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Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch

Posted by Kelly Crafts, Frugal & Healthy DIY Holidays, Holidays 4 comments
Simple Life Mom Shop - Homemade Organic Skin Care Products
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Homemade gifts can show that you really put forth the effort and that person is really special to you. They don’t need to know that they were easy gifts to make!

I have a ton of easy gifts here on Simple Life Mom. Gifts for teachers, Mom, Dad, kids, and friends and family. There’s literally everything from car air fresheners with healthy essential oils that kids can make, beauty spa gift sets for mom, or even lip balms and herbs for anyone you meet.

Go here for your special category:

  • Beauty
  • Soap/Shampoo
  • Herbs
  • Garden
  • Holiday

And don’t forget that you can always get handmade gifts right in your mailbox from my shop. I have Vanilla extract, soaps, shampoos, makeup, toothpowders, essential oil blends, and more.

5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

5 Easy Gifts from Scratch

Most of us have received a homemade gift, even if it was fresh baked bread, and felt that joy from something so fresh and delicious or special.

Before I ever tried making my own vanilla extract, I received some as a gift and was thrilled. 

I’ve also been given some great soaps in the past. 

These are things that I had never made myself before, so getting them as a gift from someone else was inspiring. I was also very grateful to have something with such wonderful ingredients that I didn’t have to make myself. I knew the value in the gifts, not to mention the time that it took to make those handmade gifts.

#1 Homemade Soap

Don’t shy away from the idea.  You can definitely make soaps as a last minute gift if you hot-process the batch. Make the recipes cold process if you have at least 3 weeks for the soaps to harden.

Learn how to hot process here for a rustic texture.

Learn how to cold process here for a smooth texture.

There are a lot of different types of soap to try.  You can add your favorite essential oils and other organic exfoliating additives like ground oats, coffee grounds, or dried herbs. Get all the recipes you can imagine in my book The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners or get started right here at Simple Life Mom.

Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

#2 Homemade Vanilla Extract

The next idea to add to your easy gifts list is vanilla extract!

You won’t believe how easy it is to make vanilla extract. It takes time, but it is not hard.

Go ahead and start making Homemade Vanilla Extract to give as birthdays, or even Christmas next year if it won’t be ready for this year.  It does need at least 4 months to steep before it is ready.

Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

#3 Homemade Salves, Lotions, or Lip Balms

Next on the easy gifts list: homemade salves, body lotions, and lip balms!

I have a lot of recipes that lay out how to make all three consistencies. I also have a lot of variety recipes (adding herbs, changing scents, and even changing base ingredients) if you head over to my beauty page.

But what you need to understand is that these lotions and lip balms are deeply loved and therefore make great presents.

Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom
Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

I get a lot of questions about containers. The containers in the picture above were found in a wedding section of a crafts store. But there are all kinds of options online like these as well.

Get recipes here:

  • Truffle Lip Balm
  • Herbal Lip Balm
  • Luxurious Lotion
  • Herbal Hand Salve

And don’t forget you can get these right away to try first in my shop.

#4 Homemade Deodorants

You can also make homemade deodorants, which are definitely easy gifts that feel luxurious. Yes, you maybe won’t give this to a friend unless they ask for it. That may send the wrong message. BUT, anyone in your family who knows you make products at home would absolutely love a homemade deodorant.  

Homemade deodorants work great and have essential oils that will help minimize sweat and kill bacterial growth so there will be no smell. 

If you need a no baking soda version, try this recipe.

I love these because I can make them with the scent I prefer.  Sometimes I will ask someone to choose from the essential oils that I have, otherwise, I make some that may suit a variety of people, like lavender vanilla or cedarwood and lemon.  Believe me, when your family finds one they like, they will let you know when they need more.  You can buy containers here.

Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

#5 Homemade Goodies like Homemade Granola

Another category that people often forget about when it comes to easy gifts is Food!

Homemade Granola is a fun and easy project.  It makes a great gift because people can eat it as a cereal, with yogurt, or even dry like a trail mix. Plus, you can put it in a mason jar and tie a pretty ribbon around it and it looks very homestead and natural.

These make great gifts for teachers or grandma.

Make 5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

I hope these easy gifts give you ideas for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, teachers and whoever else seems like they just need a special homemade gift.

These gifts really show how much you care, plus are healthy and inspiring. I’m glad I could share my favorite recipes with you.

Enjoy!

5 Easy Gifts from Scratch from Simple Life Mom

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About Kelly

Kelly is the author of number one best seller The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners and Easy Soap Making. She's also written multiple ebooks on herbal remedies and natural bath and body DIYs.Her journey toward better health has inspired her to make things in and around the home from scratch, start a homestead, and become more resourceful when it comes to health and home.She shares her recipes and DIYs here on Simple Life Mom and has a shop where she sells products for those who would rather buy than make (SimpleLifeMom.com/shop).

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4 comments

Leave your reply.
  • signsandwonders2020
    · Reply

    November 28, 2012 at 3:47 AM

    Reblogged this on lovelyseasonscomeandgo.

  • Nicky
    · Reply

    December 4, 2012 at 3:33 AM

    Great post. My children and I made homemade sugar scrubs and lotion bars for gifts this year. Year’s ago I made homemade soap for gifts. They were super easy.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog at http://www.ourlittlefamilyadventure.wordpress.com and loving one of my posts. I appreciate the visit. Stop by again soon!

  • Marla
    · Reply

    November 29, 2017 at 11:55 AM

    Hi Kelly,
    I love your homemade gifts especially the homemade soap and lip balm. Almost everyone loves getting such a great useful and healthful gift. Thanks for sharing them. Sharing on twitter, pinning, & google. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!

  • Alicia Owen
    · Reply

    November 30, 2017 at 7:49 AM

    I love all of these ideas…Especially since we already make soap. 😉 I’d much rather make gifts than buy a bunch of stuff for people who don’t need anything they can’t get themselves, ya know?! Thanks for sharing your list on the Homestead Blog Hop.

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