So this year I have decided to only give homemade gifts and not only save some of that money that seems to be burning a hole in my pocket for my snowboard trips this season, but also put some TLC into the gift giving experience. 'Cuz isn't putting some thought and love into gift giving really what the holiday is all about?
Here are some of the easy DIY gift ideas that I will be creating this year....
Body Scrubs
Holiday Sugar Scrub
What you'll need:
1 cup – demerara, turbinado, or organic granulated sugar (unbleached)
1 cup – light olive oil or grape seed oil
4-5 drops vitamin E oil or sweet almond oil
5 or 6 drops – of peppermint or hazelnut essential oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
I like to use a blend of both turbinado and organic raw sugar.
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Using a spatula, transfer mix into the container and secure lid. Contents will settle, mix before using. Try to mix it up with any of your favorite essential oils. Some of my favorites are: jojoba, sandalwood, cedarwood, lavendar, jasmine, rosewood, rosemary, chamomile and hazelnut.
- Sugar acts as an exfoliant.
- Sweet almond oil softens the skin and adds moisture.
- DO NOT use cinnamon, as it can burn and exacerbate skin.
- You'll want the oil to cover just above the sugar mixture. Portion size will depend on jar size.
Strawberry Exfoliating Facial Scrub
The strawberry exfoliating scrub smells sweet and exfoliates dry, flaky skin. Strawberries are also rich in salicylic acid and will help prevent breakouts.
What you'll need:
4 pureed strawberries
1 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP vegetable oil
4 TBSP of sugar
Mix all the ingredients. Put it in a unique jar - try a craft store and tie with a festive bow. Attach recipe and add a personalized touch!
Bath salts (not the drug that makes people turn into cannibals)
What lady doesn't love taking a nice relaxing bath!? These bath salts are so easy to make, make great gifts for any one and they are festive too!
- Salt of your choosing, but a good choice can be a mixture of sea and epsom salt. An alternative salt combination that is a good choice is half turbinado sugar and half fine raw sugar.
- For a perfect stocking stuffer size, use gift basket strength saran wrap and a cute ribbon to conceal your bath salt creation.
This recipe is SO easy:
- Begin by mixing salts together in a bowl
- Add a drop or two of your essential oils and mix it up getting rid of any clumps
- Add natural food grade dye, mixing it in and adding until you get your desired hue (don't use too much dye unless you want to stain someones bathtub, a tiny bit goes a long way!)
- Funnel salts into the jars and seal them, adding personalized labels listing ingredients!
And VOILA! Super easy!
Green Tea Toner
Green tea and witch hazel will tone the skin while grapefruit acid helps to boost collagen production.
What you'll need:
1. 2 green tea bags steeped in 1 cup water and cooled.
2. 1/4 cup witch hazel
3. Juice of 1/2 of a red grapefruit
Steep the tea bags in the water and let cool. Remove the teabags. Add the witch hazel and the grapefruit juice to the tea water. Transfer the liquid to a spritz bottle and personalize the bottle!
Raspberry Infused Vodka
What you'll need:
3 cups vodka - 750 ml bottle of vodka
18 ounces raspberries, crushed
18 ounces raspberries, crushed
Directions:
In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vodka with the raspberries. Close the jar tightly and let stand at room temperature for 2 weeks. Strain the vodka through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids. Strain the vodka a second time through a coffee filter into a clean jar and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
That's awesome Lisa
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