Giving is good for the soul…
And giving something homemade can be not only meaningful, but also budget-friendly! I can’t wait to share these easy homemade gifts with you!
Trust me when I say these are SO easy, you could whip ’em up in minutes! Sure, it’ll take a bit of planning as you gather your supplies, but when you put them all together in their cute little packaging, it’ll make you feel all warm and homemade-y inside. Which is what we want, right?
Only $2? Are you being serious, lady?
You bet your frugal fanny I am! The best thing about making these homemade gifts is that you’ll be able to make a large batch and really save some pennies in the long run.
Just think of all the opportunities you can share these gifts!
- Holiday gifts for family, friends, teachers, your child’s friends, bus driver, postal worker, coaches, etc…
- Gifts for make n’ take parties for kids & adults
- Baby showers, spa parties, bunco night, etc.
- Class projects, kid’s store or shop.
- Valentine’s, Easter, or end of school year gifts
A Word about using Quality Products
I’ve seen a lot of recipes for homemade sugar scrub with food coloring or body sprays with artificial fragrances. Now that’s just not right! Go for basic, all natural ingredients instead!
When it comes to essential oils, TRUST me, I’ve tried store bought brands with poor results. It took an ENTIRE 5 ml bottle of wild orange essential oil to give me the smallest hint of fragrance in my homemade soap.
Never again, my friends. From now on I will always use high-quality essential oils.
This is why I recommend starting with a kit of essential oil. Not only can you use these essential oils for calming and improving sleep, soothing skin irritations, supporting a healthy immune response, promoting healthy respiratory function, assisting in the digestion of foods, alleviating occasional stomach upset, promoting healthy immune function, protecting against environmental and seasonal threats, promoting cellular health, reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks, easing muscle tension, soothing sore muscles and achy joints as well as supporting healthy circulation and promoting a healthy metabolism. You can learn more about my favorite brand here.
The best part?
With therapeutic grade high quality essential oils, I only have to use drops, not the whole bottle. With each drop costing me 8 cents or so, it’s TOTALLY worth it!
Easy Homemade Gifts Under $2
Homemade Chapstick (makes 12)
12 lip balm tubes – where I buy mine or 12 lip balm tins – where I buy mine
2 TBS. coconut oil
2 TBS. shea butter – where I buy mine
2 TBS. beeswax – where I buy mine
3 drops of Peppermint essential oil
PEPPERMINT OILÂ Â ADD TO CART (free shipping)
3 drops of Lavender essential oil
LAVENDER OILÂ Â ADD TO CART (free shipping)
(Peppermint is cooling & refreshing and it also helps with focus and circulation. Lavender is has properties that regenerate the skin and ease chapped or dry lips)
Directions:
1. Heat coconut oil, shea butter, & beeswax over a double boiler (a glass bowl over a pot of water).
2. Stir together while it melts.
3. Remove from heat once it is well incorporated.
4. Add essential oils, then pour into chapstick tubes or lip balm tins.
5. Let cool 6 hours.
Homemade Bath Salts (makes 12)
12 muslin drawstring bags – where I buy mine
6 c. epsom salt – where I buy mine
9Â TBS. baking soda
30Â drops of Lavender essential oil
LAVENDER OILÂ Â ADD TO CART (free shipping)
(Lavender is calming and can aid in sleep by relaxing muscles and reducing brain activity.)
Directions
1. Mix epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oil in a bowl.
2. Pour into drawstring bags and tie.
Homemade Sugar Scrub (makes 12)
4 oz. mason jars – where I buy mine
6Â c. sugar
2 1/4 c. olive oil
48Â drops of Lemon essential oil
LEMON OILÂ Â ADD TO CART (free shipping)
(Lemon is refreshing and energizing and can help by increasing circulation to the skin. It also happens to be good for scars, stretch marks, & cellulite)
Directions
1. Mix sugar, olive oil, and essential oils in a bowl.
2. Pour into jars.
Homemade Body Spray (makes 12)
2 oz. glass spray bottles – where I buy mine
24 oz. water
12Â TBS. witch hazel
36Â drops of Frankincense essential oil
FRANKINCENSE OILÂ Â ADD TO CART (free shipping)
24Â drops of Lemon essential oil
LEMON OILÂ Â ADD TO CART (free shipping)
(Frankincense has a nice, earthy smell, but it also has properties that stabilize the mood and aids in focus. Lemon provides a good boost of energy and is a gentle detoxifier.)
Directions
1. Mix water, witch hazel, and essential oils.
2. Pour into glass bottles.
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Have you tried any other fragrance besides lemon for the body spray?
Hi Jennifer-
You can really use any scents you find pleasing to the senses or have the properties you are looking for such as comforting, energizing, soothing, etc. My favorites are grapefruit and also wintergreen.
This link from DaNelle’s site gives a great explanation of essential oils and how you can buy some quality ones. https://www.weedemandreap.com/doterra/
I hope this helps! Thanks for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi,
I think this would be perfect for bridal shower gifts. I am planning on using your recipes but your link for essential oils does not seem to work for me. Can you please provide an alternative link?
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for letting me know about those broken links! Here’s the link: https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-buy-essential-oils/
What kind of sugar is best to use? if seen couple different recipes done with brown and some with others
You can use plain white cane sugar. That seems to work best!
It is very good idea. I am wondering about the bottle spray.somebody said EO will eat plastic. Can I use plastic bottle spray?
Thank you.
As long as it’s PETE 1 or 2 grade, you should be fine!
Can the bath salts go directly into the muslin bag or is it within something else?
Hi Kellie, they can go directly in the bag!
Hi DaNelle, with the bath salts if I add magnesium Salt will that soak through the bag? Thanks so much.
Hi Tammie-
Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate and similar to magnesium chloride (salt) and both can be used to make bath salts, so it should be ok.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I would love to try the body spray before I make a batch. Do you have a recipe for one bottle?
Hi Ly! You can just divide everything by 12 🙂
I also have a goal this year to preserve more pthoos in albums, but I’ve already printed more than I’ve actually put into albums. Do you use drop in albums or boxes or what? Best wishes on your goals this month!
This is such a fantastic idea! I’m just curious though as to how you go the labels that go on the containers?? Not sure how to do that and it wouldn’t look quite as nice without
I purchased the labels from Staples and printed using the Bombshell font:)
These labels are so wonderful! Where do you find that font? I make soy candles and have been wanting to print my labels and use that type of font =)
Hi Kelly!
I used Salt & Spices Pro, but you can also try Bombshell Pro
I love this idea and plan to make them but I am wondering how long they last? I don’t want to make a whole batch and have them lose their freshness while waiting to be gifted.
They last a long time, about 4-5 months!
Love these! I am wondering where you got your cute labels as well?? Going to have a diy gift making party!
I just bought labels at Office Max and printed on them with the Bombshell Pro font:)
Thanks so much for this! I was looking for the bath salt recipe using essential oils. I think I will also be making the body spray, what a great idea. I have made the chapstick before and it turned out beautifully.
Oh these are such great ideas! I love the packaging too, simple and cute. Thanks for sharing.