Homemade Christmas Gifts for Girls

Looking for stocking stuffers and inexpensive Christmas gifts for girls. I have been shopping around in retail stores and on the internet and here is what I have found:

Cute socks - You can find Christmas themed ones, super fuzzy ones or funny/silly ones. Also, there are adorable knee socks out at this time of year. Target has a great selection.

Make-up kits – Our local grocery store (HEB) has a collection of sparkly eye shadows, lip glosses, makeup brushes and tools and all other kinds of glamorous make-up in little kits for around $5.00 or less.

Stickers and other supplies for scrapbooking - Many girls have hobbies or interest that they keep scrapbooks about. You can find these stickers at hobby stores and stores that sell scrap booking supplies.

Nail Polish kits – Again, at the grocery store, drug stores and big box stores you will find packages of three or more nail polishes for $5 or less. You don’t really see these kits that much during other times of the year. Add a nail file (they make pretty nail files now that only cost a dollar)

Bath gel and lotion - You can find these in any price range and in any size. Before you buy though try to smell them because some of them smell truly awful so be careful.

Scrunchies and hair ties – The dollar store and grocery stores often have a great selection of these and practically every girl needs them.

Cute gloves - Drugstores sell really cute gloves in one size fits all. Everyone can use an extra pair or two.

iTunes card - always a favorite

Charms – for charm bracelet

Christmas bracelets and earrings - Again your local dollar store will have a good selection and girls do like these. Some stores sell tiny glow stick earrings in Christmas colors.

Glow sticks, necklaces and bracelets – Girls always like these and use them at slumber parties.

Earring holder – You can make one yourself (see video below) and decorate it or buy one at places like Claires.

Latest issue of girls magazine - Girl’s Life or American Girl etc.

Picture frames - You can find these cheap at the dollar store, craft stores and discount stores. Picture frames can also be used to make an inexpensive earring holder.

Coin purse - some girls don’t want to carry full size purses and appreciate something to keep money in.

Giant candy bar – her favorite candy bar

Ear buds – prices will vary widely but everyone can use an extra pair.

Soap leaves – These are small packages of paper thin pieces of soap. They can be a bit hard to find but places like The Body Shop have them.

Personalized pens or pencils – A set of personalized pencils can be had for about $10.00. Check online for personalized pencils for girls.

Disposable camera - Even if girls own a digital camera or cell phone camera they might have occasion to use a disposable camera.

Big box of crayons - Even for older girls there is something irresistible about new box of crayons and the big box is like having your own personal rainbow.

Can You Freeze Halloween Candy

I have surveyed many blogs and here are all the things I found you can do with your leftover Halloween candy:

Make an “Eco-Friendly Edible Wreath” – Use Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, Starburst etc. and you will have a lovely Thanksgiving or Christmas decoration.

Keep your candy in a cool place for storage and then use it over the holidays – Use the candy for stocking stuffers, parties and to decorate gifts. This saves money on buying treats throughout the holidays.

Find recipes using leftover halloween candy such as: Carmel Fudge Cake, Hershey Bar Cake, Butterfinger Cake, Heath Bar Cake.

Make a spread with your chocolate peanut butter cups - Take all of your peanut butter cups and put them into a food processor with a bit of peanut oil (enough to make the mixture smooth like peanut butter). Then process it into a paste which you can use to spread on sandwiches or use as filling between two store bought cookies for your own “homemade” sandwich cookies.

M&Ms and Reese’s Pieces - These candy-coated chocolate chips are extremely versatile. You can bake them into cup cakes, mix them into pancakes, sprinkle them into your cereal, mix them into popcorn (after popping), use them as ice cream topping, and bake them into cookies.

Freeze it- It will keep for at least one year.

Use the candies to decorate this year’s gingerbread house.

Use for Thanksgiving centerpiece – Make miniature (and edible) cornucopia place-markers for Thanksgiving by filling sugar cones with a mix of candy corn, M&Ms, Runts, etc., and then lay them on their side next to each table setting.

Make your own Advent calendar or holiday countdown calendar, using leftover candies as the treats for each day.

Make a candy bouquet - Put green floral foam in a decorated pot or basket. Tape wrapped candies to craft sticks and arrange them like candy flowers. For an added touch, wind pieces of garland around the craft stick stem.

Make a candy pizza – Here’s Betty Crocker’s recipe: Mix 1 pouch of peanut butter cookie mix with 1/3 cup vegetable oil and an egg until soft dough forms. Press dough in an ungreased 12-inch pizza pan. Sprinkle with your choice of toppings such as candy corn, candy bar pieces and nuts. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle 1 cup miniature marshmallows on top. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until marshmallows are lightly browned and cookie is set at edge. Cool completely in pan. Drizzle 1/3 cup of melted chocolate chips over the top.

Participate in a candy exchange – Some dentists and orthodontists (dentists who specialize in braces) offer candy exchanges. You turn in some candy and get healthy treats in exchange. Or you turn in some candy, and they pay you $1 per pound. They donate the candy to soup kitchens or to troops overseas.

Heat-resistant candy only - Donate to our troops and don’t forget to include a handwritten letter of support to really put a smile on a soldier’s face!

Take it to work.

Use for holiday gifts -Fill a festive mug or glue onto wrapped packages or cards to make them extra special.

Homemade Gifts for Mothers Day

Chocolate – in any way shape or form is always appreciated.

Scented lotions or candles – You can get these at the Dollar store and other discount stores. You don’t have to get the fancy expensive ones. CostPlus Market has lots of this stuff and sometimes you can find it on clearance.
homemade gifts for mothers day

Homemade cd’s of mom’s favorite music - especially nice for mom’s who are so great at techy stuff

Teatime kit – Tea bags, tea cup and saucer from thrift store, resale shop or discount store plus a honey bear or gourmet jar of honey (Earl Gray tea, Sleeping Time Tea, Ginger Tea, Constant Comment, Red Zinger)

Coffee Break kit – Gourmet coffee, beautiful or funny mug, plus gourmet cinnamon, vanilla sugar and ground chocolate (you know like they have at Starbucks) and fancy cookies or chocolates.

Cook books, new or used plus a set of measuring cups or measuring spoons. (I saw CostPlus Market had those nesting dolls – Matryoshka measuring cups.

Flowers in vase – Get an inexpensive vase at a garage sale or the Dollar Store, fill it full of flowers from the garden or the grocery store, tied with a raffia piece or gold or silver string around the vase and a heartfelt note or a poem.

Kid’s Artwork Photo Album – Shrink kid’s artwork on photo copy machine or photograph with digital camera and place prints in Dollar Store Photo album.

Plant a vegetable garden or Do Extra Chores - One of my sister-in-laws kids plants a vegetable garden every year for their mom. My other sister-in-laws kids clean the refrigerator. The gift of your time to do those troublesome chores is more appreciated than you could ever imagine.

Family Photo Album for a mom with older children and grandchildren – Make a photo album with special family photos. Include handwritten notes from family members her telling her how much she means to you. Smaller children can draw a picture or do a handprint.

Fairy Garden Kit – Get gardening tools at the Dollar Store or other discount places. Also get gloves, seed packets etc in, bag of potting soil and a small window box. You can put everything in the window box and tie it with a bow. Get some dollar furniture at the craft store to make a Fairy haven. Include direction for making a fairy garden (you can find online.

Hand decorated picture frame – You can purchase plain frames at the craft stores and hot glue all kinds of things on them.

What I learned from you poem/essay – As a mom, I can tell you this is a great gift. I did it for my mother one year and she loved it. I just listed all the things that she taught me over the years. On Father’s Day I had my kids list 100 things we love about Dad. I can tell “Isn’t afraid to kill roaches” was on the list.

Decoupage Flower Pots or Aromatherapy Kit - Kidzworld.com has these two easy to do craft projects for Mother’s Day

No whining shirts. Planet Mom T-shirts offers humor and savings with its popular “Whine? No. Wine? Yes.” shirt

Forever flowers. Made out of recycled newspaper by young girls, these roses are $3 each and support the Lower East Side Girls Club.

Baron Bobs Unique Mothers Day Gift Ideas – Just looking through the selections at this site will make you see the lighter side of motherhood. Check out the Crazy Cat Lady Game and the Tank Up Coffee Mug

More Cheap Quick DIY Holiday Gifts

Almost Christmas, if you still need more affordable cheap last minute gifts find more ideas here:

Movie Night – Give a family a gift of a night in. Older DVDs can be picked up at retailers like Wal-Mart for as little as $3.00 – $5.00. Add a $1.00 box of popcorn and a $10.00 pizza gift card to complete the package. You’ll have a last minute cheap Christmas gift for families that any parent would love.

Board Games – Board games don’t have to be expensive. Dominos, Yahtzee, card or dice games and children’s games are often available for as little as $5.00. Look for these at your favorite discount retailer. Give alone or put in a basket. Add a 2-liter bottle of soda and chips or popcorn to the basket. In just a few minutes you’ll have a last minute, cheap Christmas gift for families that can bring years of fun.

Happy New Year – If you know that your friends drink alcohol, one choice for a cheap last minute Christmas gift would be a bottle of their favorite wine or champagne, along with a couple of champagne glasses, which are often available at the same liquor store where you purchase the champagne. Wine and champagne work well as a last minute hostess gift or birthday gift, too!

Set of Cute Glasses or Coffee Mugs from the Discount Store- Many discount stores sell attractive sets of glasses, coffee mugs, and similar items for the kitchen. These are practical gifts, because most people can always use more of these items, even if they already have glasses and coffee mugs. Unless you know that your friends already have an exceptionally well-equipped kitchen, these items can be both inexpensive and greatly appreciated last minute gift ideas.

Pretty Plate or Baking Dish and Add a Dessert – You may have a set of rarely used dishes that you are willing to give away, one at a time. If not, you may be able to buy several China dishes at a garage sale, estate sale or thrift store, and keep them on hand. Add a loaf of homemade or store bought banana bread, some cupcakes, or cookies and you have an instant gift that your friend will enjoy immediately and continue to enjoy as they reuse the plate you gave them!

Candy dish with candy – Walmart, Target and your local dollar store or thrift store are all easy places to pick up a small candy dish. Many drug stores also sell little decorative dishes. Add a bag of candy, put the entire gift in a cheap gift bag (which you can also get at the dollar store) and for less than $5.00 you have a charming, quick and easy gift.

Candles and incense – make for affordable “quickie” gifts. They look good as decoration for the home, the smell good, and they are practical everyday items. Candles are also great if you live in an area which experiences frequent power outages due to bad weather. If you give incense be sure to include an incense burner.

Homemade ornaments – You can buy them singularly or in packs and buy glitter, confetti, paint, etc. and decorate the outside and inside if the ornament is clear. This is a good gift because it shows you spent your time on something for this person.

Home manicure kit – Create an at-home manicure set. Choose a simple base coat, a couple of shades of nail polish, a nail file, and a hand cream. Roll it all up in a simple white dish towel—they’re always inexpensive—and secure it with a festive ribbon. Simple and fun.

Home pedicure kit – At your grocery store, drug store or discount store find reasonably-priced pedicure products for women that are surprisingly cute-looking. Pick up a foot cream, a nail buffer, a rasp for rough calluses, and a bath fizzy. You could toss it in a stocking, or if you really want to be complete, arrange the products in a dish pan (which can be used as a foot soaking tub)

Not produce fruit basket - This is a really cute idea. If you have a friend who’s crazy about a particular fruit, scour the drugstore for anything related to it. For instance, if your friend loves cherries, you could get her cherry Chapstick, Revlon Cherries in the Snow lipstick, cherry-scented soap, a red or pink bath sponge, and a bag of cherry Jolly Ranchers. You can do this with any fruit and you can keep the cost low.

Cheap Quick DIY Holiday Gifts

Okay the day is getting close, so now it is time for cheap last minute gifts. You might want to have some of these on hand for emergencies. You know what I am talking about, someone gives you a gift and you had no idea you would getting a gift from and need to give something in return. So here they are:

CDs and savings bonds - can be purchased at bank branches or online and come in many different denominations. These gifts have the advantage of eventually being worth more than you spent on them. To personalize this gift, think of something the receiver really wants and mention that in the attached card . Small tokens can be added to make these gifts even more personal — for example if the person is saving for college perhaps a bookmark with the school colors.

Lottery tickets or scratch cards - These are fun for everyone. Who knows one your giftees may “hit the big one”

Magazine subscriptions – Go to a bookstore and look through the racks for something that the person is interested in. For example, you could get Better Homes and Gardens (24 issues for $22) for the neighbor who is always gardening, or more specifically, Herb Quarterly (4 issues for $20) for your friend who always uses herbal remedies. As for teens ,my daughter would go for a subscription to Mad Magazine. For small children Lady Bug magazine, as is Spider magazine for older children.

Buy the current issue, tear out the gift subscription form and send it in. Then wrap the magazine and include a note saying “I wanted to give you something that would last all year so I got you a subscription.”

Food – Your grocery store is your best for affordable last minute gift. If it’s too late to bake, you can still buy chocolates, cookies, cake, wine or a baked ham at the grocery or specialty store for under $20. Grocery stores often sell fruit baskets too. A box of chocolates or cookies can be wrapped in paper and ribbons. Wine can be put in a wine bag or just tie a bow around it.

Cut flowers – You can get these at the grocery store — and if you have extra vases around the house, clean one up, stuff it with a $10 bouquet of flowers from the grocery store, tie a ribbon around it and you have a great gift. Grocery stores also sell small potted plants such mini poinsettias, christmas cactuses and other traditional holiday plants.

Chocolate - Also found at the grocery store or drug store. Pick up a box of chocolates or get a few bars of gourmet chocolate and tie them together with a ribbon and few candy canes for a festive decoration for your gift.

Wrapping supplies gift basket – Another great affordable last minute gift you can find at the grocery store or drug store. Take a large box or basket and add wrapping paper, bows, scissors and tape. Tie it with a bright holiday ribbon. A busy mom might really appreciate this one.

Small potted herbs – You can buy at Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot or your local garden center. Basil, thyme, oregano and parsley are easy to maintain and can live in a windowsill. They would be perfect for apartment dwellers or anyone who likes to cook. You can buy them for less than $10. Get an attractive pot to put it in — the dollar store may have some inexpensive ones but make sure there is a hole in bottom for drainage.

To make your herb gift personal, copy down a recipe including the herb and give it with the present. Oregano, basil, rosemary, parsley and thyme mix well in most Italian dishes, so something as simple as, “Add this to pasta sauce, lasagna or use for topping pizza,” would do.

Many varieties of potted ivy can be found at these same stores. Ivy is inexpensive, pretty and incredibly easy to keep alive.

If you have a little time, rush a photo to your local Kinko’s. They can turn it into a calendar or ornament in 24 hours for $10 to $25. Call ahead to make sure they can fill your order in time.

Frugal Christmas Gifts

GIFTS

1. Recycle gifts - It really is the ultimate way of recycling. You don’t have to spend money, no more resources are used to produce something new and you save space in your home. If times are really tough, I even give gift cards I have received as gifts or I use the card to purchase gifts for others.

2. Don’t go overboard buying toys. Some of the most expensive toys these days kill children’s imagination. Buy art supplies such as markers, colored pencils, paints, paper, modeling clay etc. Kids really enjoy these and they certainly don’t break as easily as electronics. If you can find it buy a nice kite to fly when the weather gets warmer or maybe sports equipment such as a basketball, soccer ball, football or badminton set.

3. Limit gift exchanges or eliminate gift giving this year. Have a pot luck dinner which is also an inexpensive night out. Creating memories is much nicer than stressing over gifts when your budget is tight.

4. If you have a large family, agree to pick names so that you are only buying a gift for one person. That way everyone gets a nice gift and none of you have to spend hours shopping for multiple gifts.

5. Keep Christmas parties simple – Don’t feel you have provide all the party trimmings. Most people have a favorite dish they enjoy making and sharing it with others. Just make sure you have a balance of dishes so you don’t end up with all desserts or all chips and dips. Even people who don’t cook usually have something they can bring. I have friend who doesn’t like to cook but she makes those pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate and rolled in festive sprinkles and everyone loves them.

6. Make your own gift cards or coupons - Many people need the gift of your time or service rather than a material item. An elderly neighbor or relative may need a leaves raked or snow shoveled or a ride to the mall.

7. Buy nearly new – Internet auction sites and the used section of online sites such as Amazon can be a good way of saving money on items. When I bought games for my daughter’s Nintendo DS, I bought used versions off of Amazon and saved some money that way. Be sure to check the condition of second-hand goods carefully, but it’s amazing how many are just like new. Check out resale shops – many new resale shops have sprung up in our area recently and so many time the original tags are still on the items meaning they have never been worn or used.

8. Get creative - Spending time on a gift, rather than money, is another option if you really have to reduce your costs. Photographs, poems and childrens artwork are something you always have in abundance. These can all be framed to make great gifts for parents and grandparents.

GIFT WRAPPING

Before you wrap gifts, go through your current inventory of wrapping supplies such as wrapping paper, bows, ribbon and even tape. Use that up and before Christmas only buy what you absolutely have to buy to get everything wrapped. Then make a list of what you probably will need for next year and pick that all up at the after Christmas sales and store it away. You might want to pick up a Christmas storage container (red or green plastic) so you will be able to find it easily next year.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

If you have too many Christmas ornaments, you can sell or donate them (get a receipt for their market value and deduct it on your taxes) to make room for what you find during the after Christmas sales.

Easy and Inexpensive Gift to Make – Recipe for Peppermint Bark

Even if you can’t cook or bake you can make this! Also if you don’t like cooking or baking but want to give a homemade gift see our post Recipes for Gifts in a Jar

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of crushed candy canes (Put them in a gallon size zip lock bag on a cutting board and use a hammer to smash them. Also doubles as a stress reducer for you.

2 lbs of white chocolate. You can find this is bakery aisle as “candy bar” or “candy coating” or you can get it at a dollar store or you can use white chocolate chips and bars of white chocolate. It doesn’t matter which you use.

Microwave Method:

A little trickier with white chocolate so my advice would be to try the method below using the improvised double boiler. But if you hate to dirty a pot try it this way. Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Use a glass measuring cup so you can see the contents. Melt only 8 oz. of chocolate at a time. Set your microwave on the medium or low setting and microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds. Stir the chocolate well, them microwave for another 30 seconds. Continue cooking for 30 seconds at a time and stirring in between until the chocolate is completely melted. If the white chocolate separates into lumps, add 1 tbsp. of butter and mix it with the chocolate, then microwave again.

Improvised Double Boiler Method

When it is all melted remove from heat and stir in crushed candy canes. Spread onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Put in the refrigerator for 45 min to an hour and then break into whatever size pieces you like. Package up in a pretty container and your are done.

Recipes for Gifts in a Jar

Gifts in a jar are easy and inexpensive way to give gifts to friends, co-workers, neighbors etc. and the are a Christmas gifts under $10 even after you pay for the jars. You can buy the jars at the grocery store in the canning section or you can recycle your own jars. Some of the gifts in a jar are a little more complicated to prepare than others so here are some easy gifts in a jar. The recipes for gifts in a jar are all provided.

There is an amazing variety of gifts in jar ranging from cocoa mixes and cakes to bath salts and bath oils. So take a look at the sample below. You can design your own recipes or use one of these free printable sites to print out the recipes cards to attach.

Free Printable from Christmas Organized Home

Free Printable from Homemade Gift Guru

Curried Lentil Soup from Good Housekeeping is great one for your friends who are vegetarians.

Ingredients
2 ( 1 quart) jars with tight-fitting lids
1 pound(s) red lentils
Pinch of Salt
6 tablespoon(s) minced dried onion
2 tablespoon(s) curry powder
1 teaspoon(s) garlic powder
1 pound(s) green lentils
1/2 package(s) (5-ounce) dried apple rings, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoon(s) dried parsley leaves

Instructions


1. In bottom of each glass jar, place 8 ounces red lentils; top with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 3 tablespoons dried onion, 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 8 ounces green lentils, 1/2 cup apple pieces, and 1 tablespoon parsley, in that order. Seal jars and store at room temperature up to 1 month.

2. Prepare labels with cooking instructions; attach to jars. Add these cooking directions to each label before giving as a gift: Place lentil soup mix in 3-quart saucepan with 7 cups water. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 8 cups soup.

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

Ingredients
8 ounce(s) milk chocolate, broken into pieces or use chocolate or white chocolate bark found in the baking aisle (comes in a tray that looks like an ice cube tray with squares of chocolate)
27 (8-inch long) pretzel rods
Flaked coconut and/or green, red, and white sprinkles (for topping)

Directions

1. Place chocolate in microwave-safe measuring cup or mug. Heat, covered with waxed paper, in microwave on High 1 to 2 minutes or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring occasionally until smooth.

2. Meanwhile, place each topping choice on separate sheet of waxed paper or on individual plates.

3. Holding 1 pretzel rod at a time, dip in melted chocolate, tipping cup to cover about half of rod with chocolate. Allow excess chocolate to drip off pretzel back into cup. Immediately sprinkle coated pretzel with choice of topping. Carefully place coated pretzel rod in pie plate or shallow bowl, leaning uncoated portion on edge.

4. Repeat with remaining pretzels (try to keep pretzels from touching one another in pie plate), and refrigerate about 20 minutes to set coating. Store pretzels in tightly sealed container, with waxed paper between layers, at room temperature up to 1 week.

Christmas Coffee Mix in a Jar from recipelink.com

Ingredients

1/2 cup powdered non dairy creamer
1 cup mini chocolate chips
2 Tbsp vanilla powder
1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
2/3 cup instant coffee crystals

Directions

Combine nondairy creamer, powdered sugar, powdered vanilla, and milk powder. Layer with coffee and chips into two cup jars. Tap between layers to settle before adding next layer.

GIFT TAG DIRECTIONS:

For each mug, place 1/4 cup of mix in a mug, and add 2/3 cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved.

Amaretto Cocoa Mix from recipelink.com

Have ready 8 (1-pint) jars.

Ingredients

10 1/2 C. non-fat dry milk
4 C. confectioners’ sugar
2 (8 oz.) jars Amaretto flavored non-dairy powdered creamer
3 1/2 C. Nestle’s Quik
2 3/4 C. non-dairy powdered creamer
1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and divide among the jars. Yields approximately 8 pint size gift jars.

Gift card instructions

Combine 3 heaping tablespoons of cocoa mix into 1 cup hot water or milk.

Viennese Coffee Balls Mixfrom recipelink.com

Ingredients

2 cups shortbread cookie crumbs or crushed packaged chocolate chip cookies 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 cup chopped toasted almonds
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder (or coffee, if you can’t find)
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

Layer ingredients into a 1 quart canning jar, tapping gently on the counter to settle before adding the next layer. Add additional nuts to fill any small gaps if necessary.

GIFT TAG DIRECTIONS:

Place contents of jar into a large mixing bowl. Add 4-5 Tbsp espresso, strong coffee, or water, using just enough to moisten. Form into 1 1/2 inch balls, rolling in powdered sugar. Place on a sheet of waxed paper and let stand ’til dry (about 1 hour). Before serving, roll again in powdered sugar if desired. Store in airtight container.

Rainbow Bath Oil

Ingredients

1/2 c light oil (sunflower, canola)
1/2 c distilled water or rosewater
2 drops blue food color
2 drops red food color
25 drops fragrance (optional)

Instructions

Use a clear bottle – fancy, corked bottles look nice. Pour the oil, optional fragrance and blue food color into bottle. Shake gently to blend. In a separate container mix water and red food coloring (rosewater can be found in some grocery stores by alcoholic drink mixes.) Pour colored water into bottle with oil. To use shake gently to mix colors. Pour small amount into bath water.

Honey Vanilla Bath

Ingredients

1/2 c sunflower or canola oil
1/4 c honey
1/2 c bubble bath (find something scented lightly or with a scent to compliment the vanilla and honey)
1 T vanilla extract

Instructions

Mix well and put in airtight bottle. Shake gently before using. Pour 1/4 c under running water.

Ocean Bath

Ingredients

4 cup coarse sea salt (look at natural food stores)
few drops of fragrance oil (optional)

Note: You can find fragrance oil at the health food store or sometimes at your grocery store. They are called essential oils and lemon, orange, lime and grapefruit are probably the cheapest whereas lavender, rosemary and rose are more expensive.

Instructions

This looks pretty for a gift if packaged in a glass jar. Add a large shell for a scoop and add these instructions: Use 1/4-1/2 c per bath.

Easy Body Scrub Recipe from home gifts made easy.com

Ingredients

1 cup finely ground salt
1/3 cup (approx) sweet almond oil or other carrier oil
8 drops grapefruit essential oil, 8 drops bergamot oil, 4 drops peppermint oil

Instructions

In a glass or ceramic bowl, add essential oil to salt and stir thoroughly. Add almond oil gradually, stirring continuously. Stop when the scrub reaches the consistence of moist sand. Once you’ve made this one, go ahead and try out some other essential oil combinations! Pack it into a pretty jar and add this warning: Don’t use a salt scrub immediately after shaving your legs – it will sting! Instead, use the scrub before shaving. The oils left on your skin will lubricate the blade and make shaving smoother.

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