Satisfying Simple Homemade Gifts!

Well you all asked for it. I have satifying and simple homemade gifts that you can make with in hours instead of days for your friends and family for christmas. I know this out very late in the season. Next year I will be more prepared. I have many many more gift ideas and I will get this site ready and better for next year. But for now here are some great gifts for all those on your list.

These are great gifts for those teens and tweens on your list. Great for both girls and boys!

Bath Bombs / Bath Fizzies

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons citric acid (you can get this at a pharmacy)
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
3 Tablespoons coconut oil (or any other emollient oil like almond, avocado or
apricot kernel oil)
1/4 teaspoon fragrance oil
3-6 drops of food coloring (if desired)
Paper candy cups

Directions:

Place all of the dry ingredients (first 3) into a bowl and mix well.

Place coconut oil into a small glass bowl and add fragrance and food coloring.

Slowly add oil mixture into dry ingredients and mix well. Scoop up small amounts of the mixture and shape into 1" balls.

Let the balls rest on a sheet of waxed paper for about 2 to 3 hours, then place each ball into a candy cup to let dry and harden for 24 to 48 hours.

Store bombs in a closed, air-tight container. To use, drop 1 to 3 bombs into warm bath water.

Polar Fleece Scarf

Directions:

Purchase a 1/4 of a yard to make polar fleece in the fabric department of your local discount store.

Cut up the ends about 2-3 inches up vertically and about 2 inches wide on your sections you cut then just knot each ones end for a fun look.

These gifts are great for everyone on your list. Please enjoy them.


Homemade Bath Salts

Supplies:

1 cup Epsom salts
Measuring cup
2 jars with lids
2 colored of liquid food color
1 pretty 8 oz. jar
A few drops of your favorite perfume
1/2 yard of ribbon, 1/2" to 1" wide

Directions:

1. To make these good smelling bath salts, first measure 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into each jar with a lid.

2. Add 15 drops of food colour to each jar, one colour per jar and put on the lids. Shake the jars until the Epsom salts are dyed evenly.

3.If you want your colours to be darker, add more food colour and shake again. Take off the lids and let the salts dry overnight.

4. Now, make sure your pretty jar is all clean and dry. Then pour the dyed bath salts into the jar, alternating colours (you may want to get colours that go together well).

5. Add a couple of drops of perfume to the bath salts, put on the lid and tie the jar with your pretty ribbon.

Homemade Refrigerator Magnets.

Custom magnets are fun and easy to make. The local craft store (your new best friend when making gifts yourself) will have all the supplies you'll need: magnets, and clear or lightly colored flat circular glass stones. When you get the glass stones home step one is to customize them. You can do this by gluing a photo or scrap of pretty paper with fun designs on it to the flat side. With the stone customized and glue dried attach the magnet to the bottom. The persons most likely to enjoy these are grandparents (use photo of grandkids), tween or teen age girls (use photos of friends, hunky movie stars or funky designs).

Simmering Potpourri

Supplies:

1 oz. can cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces
1 (1.12 oz.) can whole cloves
1 (1.25 oz.) can whole allspice

Directions:Combine all ingredients. Place 1 heaping teaspoon and 1/2 cup of water in simmer pot and heat.

Recycled Desk Set Craft

Recycled Desk Set

Materials Needed:

·         A variety of Household Containers such as Tea Bag Boxes, Cereal Boxes, Frozen Juice Containers

·         Wrapping paper

·         Glue

·         Scissors

Instructions:
First, make certain that the containers are empty and clean. Then decide what household containers would work best for your office supplies. For example, a frozen juice can would make a good pen and pencil holder. A cereal box is the perfect size for holding papers. Smaller boxes, such as a box from tea bags, are good for holding paper clips and other smaller office supplies.

To decorate, place the containers on the wrapping paper. Cut enough wrapping paper to cover the container. Leave enough extra paper to tuck in or fold over the edges into the container. Carefully glue the paper to the container.

Allow plenty of time for the glue to dry before using your new desk organizers.

How to Make a Grocery Bag Holder Out of a Dish Towel

Plastic Grocery Bag Holder Craft

Materials Needed:

·         1 Kitchen Hand Towel (Approximately 16" x 28")

·         1/2" Thick Elastic

·         Ribbon (The Color Should Match the Towel)

·         Scissors

·         Straight Pins

·         Needle and Thread or Sewing Machine

Instructions:
Cut two pieces of elastic, 7" long. Cut a piece of elastic about 5" long.

Lay the hand towel, design side down on your work surface. Start out by pinning one end of a piece of elastic about a 1/2" from one of the short side of the towel and flush with the long side of the towel. Pin the other end of the elastic directly across from the first end, again, about a 1/2" from the short side and flush with the long side of the towel. You have pinned it correctly if you stretch out the elastic and it is a straight line across the edge of the towel. Pin the other piece of elastic in the same fashion on the other end of the towel.

To sew, Stretch the elastic so it lays flat and stitch along the center of the elastic. Sew both sides. Both of the ends of your towel should now gather in as the elastic relaxes.

Fold your towel in half, right sides together, and sew along the long edge to form a tube, leaving about a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Fold the ribbon in half to make a loop. Tack this onto one end of the bag, near the sewn theme, to act as a hanger. You can now hang it up and fill it with plastic bags! You can stuff bags into the top of your holder and pull them out through the bottom.

Recycled Almond Can Organizer Craft

Recycled Almond Can Organizer Craft

Sherri Osborn

Materials Needed:

·         Almond Can

·         Fabric or Fancy Paper

·         Ribbon

·         Decoupage Medium or White Glue

·         Paint Brush

·         Scissors

Instructions:
You can make an organizer using either fancy paper or fabric scraps. Cut or tear the paper or fabric into small pieces, about about 1" x 1". I made the bank pictured here by using scrap fabric and decoupage techniques.

Use decoupage medium to attach the fabric or paper to the entire can. Once the can is covered with fabric, cover it with a thin layer of decoupage medium. Let it dry completely and then cover with another layer of decoupage medium.

Give the can plenty of time to dry. Once dry, cut a piece of ribbon and tie it around the can as a finishing touch. You can also use other items to embellish your almond can organizer, such as buttons, charms, or stickers.

Simple Shaped Soap Bars

Simple Shaped Soap Bars

Materials:

·         Mild Bar of Soap (I prefer Ivory)

·         Warm water

·         Cookie cutters

Instructions:
Grate 1 cup of soap off the bar. Pour it in medium sized mixing bowl.

Start with 1/2 cut of warm water. Pour into the grated soap and knead to mix. Add more warm water, a little at a time, and continue to knead until all soap mixes in and it is the consistency of thick dough. If you want to make colored bars of soap that will be used for displaying only, experiment with mixing food coloring in with the water. If you want to color soap you can use, look for colorant at your craft store.

Once your water and soap is well blended, press mixture into cookies cutters. Set the cookie cutter on it's side so the soap dries on both sides, or flip it often. Put in a dry place to dry for about 24 hours. Gently pop your soap out of the cookie cutter.

More: Instead of using cookie cutters, you can make miniature bars of home-made soap by pressing your mixtures into ice cube trays. You can also roll them into balls.

For a simple gift, tie a ribbon around the home-made bars of soap, or fill a small gift basket!

Tin Can Luminary Craft

Tin Can Luminary Craft

Sherri Osborn

  Materials Needed:

·         Tin Can

·         Plain Paper

·         Pen or Pencil

·         Duct or Masking Tape

·         Nail

·         Hammer

Instructions:
You can use any size can for this project. Wash your can well, removing the label. Measure your can so you know how big of a design to draw. Fill your tin can with water, leaving about an inch of room from the top edge. Put the can of water into the freeze and leave until the water is frozen solid. The luminary will be made by tapping holes into the sides of the can with a hammer and nail, by freezing water in the can it helps the can to keep it's shape with the nail is pounded into it.

While your can is freezing you can plan your design on paper. Using the measurements you took, cut a piece of paper that would fit around your can. Draw out a design on the paper. If you prefer, you can also make up a design as you go.

Once the water in your can is frozen, you are ready to make your luminary. If you drew out a design, tape it around the can. Use the hammer and nail to tape holes into the can and ice. Follow the lines of your design, making sure to leave space between the holes. When your design is complete, remove your pattern and let the ice melt.

Make sure the can is dry. Place a candle into the can and light it. Step back and look at the wonderful design! These tin can luminaries can be used for any special occasion simply by choosing a suitable design. Make them for holidays, birthday parties, graduation, parties, and more.

Dust Pan Cookies

Posted by Cynthia Ewer on August 30, 2010

A sweet and simple gift celebrating friendship, Dust Pan Cookies are easy to make and give.

A free printable gift tag makes it easy to create this "just because" craft.

To make Dustpan Cookies, bake or buy your favorite cookies. Break a few of them, and crush one or two to create cookie crumbs.

Place the cookies and crumbs in a new dustpan, and wrap with clear food storage wrap.

Hint: a few pieces of strategically-placed cellophane tape stretches the food storage wrap to the back to create an attractive gift.

Attach our free printable Dust Pan Cookies gift tag, or create your own tag with this poem:

Please note I and my family wish all of you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and MERRY CHRISTMAS! This wonderful time of year is not one that we should stress at it is one we should relish in the small and great givings of family and friends.