Handmade Gift Ideas Part 1 – Bath And Body
Stuck for a Chrissy gift idea? On a budget? Why not make your own Christmas gifts. I’ve put together a series of articles with ideas and inspiration to help get you started.
There is nothing more special than a gift handcrafted with love. Rather than just buying whatever, something at the last minute that is mass-produced and anonymous, you’ve spent time and effort in making a thoughtful and personal gift that should mean so much more to the recipient.
Some of these gift ideas require some handmade skill, others involve buying select products that have the recipient in mind and putting them together in a unique and attractive way.
While there are thousands of patterns, recipes and tutorials on the web, I’ve selected just a few as a starter.
These are some of the easier personal care products to make. The key making a great gift is the packaging and presentation. Nice jars, either recycled (coffee jars work well) or cheap jars or pump packs from the $2 shop and ribbons and wrapping will make attractive, professional looking gifts for less. Bath Products are great to make up as a hamper with a face washer (hand embroidered?) or loafer or towel on a soap dish or plate. Most of the ingredients can be bought at the chemist or health food shop, or you could try online soap suppliers.
Homemade Bath Salts
Make your own bath salts @ Home Made Simple
Bath Salts @ Sydney Essential Oil Company
Recipes @ The San Francisco Bath Salt Company
More recipes @ Witty Living
Bath Bombs
Bath Bomb Tutorial @ Not Martha
Another Tut with recipes @ Teach Soap
Moulded Bath Bombs @ Better Homes and Gardens
More Ideas @ Blisstree
Cold Pressed Soap
Cold Pressed Soap Tutorial @ Down To Earth
Soap Information @ Teach Soap
Soap Info @ Soap Making Forum
Recipes @ Aussie Soap Supplies
Melt and Pour Soap
Grass Soap @ Martha Stewart
How to Make @ Soap Making Forum
Ideas on Using Soap Flakes @ Craftbits
Shaped Soaps @ Martha Stewart
Herbal Tea Soap @ Cathie Filian
Body Butter
Body Butter recipe @ Frugal and Thriving
Mango Body Butter @ Ponte Vedra Soap Shoppe
How to @ Flowing Waters
Lip Balm
Homemade Lip Balm @ Green Bee
Recipes @ Beauty and the Bath
DIY Lip Balm @ Martha Stewart
Making Lip Balm @ Not Martha
Shower Gel
Shower Gel Recipes @ Natural Beauty
Shower Gel from Handmade Soap @ AquaSapone
Another Recipe @ Ehow
Moisturising
Moisturising Oil @ Natural Beauty
Easy Moisturising Recipes @ Associated Content
Aromatic Bath Oil @ Better Homes and Gardens
Easy Moisturiser @ Care2
Garden Lotion Bar @ Cathie Filian
Scrubs
Lavender Sea Salt Scrub @ Firefly Hill Style
Body Scrub @ Martha Stewart
Facial Scrubs @ EHow
Recipes @ Homemade Gifts Made Easy
Caramel Body Polish @ Crafty Chica
Masks
DIY Purifying Green Tea Mask @ The Mama Dramalogues
Ultimate mask mix @ Homemade Spa Gifts
Simple Clay Mask @ Aromantic
Recipes @ Essential Oil Recipes
Note: Mix the dry ingredients only and include instructions on mixing with liquid to form the mask. This prevents it from going off. You could include the nice smelling water to go with the mask and instructions for mixing.
Tomorrow I’ll post some links for making easy accessories.
Have you read these posts?
- Handmade Gift Ideas Part 4 – Food Gifts
- Handmade Gift Ideas Part 2 – Home and Garden
- Handmade Gift Ideas Part 3 – Accessories
- handmade valentine gift ideas
- Handmade Gifts Part 5 – Hampers and Gift Wrapping
SAVE MONEY AND TIME ON THE GROCERIES
Another handmade gift idea which I make every year are fruit cakes and gingerbread.
I make cupcake sized fruit cakes and Christmas tree shaped gingerbread, I decorate them and wrap them in cellophane to give as gifts.
Everyone really enjoys them and it has become a bit of a christmas tradition.
Another great thing is they last for weeks after. We are often eating them well into the new year!
I love the idea of cupcake sized fruit cakes.
Great collection of ideas! We like to do homemade every Christmas to keep the spirit of the season from being ruined by all the commercialism. I’ll be back to see the other lists you compile.
I clicked on the link that showed up after your comment on Simple Mom’s post about natural deodorant.
Glad to hear from you. I know what you mean by the commercialism. Working in a department store (the Christmas shop and toys no less) for six years really put me off Xmas. This is the first year I’ve really wanted to celebrate it properly again.