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.

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