homemade bath gifts

homemade bath gifts

  I made a bunch of these as Christmas gifts.  They are fun to make- you can experiment with the scents, colors, shapes etc.  The materials are cheap, you can make a lot at once, and I think people really appreciate them because they are homemade. 

 soap

 

 green soap- rose scented olive oil soap, with strawberry seeds
blue soap- rose scented shea butter soap, with irish oatmeal
white soap- shea butter soap, with honey and oatmeal

Materials:

• Soap base
• You can buy soap base at most craft stores.  They come in several different types.  I used olive oil soap and shea butter soap (partially because the olive oil soap is transparent and the shea butter soap is white, so I could get different colors).
• Honey
• Oatmeal

• I used Irish oatmeal, because I think it has a more interesting shape ->

   

  

• Containers/ Molds

• I used yogurt cups and larger Greek yogurt cups. When choosing yogurt cups, compare the bottoms to find nicely shaped ones. (These are the easiest molds because they are cheap, great sizes, flimsy and easy to remove the soaps from, can be cut if necessary, and you get to eat the yogurt before you use them!) 
• I also used fun shaped ice cube trays. Cheap ones can be purchased at Ikea (I would recommend buying some to use only for soaps/crafts and never for ice)  Also, when deciding on shapes, you want to make sure it won't have weak/thin parts that may break easily (I had fish shaped ones that kept breaking where the body meets the fin).
• Keep your eye out for interesting containers around the house.  I used a plastic container that held apples.  It had 12 half spheres, which made the light blue soaps above.
• I try to use several different shapes and sizes. 
• Essential Oils 
• I used lavender, rose and peppermint
• Strawberry seeds
• These add a cool texture, give a little exfoliating power, and look really interesting.
• They can be purchased at craft stores (they also have other interesting things to add to soaps)
• Food Coloring
• Other materials you could use (explore your pantry):
• Ginger
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Chamomile tea

Mixing and Pouring the soaps:

• Follow the direction on the soap packages for melting.  Be careful, because the soaps can get very hot and will stick to your skin if you spill.  I melted the soaps in a glass cup in the microwave, mixed in the colors, scents and oatmeal or seeds, and then poured immediately into the molds (I sprayed the molds with cooking spray VERY lightly.
• The soaps will set up fairly quickly, but I gave then a couple hours just to be safe.
• They should pop right out of the molds.

Have fun with combining different scents and colors.  

Striped soaps can be created by making different colors, pouring in layers and letting the soap set up before each new layer. 

scented body scrubs

These scrubs exfoliate and moisturize. They are extremely easy to make! 

How they are used:

        A small amount is spooned out and rubbed on the hands.  Rise the salt/sugar off and pat the extra water off.  Then rub in the left over oil. 

Materials:

• 2 cups Raw Sugar, Epsom salts, or Kosher salt 
• (all have larger crystals than normal salt and sugar)
• 1 cup carrier oil 
• I used almond oil, because it has a very light smell (this can be purchased at GNC)
• 12 drops essential oil
• These can be purchased at GNC, or a craft store (cheaper).
• 3 drops food coloring
• You want them to be just lightly colored (otherwise they might dye your hands)
• Jars
• Ikea has tons of cute/cheap options

Directions: 

• Mix salt or sugar with the carrier oil first!
• Then add essential oils and food coloring and mix until color is even throughout
• Spoon into jars

You can also find small wooden spoons to include as scoopers.

I like to print out labels with instructions and tie them on.

bath salts

These bath salts add a very refreshing scent to a bath.  They are very easy to make and are nice to have around the house when you need to relax in a hot bath.

Materials: 

• 1 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 8 drops food coloring
• 15 drops essential oils 
• You can also add 1/2 cup citric acid to make the salt fizz when it's added to water. 

Simply mix all the ingredients together and place into a cute jar.

Once again you can print labels with instructions.

These are great, because people can use as little or as much as they would like to vary the strength of the smells.

There are also great scents for men! These include cedarwood, eucalyptus, pine, fir needle, etc.  Check Puritans Pride Essential Oils

 for a great list. 

A description of essential oils and carrier oils, as well as label clip art that can be used for labeling you homemade bath gifts can be found at MarthaStewart.com

GNC also carries essential oils and carrier oils.

Weck Home Canning Products has really nice jars and containers for your gifts.

Ikea also has cute containers that are priced really well.

vintage flower pics

vintage flower pictures

I LOVE these pictures from The Botanical Register: Consisting of Coloured Figures of Exotic Plants, Cultivated in British Gardens, with Their History and Mode of Treatment (I also love the name).  The entire Botanical Register can be viewed on Google Books, with great quality pictures. 

 

I want to use these pictures as a design for a quilt someday, but I don't have the time to start a huge project like that right now.  

 

They would also be great for other crafts:  

Decoupage Boxes- Martha Stewart's how to

Decoupage Votives- Martha Stewart's how to

Decorative Glass Coasters- Martha Stewart's how to

Decoupage Furniture- Martha Stewart's how to

Covering cork boards or magnet boards etc.

 

Here are some of my favorite pictures, but there are many more at the link above.  

 

 

 

 

jewelry wrap

 jewelry wrap

  

I made this jewelry wrap for a friend.  She always had a hard time keeping all her amazing jewelry untangled.  I also had a difficult time finding a cute one in a store... So I made one! These are great for protecting jewelry while traveling.

Special thanks to  Chris Luther for the amazing pictures!

 This was created somewhat like a quilt.  All pockets were sewn to the inside fabric, then laid onto batting and the outside fabric.  The last step was to finish the edges with binding.

   

Step one:  Design your jewelry roll.

•  Decide how big you want it to be and what kinds of pockets you want and where you want to put them.
• Remember to add a quarter inch for seam allowance when you are planning. Also, the entire border should have an extra quarter inch for the binding.   

  Step Two: Cut your fabrics.

• I tried to choose fabrics that not only looked good together, but that would also not get dirty very easily.
• I had three different fabrics 
• Black and White (outside and binding)
• Pink and White (inside and pockets)
• Teal and White (inside of the pockets)
• Lining the pockets is not necessary, but I wanted it to look completely finished.  You could also use batting or flannel to line the pockets since they are very soft.   

    Step Three: Sew Pockets

• The easiest pocket is made by just sewing two fabrics together (right sides together) in a square, leaving a small opening to turn.  Turn the fabrics right side out.  Use a pencil to carefully poke out the corners.  Tuck in the fabrics where the hole is that was used to turn, press.  Sew this on (sew only the sides and the bottom).  This works well, but some things may try to slide out.  When the entire wrap is closed they should be fine.

  Several of these can be made at once by doing a longer slip like this and just separate the pockets with stitching.

 

• Pockets can be given closer flaps by stitching two fabrics together and turning like in the above pocket.  But this time the open edge gets slid behind the pocket and the other end is folded over the pocket (I stitched on snaps to hold the flap closed). 

• Zippers can also be added to pockets.  If using a zipper, it is much easier to sew the zipper in between two smaller pieces of fabric and then sew into a pocket.  When you purchase a zipper it will have instructions (they are not as difficult as they seem at first).
• I stitched the smaller edges of the zipper to tiny pieces of fabric first.  Then the three rows (see below- top row of fabric, middle row includes zipper sandwiched between small pieces of fabric, and bottom row of fabric.

• I also added a ring holder.  I sewed a long strip (right sides together and then turned like the pockets above). Sew one part of snap to finished end, and the other part to the inside fabric.  Stuff fluffy batting into the long tube (enough to fit your rings snuggly, but be careful to not add too much bulk).  This will be attached to the wrap by pinning it to the edge and placing the binding over it when the binding is sewn. 

 Step Four: Attach binding

• To make sure the binding looked perfect I did it a little differently than you would normally do for a quilt.  I cut long slips of fabric and folded both sides into the middle (wrong sides together).  

• I then measured and folded the binding over each side evenly and stitched. Start at the bottom, but not in a corner.

•  When you go all the way around and the bindings meet, fold the raw edges under on both sides, overlap them slightly and finish sewing the binding on. 

 Step Five: Attach Closers

• I used magnetic closers.  These are extremely easy to use- slits are cut in the fabric, the metal prongs are placed through the slip and then flattened and separated.  The bottom closer was hidden behind a pocket.  The front closure was hidden by gluing a decorative button onto it. 

I also used Scotch Guard on the entire wrap to keep it clean longer.  Many of the seams were stitched twice to make sure they are very strong.  

 

The design I made is much more complicated then it has to be.   You can make it extremely simple by only using simple pockets and wrapping a pretty ribbon around it as a closer.  Instead of binding, the edges can be finished by sewing the layers together (right sides together) and then turning them and closing the hole. The batting can also be omitted, but I like to include it as extra protection for the jewelry.

tie dye onsies

onsies

My sisters and I tie-dyed these onsies.  Both the tie-dye kit and the onsies can be purchased at any craft store.  The onsies are a great gift for a new mom.  They are quick, cheap and fun.  They are much cuter than any onsies you can buy!




To make the different designs bunch, twist, and wrap the onsies in different ways and then cinch them with rubber bands.  Make sure you wrap the rubber bands really tightly!


Make sure you set up a good area to do the dying.  Doing it outside (in grass) is always good.  Or you can lay down some trash bags and be very careful! 

Most dyes come as powders in squirt bottles that just need water.  The kits will come with rubber bands, but it's always good to buy some extra and some stronger/bigger ones.

Start with all the onsies laid out flat.  Some fabrics you dye may call for them to be washed before any dying.  

To get the super bright colors you need to apply a lot of dye.  Do it until you think you have too much and then give it a couple more good squirts! Remember that the colors will mix very easily, so be careful. 

This one was created by randomly bunching parts.  Pinch a piece and pick up the fabric, then place the rubber band about an inch from your fingers.

To make this one start at any point that you want to be the middle of the target design and pinch the fabric there.  Pull the entire piece up and place rubber bands every couple of inches along the onsie.

To make this one stick a fork where you want the center to be.  Start twisting the fabric.  Use your hands to keep the fabric tight (it will end up like a little round disk).  Then wrap a couple rubber bands around the disk, mostly to keep it together.

To make this design start at one side of the fabric and bunch it tightly to the other side.  Once it is one long piece, place rubber bands every couple of inches. 




Fabric can also be hung in a cup of dye and left to slowly soak it up for a cool faded effect.

School glue can be used as a dye resister.  Write or make designs on the fabric, let the glue dry, then dye.  When you wash the fabric the glue will come out.  The fabric most likely won't be white, but you will be able to see the design.

The most fun part is experimenting with designs and having to wait to see how they turn out.

Each kit will have a specific time for allowing the dye to set.  The fabric should be covered so it doesn't dry.  When they are ready, cut the rubber bands off and rinse the onsies very well.  Wash and dry.  Enjoy!