Holiday Stocking Stuffer Ideas - Unique Gifts You Can Craft

It's hard to believe that Saturday is the first day of October. Not only that but it's bringing some much cooler temps along with it! We're dropping from the high 70s into the low 50s for a Saturday high. So of course it has me dying to pull out my fall wardrobe and get a head start on shopping for the holidays. If you're the crafty sort like me, I'm sure you've already started thinking - or maybe even making - things for your fellow friends and family for gifts and stocking stuffers. Should you still be hunting for ideas for unique stocking stuffers you can craft, here are two of my latest favorites I've run across.

Moustache Keychain Tutorial from Katrinshine

Mustaches have been a huge trend for several long years now and I'm not sure it's a trend that plans to die anytime soon. So perhaps we can bag the mustache trend as more of a tradition - a sort of theme for the hipster that refuses to ever die. If you're a die hard mustache fan, or know someone else who is, this Mustache Keychain is the perfect gift for his or her Christmas stocking! The project is inexpensive and rather simple if you can manage a basic machine stitch and the step by step tutorial can be found over at Katrinshine Blog.

How to Make a Wallet Out of an Old Cowboy Boot from Poppytalk

Men like to hold on to things they love. Underwear. T-shirts. Regardless of how raggedy it becomes or how many holes it touts, it's still perfect to them. That's why it's up to us women to save them. Don't let your man be like my man and hang on to his sad, dying Family Guy Velcro wallet with the huge hole in the bottom any longer. Craft him a new one for his Christmas stocking and force him to retire the old wallet once he realizes the pure genius of the new one you've just gifted him with. This gorgeous leather wallet (pictured above) is constructed from an old, recycled cowboy boot. (Think thrift store and your crafty nature will reward your own wallet and not just your man.) This handmade cowboy boot wallet tutorial created by Jepson LeatherGoods can be found over at Poppytalk Blog.

Looking for crafty stocking stuffer ideas specifically for her? Be sure to check out the Bath & Body Stocking Stuffer Round Up on Soap Deli News Blog for tutorials on making holiday candles in travel tins, lip balms, candy cane sugar scrub, handmade soaps, bath bombs, and a locket filled with solid perfume.

Crunched for time this holiday season? Then don't make it. Buy it handmade! From now through December 31, 2011 when you spend $35 or more at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen you'll receive 30% off your order. Just use coupon code: 2011HOLIDAY at checkout. Shipping is never more than $6 no matter how large your order! (Be sure to hit "View Cart" before checking out to apply your coupon code.) Not only can you find great handmade soaps and lotions at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen, but you can also shop for other great artisan products like handmade pottery, t-shirts, purses, wallets, and more!

Read full post with comments »»

Printable Halloween Labels to Dress Up Your Halloween Party

I can't believe it's almost October and Halloween is just around the corner. I still haven't decided on a costume, but if anyone has ideas for something on the cheap that didn't come out of a Spirit Halloween store I am all ears! 

Handmade Renaissance Pirate Costume, Halloween 2010

Last year I went as sort of a Renaissance Pirate and wore a great second hand, handmade costume I found on Etsy. This year I'd really rather not be restricted to a corset so I won't be wearing it again this year. And besides, isn't half the fun coming up with something new and unique every year?

In the meantime I wanted to share some of these awesome printable Halloween labels I ran across for those of you who are planning on throwing your own special Halloween bash.

Creepy Printable Halloween Treat Labels from design. wash. rinse. repeat.

design. wash. rinse. repeat. blog has a free printable download for Halloween treat labels. Decorate your serving dishes or party favors with labels like Deadly Night Crawlers, Venemous Decomposing Eels, Dreadful Dragon Eyes, Pickled Bat Guano, and Zombie Teeth. design. wash. rinse. repeat. blog also offers a free download for printable Halloween drink labels in three designs.

Looking for sticker label sheets? I was recently sent a a box of sticker labels from WorldLabel.com to try. My usual label source is OnlineLabels.com. The prices are the same, however the labels from WorldLabel.com have a slightly thinner backing than the labels from OnlineLabels.com which keeps them from getting hung up in my laser printer. I also found that I am able to reposition these labels on most surfaces after the initial "stick" so it's great for craft projects where you may need to readjust an oopsie here and there. (I used their Full Label Sheets.) I also really enjoy Worldlabel.com's blog. It offers a variety of free printable labels - many of which are customizable - and they even have new printable labels for Halloween.

For more printables and printable projects found on Soap Deli News Blog, click here. You'll also find more free printables for all sorts of projects - including more free Halloween Printables - on my Printables Board on Pinterest.

Read full post with comments »»

Succulent Love - Creative Ways to Not Have a Green Thumb

I love succulents. They are the one plant I almost never kill. And when I say almost, I mean I have killed a succulent or two by over watering by thinking I needed to make up for forgetting to water for weeks and sometimes months. But now that I've learned that most succulents can take my forgetfulness, they are my favorite indoor plant. (Outdoors I grow herbs. They forgive my lack of maintenance too.) So in case you find you're a little like me - slightly crafty but lacking a green thumb - here are a few ideas to bring the outdoors in as the weather begins its journey into cold and dreary.

DIY Succulent Terrarium from BirdHouse Blog

Simple yet stylish, this DIY Succulent Terrarium from BirdHouse Blog will fit perfectly in your windowsill or on a bookshelf. It's small size makes it practical for any room or perfecting for gifting someone else you know and love who is also lacking the much sought after "green thumb." Keep it manageable and in its pot by pruning leaves as it over seeks its bounds. Plucked leaves can be rooted right into new soil for baby terrariums in every room.

DIY Succulent Table from Far Out Flora

If you're in love with a rustic look, consider a bold approach and craft a DIY Succulent Table as a living room coffee table or side table. The size and dimensions are entirely up to you. But regardless of how large or small you go, this is one table sure to make a statement you'll never grow tired of.

How to Make Modern Cement Planters Using Packaging from Re-Nest

You can make these small, yet practical Succulent Cement Planters by using recycled food packaging as your molds. They're easy to make in batches as favors for events and are perfect for using as bookends. Go extra creative and spray paint the planters with chalk board paint for even more fun and a planter that is always customizable.

DIY: Book Planter with Succulents from Green Wedding Shoes

Whether you're creating a wedding centerpiece or just want something incredibly unique to decorate your own home, these DIY Succulent Book Planters take the cake! Fill in around the succulents with moss and fake flowers for extra pizazz or a touch of color that matches your room's decor.

Make a Living Succulent Picture from Better Homes & Gardens

Don't have the space for pots? Hang (or prop) your succulent garden on the wall with this DIY tutorial from Better Homes & Gardens for making a Living Succulent Picture. Just water your creation on a flat surface once a month and make sure it sees a little sun from a nearby window. It's instant art without the anguish of finding something that fits that hard to fit room and also makes for a great conversation piece.

What's your favorite way to display your indoor plants?

Read full post with comments »»

DIY Silicone Molds for Soapmaking

Source: Soapy Hollow

Last month I introduced you to a tutorial for making your own wooden soap molds and round pvc pipe soap molds, today I wanted to share another great soapmaking mold tutorial that I discovered. Soapy Hollow has an excellent tutorial for making quick molds for soap using a food grade silicon putty. With just a bit of Amazing Mold Putty and an object you want to mimic, you can make a seashell mold from a seashell and create a beautiful seashell soap using either melt and pour soap or cold process soap. Soapy Hollow shows you the silicon mold making process from start to finish on her blog. She demonstrates soaps she made from molds she created from a shell, a pyrite rock, and an amethyst.

Read full post with comments »»

DIY Handmade Body Lotion Recipe with Free Printable Labels

I recently stumbled across a rather simple handmade lotion recipe that seems to me to be perfect for beginners, so I thought I'd share it with you, my lovely and ever so crafty readers.

How to Make Handmade Hand Lotion with Label Download from A Sonoma Garden

This handmade hand lotion recipe uses ingredients from one of my favorite organic bath and body suppliers, Mountain Rose Herbs. The recipe is easy to make and costs less than a dollar per jar making it frugal while feeling expensive. It requires only four basic ingredients - hot water (I recommend distilled), emulsifying wax, olive oil, and your favorite essential oil. However, though this recipe does not call for a preservative, because it does contain water, I HIGHLY recommend using one. (You can find out more about preservatives here.) Once you've made your lotions, simply pour into small canning jars and allow to cool overnight. You can then label your creations with the free label downloads from A Sonoma Garden provided at the end of the tutorial. If you're already thinking ahead for Christmas, you may also want to download A Sonoma Garden's free printable Christmas labels. And, for extra dry skin prone to eczema, be sure to try her Easy Winter Hand Salve Recipe.

Looking for more lotion recipes? Give these a try - Homemade Coffee Body Lotion Recipe, Coconut Body Whip Recipe, DIY Solid Lotion Bar Recipe, and Night Cream Recipe.

What's your favorite ingredient to use when making lotions? Or what ingredients do you look for when buying handmade lotions?

Read full post with comments »»

Labor Day Sale at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen

Seduced by Sugar Soap

Shop Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen for the Labor Day holiday and save big on gifts for the other big holiday! From now through September 6th, 2011 when you spend at least $25 before shipping you'll receive an amazing 35% off your purchase when you use coupon code: LABORDAY at checkout. Be sure to use the coupon code at check out by viewing your cart and entering your code in the promo box. Adjustments are not made to paid purchases should you fail to enter your coupon code at checkout. So what are you waiting for? Shop now and snag some super sweet deals!

 

Read full post with comments »»

Bath and Body Stocking Stuffer Round Up - DIY Ideas for Christmas Stocking Fillers that Scream "You Will Be Pampered!"

I am generally stumped as to what to put in someone's stocking that isn't just candy and boring everyday toiletries. Not to mention, small but meaningful gifts are sometimes often hard to find since, in this case, size is an issue. What I do like to put into Christmas stockings however, are not just silly trinkets, but things that a person can use and get enjoyment from. So I always LOVE to include bath and body and spa themed products as part of the stuffing for Christmas stockings. Here are a few great ideas I've found for making your own bath and beauty products for stocking stuffers this Christmas. Make them in bulk and distribute a stocking to all those you know and love and no one will fill left out. Make extras and wrap, but keep tucked away, for surprise guests.

Holiday Candle Travel Tins from Soap Queen TV

Holiday Candle Travel Tins! These candles not only make those darn holidays smell like they should, but they're small enough to fit into any Christmas stocking. Plus they're perfect for travel if you end up traveling for the holidays and have to stay in a stinky hotel room. This candle making project yields four 4oz. soy candles in delightful travel sized tins and includes a free PDF label template so your candles will turn out just like the ones pictured. These candle travel tins would also be handy to keep around at home tied up in tissue paper and ribbon for surprise guests regardless of their sex. You may also want to try your hand at another soy candle making project which can be found here - Handmade DIY Eco-Friendly Soy Wax Candles.

DIY Lip Balm from Yours Truly, G

Let's face it. Winter is rarely if ever kind to our lips. So getting lip balm in a Christmas stocking is like finding heaven on earth. Try out the super easy DIY Lip Balm Recipe over at Yours Truly, G and you've got three lip balms ready for gifting in a snap! Personalize each lip balm with a label. You could label with their name, something super mushy like "I Love You", or something more traditional like "Merry Christmas" or "Naughty" or "Nice." Looking for more lip balm recipes? Try these - How to make custom lip balm - Easy DIY lip balm recipes to get you started, Therapeutic Lip Balm Recipe, Handmade Lip Balm Recipes, and Handmade Lip Gloss Recipes.

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub from The Natural Beauty Workshop

Sugar scrubs are great year round, but they're even more necessary in the winter as our skin tends to be drier in response to the drier air. Giving a sugar scrub with a little festive kick, makes them even more enjoyable! This Candy Cane Sugar Scrub Recipe uses red jojoba wax beads for a visual candy cane swirl effect and calls for a deliciously skin loving shealoe butter combination. Scent with natural peppermint essential oil and you'll be thinking of candy canes without a doubt! You can buy a kit to make this product at From Nature With Love.

Looking for other sugar scrub recipe ideas? Then give these a look - DIY Organic Sugar Scrub Recipe, Solid Shea Butter Sugar Scrub Cube Recipe, DIY Sugar Scrub Recipes and Pretty Jars for Enjoying or Gifting, Sugar Scrub Recipes, Honey Sugar Scrub Recipe, Restore the Beauty Sugar Scrub Recipe, Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Scrub and Sweet N' Spicy Brown Sugar Scrub Recipes, Chocolate and Orange Brown Sugar Coffee Scrub Recipe, and Lemon Sugar Body Scrub Recipe.

For something a little easier with less mess, you may also want to consider making and giving Candy Cane Bath Salts.

How to Make Handmade Cold Process Soap from Soap Deli News

Handmade soaps are a joy to make and to use. Plus, they fit perfectly into a Christmas stocking every time! If you've never made handmade cold process soaps before, then keep in mind that they are not something you can make last minute. It takes several hours to make a batch of soap, but then they do require 3-4 weeks to cure before wrapping and labeling. The color combinations and scent possibilities are endless, however. You can find a variety of quality, Christmas and holiday themed fragrance oils available from Tennessee Candle Supplies like Banana Nut Bread, Chestnuts and Brown Sugar, Christmas Bazaar, Christmas Splendor, Christmas Tree, Cinnamon Bread Pudding, Harvest Spice and more. Their fragrances are suitable for use in both soaps and candles. Bulk oils and other soapmaking ingredients can also be found at Mountain Rose Herbs - they specialize in organic ingredients - and From Nature with Love. You can find a great tutorial and recipes for making your own handmade cold process soaps at Soap Deli News. If you're crunched for time, try opting for melt and pour soap or handmilled soaps instead.

Once your soaps are completed, you'll of course want to customize your packaging just right. You can do this with free printable labels or by trying out a few creative, diy gift wrap ideas.

Snow Globe Soap from Alphamom

If you like the idea of making soaps but are leaning toward something a little less traditional or perhaps something really special for the kids, I just love this tutorial for making Snow Globe Soaps from Alphamom. These super cute soaps can be crafted in an afternoon and are sure to attract a lot of positive attention - especially in the bathroom where you want them to be used! These handmade soaps are made using the melt and pour soapmaking method so anyone - even beginner's! - can follow Alphamom's diy photo tutorial for making these soaps and produce a successful end product. You can find melt and pour soap base at From Nature with Love. Another fun melt and pour soap project you may want to try is for making Christmas Ivy Soap.

How to Make Bath Bombs from Soapy Hollow

Another fun idea for bath and beauty stocking stuffers are bath bombs or bath fizzies! They are small and compact and can be fit into Christmas themed molds to represent the season. Soapy Hollow provides an excellent tutorial for making bath bombs with photos of the process. You can then wrap these in cellophane and festive ribbon. I also like the recipe for making DIY Cappuccino Bath Bombs over at The Christmas Fairy. Plus here are a few other bath bomb recipes you may want to get your hands onto - DIY Handmade Cupcake Bath Bomb Recipe and Tutorial, Handmade Bath Bomb Recipes, and Cupcake Bath Bombs.

Solid Perfume Pocket Watch Locket from Design*Sponge

For that special girl in your life, I can't get enough of this idea for crafting your own solid perfume pocket watch locket! I think it's so romantic, plus it serves a dual purpose of being able to be born as jewelry and as being able to scent one throughout the day at leisure. The full tutorial for this diy project can be found at Design*Sponge. For more ideas on how to make perfumes, check out this blog post - Perfume Making DIY Tutorial.

You can also look for more bath and body recipes and product ideas on my DIY Bath and Body Board on Pinterest.

Do you craft spa goodies for Christmas gifts? If so, what are your favorite and bath and body products to create?

Read full post with comments »»