My Favorite DIY Products to Give as Gifts

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. ~Winston S. Churchill

I really enjoy giving to others.  Nothing extravagant (because my budget doesn’t really allow for it!) but just a little something to let my friends and family know that I appreciate them and am thankful to have them in my life! I listen to a girlfriend when she is overwhelmed with feelings of not being appreciated, and drop off a mason jar with hydrangeas and a bottle of wine.  Or cookies for my neighbor who plowed my sidewalk in the winter for me without being asked.  Or a note in my kids lunchbox to let them know that I’m thinking about them during the day.  I think those little things can make a difference and encourage others to keep their chin up! In this post, I’ll share some of those ideas with you and my favorite DIY gifts as well!

Some of these recipes are not things that I made up on my own, but rather are ones that I found and have tried from my favorite DIY bloggers! The links to their full articles are included in this post.  but of course gifts mean more with a personal flare! Feel free to add your favorite essential oils or use colored containers etc! Ribbon is also perfect to have on hand for that additional thoughtful touch.

Fresh-cut Flowers in a Mason Jar 

I love having flowers in my yard.  It makes it so easy to cut a few blooms and put them in a mason jar with a pretty ribbon and a note! This is an easy way to brighten someone’s day without costing much money. I like to buy my jars in bulk and have them on hand.  I even can find great glass containers at my local Goodwill and Salvation army! Or even at local garage sales.  I keep everything organized in a storage bin marked “gifts.”

Bath bombs

Mix and mold this mixture and allow it to dry for 24 hours before packing into gift boxes. I like to put them into a mason jar or sealed container and tie with a ribbon as a gift. For inexpensive plastic molds, make sure your use them very gently because they tend to crack.  I like my silicon molds but have even purchased a full stainless steel mold kit as a gift. Here are 2 recipe ideas below.

De-stress Bath Bomb

Scented Hand Cream

This is a nice moisturizer than can be added to a gift or card. I will often mix up one full batch and distribute into small containers that seal well to give as a little gift.

You Will Need

• ½ cup shea butter
• 2 tablespoons almond oil
• 5 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil
• 3 drops carrot seed essential oil

Method

1. Melt the shea butter in a double boiler. Add almond oil after it melts and turn the burner off.
2. Let the mixture cool (but do not let it solidify) and then add the essential oils.
3. Whip the mixture well. You can use a whisker or blend it in a mixer (for a few seconds).
4. Scoop out the creamy mixture into a glass jar. Store it at room temperature.
5. Massage the cream on your body and face.

Why This Works

The essential oils protect your skin cells. All these oils have antiseptic properties that heal infections and prevent skin damage and rashes caused by excessive dryness. Shea butter and almond oil keep your skin moisturized and nourished.

Scented Foaming Hand Soap

1. Fill the bottle with about 1/2 inch of liquid hand soap
2. Add approximately 20 drops of essential oil {I used grapefruit for the kitchen and lavender for the bathrooms}
3. Fill with water just to the bottom of the ‘pump’
4. Shake gently to combine

“Sleep Tight” Natural pillow spray with Essential Oils 

I have come to realize how important sleep is to our health and recovery! You can read my post about sleep here, but this is an easy and lovely pillow spray to make and give as a gift!

Exfoliating Sea Salt Scrub

This looks really pretty in a clear glass jar with a decorative label!

• 1 cup coarse sea salt
• 1/2 cup liquid coconut oil
• 5 to 7 drops grapefruit essential oil
• Dry measuring cups
• 10-ounce glass container (I used a Weck canning jar)
• Fork

Method & Use

1. Gather your supplies: You’ll need 1 cup coarse sea salt, 1/2 cup liquid coconut oil, 5 to 7 drops of grapefruit essential oil, and a 10-ounce glass container.
2. Add the salt: Pour 1 cup of salt into the empty glass container.
3. Add the oil: Pour 1/2 cup of coconut oil over the salt.
4. Add essential oil: Add 5 to 7 drops of grapefruit essential oil to mixture.
5. Stir the mixture: Stir all the ingredients until they’re well combined.
6. Close the jar: Seal the jar and affix a label or gift tag to the top if you’re giving it away.

Notes

• Use scrub sparingly — about once or twice a week — by spooning a small amount into your hands, gently rubbing it in, rinsing it off with warm water, and drying your hands thoroughly.
• I tried (and failed) to wrap both ribbon and twine around this jar. (It was so slippery!) To save your sanity, just affix a label, tag, or bow to the top of the jar.

Chamomile Lavender Body Wash

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil
1/4 cup raw honey
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1 cup liquid Castile soap
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops chamomile essential oil
1 8-ounce bottle

Method & Use:

Chocolate Salted-Caramel Pretzel Bark

Ingredients:

• 8oz mini pretzels or pretzel sticks
• 1c butter
• 1c light brown sugar
• 2c melting chocolate (milk or dark chocolate)
• Sea Salt to taste

Methods and Use:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 11×17-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

1. 1. Spread pretzels onto the prepared baking sheet.

1. 1. Combine butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture is thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Pour mixture over pretzels.

1. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips over pretzel mixture. Bake for 1 minute more. Stir mixture to evenly spread chocolate over pretzels. Lightly sprinkle salt over pretzels. Cool until set, 2 to 3 hours. Break into pieces.

A Bottle of Wine with Ribbon Tied Around it

I buy wines in bulk at a discount from Groupon and keep a stash in my pantry for gifts, parties, or holidays!

I hope this gave you a good starting point for gift-giving ideas! You don’t have to wait until a birthday or holiday to make someone feel special.  Keep a few supplies on hand, make things in advance, keep everything organized, and look for excuses to brighten someone’s day! Gift-giving makes you feel just as good as the person receiving it. I’d love to hear your ideas for gift-giving as well so please comment below! ♥

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. ~Winston S. Churchill