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When it’s holiday shopping crunch time and you’re a DIY enthusiast, here are some easy homemade holiday gifts for the cool people on your list. With a few simple ingredients, you can create thoughtful and memorable gifts that the recipient will actually use. So without further ado, let’s get started!
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DIY Bath Sachets
For the person on your list who needs a little pampering and self-care, such as moms, caretakers, and people in need of a break. These relaxing homemade bath sachets are a breeze to make, simple to use, and zero mess to clean up afterward. Made with roses, chamomile, and lavender that are not only soothing to the nerves, they also boost the immune system and tone the skin.
Prep time: 30 minutes
You will need:
- Some muslin cloth bags (5 to 10)
- A handful each chamomile, lavender, and rose petals
- Optional: 5 drops lavender essential oil
Blend the chamomile, lavender, and rose petals in a large glass mixing bowl. If you’re adding lavender essential oil, sprinkle in the drops and mix again.
Once the flowers are mixed, fill each muslin bag with the fragrant blend, and tie shut.
To use, simply pop a bag into the tub while it fills with hot water. Leave the bag in the water as you soak. You can use the bag as a gentle exfoliating washcloth as you soak in what is now a tub full of relaxing tea.
Optional additions for this person: a tumbled amethyst crystal, and some peace-inducing Daily Calm tea.
Herbal Energy Tonic Wine
For the person on your list who has everything, and is also an adventurous wine-loving foodie, this energy tonic wine contains 2 of the world's most loved tonic herbs: jiaogulan and he shou wu. The jiaogulan adds a sweet flavor, and provide powerful protection from the negative effects if stress. He shou wu is a Chinese tonic herb that’s famous for building energy, flexibility, vigor, and youthfulness. It will add a complementary rich flavor to the wine. (He shou wu is also great for your hair!)
Prep time: 20 minutes
You will need:
- A bottle of your favorite red wine
- 1 ounce he shou wu
- 1/2 ounce jiaogulan
- A pretty bottle and labels for the finished product
To make, simply place the half of the schizandra and the he shou wu into the wine bottle. There will be a little displacement until the herbs absorb some of the liquid over the next 24 hours. If there is still room in the bottle, add the remaining herbs. If not, save it to make a second bottle for yourself. Recork the bottle and give it a good shake. Make a little card to accompany this special wine, telling the recipient about the amazing benefits of this potion. Include the tips to strain the herbs out within 2 weeks, and enjoy half a glass several times a week.
Optional additional gifts for this person: natural herbal incense, and some rich puehr tea.
Herbal Cocktail Bitters
This gift is perfect for the person on your gift list with the amazing mustache and vintage newsboy cap, or anyone who loves a good craft cocktail. Brothers, dads, and crafty people of all persuasions will love a bottle of cocktail bitters that you made just for them. Cocktail bitters are made from fragrant botanicals and create a flavorful addition to countless cocktail recipes. This is a very basic bitters recipe and is completely customizable to suit your taste.
Prep time: 20 minutes
You will need:
- A pint bottle of your favorite vodka
- A pint Fido jar with a clamp lid
- A tablespoon-ish of each of these herbal ingredients: cardamom pods, gentian root, mugwort, damiana
- The outer peel of a fresh organic orange, cut into strips (you can also use lemon, lime or grapefruit)
- Optional: throw in a pinch or two of other flavorful add-ins from your kitchen like a cinnamon stick, some fresh ginger root, or a few allspice berries
- Cool glass bottles to package your finished product (optional)
Place all of the ingredients into the jar, close the lid, and give it a vigorous shake. Label the jar with the ingredients you used and the date you made it. The botanicals can be strained out anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks.
You can store the finished bitters in the mason jar or choose a cool looking blue glass bottle with a vintage swing-top lid like these.
Ultimate craft-style finish: write the label in bold black ink on a square of brown paper (from a paper shopping bag) and attach to the bottle or jar with jute twine.
Optional additional gifts for this person: a collection of interesting and flavorful botanicals like lavender, hawthorn berries, pink peppercorns, elder flowers, and roasted dandelion root.
A Homemade Moisturizing Facial Scrub
For the person on your list obsessed with natural beauty, or who will appreciate an invigorating, beautifying, age-defying facial product. Chemical-free and literally edible, the ingredients in this facial scrub are moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-aging, and will definitely give the user amazing results. It's made with organic ingredients, and you will have many of these in your home already.
Prep time: 30 minutes
You will need:
- A small 4 ounce glass jar with a wide mouth
- 3 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
- 1 tablespoon each lavender flowers, calendula petals
- 1 teaspoon amla powder (very high in vitamin C and antioxidants)
- Raw honey (vegans can substitute coconut nectar)
Grind the lavender and calendula to as fine of a powder as possible in a coffee grinder or a high powered blender like a NutriBullet or Vitamix. (I have a NutriBullet Pro and use it just about every day.)
Next, grind the sunflower seeds to a fine powder. (You do not want the sunflower seeds to be chunky at all.) Blend everything together with the amla powder. Slowly add enough raw honey or coconut nectar to make a thick paste and stir until completely blended.
Fill the jar with this lovely moisturizing and exfoliating mixture. (You can get a set of 25 cute 4 oz. mason jars right here.)
Make a label or attach a card with these simple instructions:
- Wash your face with warm water, and secure your hair away from your face.
- Apply a dollop of the facial scrub to your face
- In a circular motion, gently massage your face until you feel a tingling glow.
- You can either leave the paste on for 10 minutes as a moisturizing masque, or just rinse with cool water.
Optional extras for this person include a rose quartz crystal for self love, and some Love My Hair tea for glowing skin and healthy hair.
Happy DIY'ing!