses: You can usually find unpainted and inexpensive bird feeders or bird houses at your local craft store, and in various shops online. Hand paint and decorate any way you choose for a thoughtful gift. You can even package them up with bags of bird seed.

Pen Holders: Ordinary cans make the best pen holders in the world! To make, simply wash and dry empty vegetable or soup cans. Drill small holes on either side near the tops of cans (to tie on handles on later!). Paint them any way you want. When dry, use heavy gauge floral wire to make handles. Decorate with glitter, fabrics, ribbons, craft jewels etc. Tie a raffia bow to the handles and you’re done…practical pen holders, awesome gifts.

By: Kathy Burns-Millyard

About the Author:
© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Kathy is a professionally published freelance writer and photographer who is currently involved in a fascinating adventure of living and working on the road with a simple solar power setup as she travels around the southwestern United States.

Such an unfortunate but catchy name, bath bombs or bath fizzies make a great homemade gift idea because they are one of those luxurious indulgences that people often do not buy for themselves, but love to receive as a gift. They will certainly appreciate them when they realize that they are homemade gifts. You have probably seen them at bath boutiques, but basically bath bombs are balls of baking soda and citric acid that when dropped in water dissolve, effervesce, and releases the scents or other ingredients you put in them. Its kind of like bathing in bathtub full of seltzer water. It can be a soothing and therapeutic experience.

There are a couple of ways to make them. Here is the method based off a tutorial from teachsoap.com:

Ingredients:

Citric Acid… A powder that you can find here at brambleberry.com. You also might be able to find it at a local winemaking/brewing shop.

Baking Soda… Should be easy enough to find, check in your cupboard or refrigerator.

Witch Hazel… You can find this at here at brambleberry.com, otherwise you might find it at your local health food store or pharmacy.

Fragrance or Essential Oil… You can find this at, yep, you guessed it, brambleberry.com, or your local heath food store..

Clear Spherical Molds… There is quite a selection at soapequipment.com. They have molds and bath bomb kits at brambleberry.com but no plain spherical ones. I have also heard of people using ice cube trays.

You can tint them with food coloring, but I think they look fine as is. It’s a matter of preference. If you do use food coloring make sure you only use a few drops per batch, otherwise it might stain someone’s tub.

The process:

It is a bit tricky at first. You might have a bad batch or two in the beginning, or a have few bath bombs that fall apart, but don’t get discouraged, you will get the hang of it..

Thoroughly mix 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of the citric acid. Make sure it is mixed well and there are no lumps. Add your fragrance and color. Fragrances are your preference, but I enjoy essential oils like lavender or peppermint. If you are using food coloring, make sure to only use a few drops. Lightly spray on the witch hazel while mixing. You want to spray enough on so the mixture just starts to stick together. Too much and the mixture will start bubbling and reacting. Just after the mixture starts to stick together, press into the molds. Make sure you squeeze the mold halves together hard. Wait a few minutes, then tap them out of the molds. Let sit a few hours or overnight, and then they’ll be ready for wrapping.

I have also seen some recipes that include epsom salt in the dry mixture, and almond oil to help keep the ball together. Some recipes also include cornstarch, which I personally would advise against, as it has been mentioned that it might irritate a rash or make it worse. There are conflicting views on this, but I leave it out to be safe.

I used clear colored wrapping and raffia ribbon for the presentation of the gift.

They make a great addition to other homemade bath products in a gift basket.



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