Bath Salt Ornaments: An Easy Essential Oil Gift for the Holidays

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December 16, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 7 Comments

Discover how to make easy DIY bath salt ornaments with lavender essential oil in just 15-minutes for easy last minute holiday gifts for friends and family as well as teachers, coworkers, neighbors — or anyone else on your holiday gift list.

Bath Salt Ornaments: An Easy Essential Oil Gift Idea for the Holidays

Gift giving can be a challenge. Especially if you want to give a homemade gift that’s not only meaningful, but also natural. These easy DIY bath salt ornaments are the perfect homemade holiday gift idea. An easy essential oil gift, these lavender bath salts ornaments are ready in just 15 minutes for last minute gift giving this holiday season.

Keep reading to learn how to make your own DIY bath salt ornaments with lavender essential oil. Plus discover great essential oil gifts you can buy year round for all your gift giving needs.

Lavender Bath Salt Ornaments Recipe

Yield: 3 Bath Salt Ornaments

Ingredients:

2 Cups Epsom salt
1 1/2 Cups Dead Sea salt
2 Tablespoons dried lavender flowers
20 drops lavender essential oil

Tools & Materials:

Bowl
Measuring Cups
Fillable Mason Jar Ornaments (Find them here or here)
Spoon

Instructions:

Using measuring cups, measure out both the Epsom salt and the Dead Sea salt. Combine in a glass bowl.

Next, use a Tablespoon to measure out the lavender flowers. Add them to the bowl with the salt.

Then add twenty drops of lavender essential oil. Use a spoon to mix well, ensuring all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Finally, spoon your lavender bath salts evenly into the empty ornaments. Then screw on the lids.

Your lavender essential oil, bath salt ornaments are now ready for gift giving!

Yield: 3 Bath Salt Ornaments

DIY Bath Salt Ornaments

Make these quick and easy DIY bath salt ornaments with lavender essential oil in just 15-minutes for easy last minute holiday gifts.

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

2 Cups Epsom salt
1 1/2 Cups Dead Sea salt
2 Tablespoons dried lavender flowers
20 drops lavender essential oil

Tools

Bowl
Measuring Cups
Fillable Mason Jar Ornaments
Spoon

Instructions

Measure out the Epsom salt and the Dead Sea salt into a glass bowl.
Add the lavender flowers and essential oils to the bowl with the salt.
Use a spoon to mix well, ensuring all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Remove the lids from the ornaments. Spoon the lavender bath salts evenly into the empty ornaments and screw on the lids.

Easy essential oil gifts for friends and family. How to make easy DIY bath salt ornaments with lavender essential oil in just 15-minutes for easy last minute holiday gifts or wedding favors. Made with skin nourishing Epsom salt and Dead Sea salt, this easy homemade holiday gift idea is perfect for bath time self care. These easy DIY bath salt ornaments are the perfect natural holiday gift idea. Plus discover more bath salts recipes and essential oil gift ideas for your favorite people.

More Bath Salt Recipes to Try with Your Bath Salt Ornaments

If lavender essential oil isn’t really your thing, you can also substitute another essential oil (or essential oil blend) of your choice. Alternately, you can also try one of my other wonderful bath salt recipes in your bath salt ornaments.

More Essential Oil Gifts

Don’t have time this holiday season to get your DIY on? Following are some of my favorite essential oil gifts available on Etsy. (You can check out my full collection of curated holiday gift gift guides on Etsy here.)

Another great essential oil gift idea is for a custom essential oil perfume blend. Learn how to make essential oil perfumes (with essential oil blend recipes) plus how to make your essential oil scents last longer here.

To discover more essential oil gifts and natural skin care recipes, be sure to follow Soap Deli News across all your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow Soap Deli News blog now via Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram. Or sign up via feedburner to receive an email every time I share a new post.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and body, bath salt recipe, bath salts, bath tutorial, Christmas gift, christmas gifts, Christmas ornament, crafts, diy, easy, essential oil recipes, essential oils, gift idea, holiday gift, holiday gift giving, lavender, natural skin care, ornaments

Bath Bomb Ornaments: Easy Homemade Gift Idea for the Holidays

December 12, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

DIY bath bomb ornaments are the perfect holiday gifts. Not only are these fun Christmas ornaments easy to make, they allow you to gift someone special an extra opportunity for self care. What better gift to give for the holidays, than a relaxing bath time staycation? Learn how to make your own homemade bath bomb ornaments for your friends and family with this simple tutorial from guest blogger, Melanie Sugalski, of Nature’s Oil.

Holiday Bath Bomb Ornaments: Two Ways

As the temperature plummets and snow starts flying, you realize it’s mid December and there’s still a few people on your gift list. Before you drive to the mall in a panic and fight the crowds, we have a last-minute, homemade holiday gift idea that’s both festive and functional. DIY bath bomb ornaments are the perfect holiday gifts, allowing that special someone the chance to be relieved of stress and enjoy the magic of the holidays.

There are two different ways to make DIY bath bomb ornaments depending on your schedule and how involved you would like to get. One iteration offers the chance to make bath bomb crumbles from scratch. For those with a tighter schedule, there’s an alternative recipe using ready-made bath bombs to save time.

Option #1 – Bath Bomb Scrumbles from Scratch

Ingredients:

2 lb. Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda)
1 lb. Citric Acid
10 – 30 drops Skin Safe Fragrance or Essential Oil
Colorant
1 tsp. Decorative Botanicals, if desired

Supplies:

Large Spoon or Whisk
4 Clear Plastic Ornaments
Funnel
Wax Paper
Baking Sheet
Bowl

Instructions:

Add citric acid and sodium bicarbonate in a bowl followed by 10 to 30 drops of your favorite fragrance oil or essential oil. The more drops added, the stronger the fragrance will become. Slowly mix the ingredients until they are well blended.

For a pop of color, mix in different colorants. We recommend skin safe colorants that won’t irritate or dye your skin such as charcoal or dash of red and green clay. Glitter also adds a sparkle to let your present shine. Don’t feel obligated to color your bath bomb ornament, white mixtures can make the perfect snowball or snowman.

Remove the top of the ornament and use a funnel to pour the bath bomb mixture into the ornament. Add finishing touches like decorative botanicals in the bulb before securely closing the top.

Option #2 – Using Ready-Made Bath Bombs

Ingredients:

3 Bath Bombs (find another great holiday bath bomb recipe here)

Supplies:

Resealable Plastic Bag
Rolling Pin
4 Clear Plastic Ornaments
Funnel

Instructions:

Place one bath bomb into a resealable plastic bag, press out the air, and seal it shut. Using a rolling pin or another hard object, carefully crush the bath bomb on a hard surface. Continue to break down the bath bomb until there are no large chunks left.

Remove the top of the plastic ornament and pour in the crushed bath bomb using the funnel. Another option is cutting a bottom corner of the resealable plastic bag containing the bath bomb mixture and pouring it directly into the ornament. Alternate layers between different bath bombs for a colorful design. Once the ornament is filled, replace and secure the top.

Ideas for Decorating Your Bath Bomb Ornaments

For more festive fun, add small decorations like ribbons or a personal touch to your bath bomb ornaments using metallic paint pens. Or glue a mini wreath ornament (just cut off the string) onto the front of your Christmas ornaments for another fun decorating idea.

Once you’ve decorated your bath bomb ornaments, all that’s left is to present this homemade holiday gift to family and friends. These ornaments are perfect to hang on the tree until you’re ready for a relaxing bath.

How to Use This Holiday Gift Idea

To use these holiday bath bomb ornaments, just remove the top and sprinkle the contents into a nice warm tub. Slowly sink in and let the hustle and bustle of the holidays slip away.

If you like these DIY bath bomb Christmas ornaments, don’t forget to pin this post for later. You can also discover more ways to make bath bomb along with numerous bath bomb recipes for year round gifting here. Or learn tips and tricks for making the perfect bath bombs on your first try.

To purchase the fragrances or essential oils for these DIY bath bomb ornaments, be sure to visit Nature’s Oil. You can also follow Nature’s Oil on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and body, bath bomb recipe, bath bombs, bath tutorial, christmas, Christmas gift, christmas gifts, Christmas ornament, crafts, diy, diy crafts, easy, holiday gift, holidays, homemade gift, last minute gift, ornaments, self care

Christmas Soaps for Holiday Stocking Stuffers: Beautiful Handcrafted Artisan Soaps They’ll Love

December 9, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

Need creative ideas for your holiday stocking stuffers? Shop small from among this beautiful curated collection of handcrafted artisan Christmas soaps!

Make a Difference By Shopping Small

Handmade artisan Christmas soaps make the perfect stocking stuffers for the holidays. When I used to sell handcrafted artisan soaps on my farmers market in the way way back, everyone would scoop up bars and bars of soaps for their stocking stuffers. It almost made standing for hours in the bitter cold worth it. And while I did enjoy my time as a seller – and the people most especially! – I don’t think I will ever go back to the chaos and challenges that come with selling handmade products throughout the holiday season. (Or summer even. I will never forgot those 100°F temps and having to keep cool by soaking my feet in a giant bucket of ice water.)

Having been a soap seller I now find it more important than ever to support other fellow artisans, whether they make handmade soaps or something else. Shopping small really does make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who craft their own products by hand. By supporting independent artists, you are not only directing supporting them and their families, but your community as well. When you shop from a small business 67% of the money you spend stays local. And that can have a big impact for everyone you care about.

Handcrafted Christmas Soaps for Holiday Stocking Stuffers

While I encourage all of you to get out and support your local artisans at seasonal holiday craft fairs and farmers markets this year, you can also avoid some of that insane holiday bustle AND still make a difference by buying from handmade soap artisans online. Following is a curated collection of my favorite Christmas soaps this from Etsy soap artisans. (You can also browse more handcrafted artisan soaps. Or check out these other handmade holiday gift ideas.)

Gingerbread Man Christmas Soap via Sassy Muggins

Clockwise from top left:
Christmas Tree Soap via Beach City Boutique
Gingerbread Scented Cupcake Soap via Ruby Fizz Soaphouse
Christmas Tree Soap Cupcakes via Bleu Envy Beauty Bar
Candy Cane Spa Gift Box via Sunbasil Soap

Clockwise from top left:
Mrs. Claus Cookie Soap Bars via Lucky Tree Soap Co.
Holiday Soap Gift Set via Nocturn Soap
Santa’s Belt Soap via Dirty Diva Soaps
Ya’ll Know Rudolph Soap Bar via LuBree Handmade Soap Co.

Left to right:
Gingerbread Man Soap Bar via LuBree Handmade Soap Co.
Funny Santa Soap via So Cute Soap
The Grinch Christmas Holiday Soap via The Therapeutic Yogi

Clockwise from top left:
Candy Cane Soap via The Fine Farmhouse
Frosty Snowman Soap via Bubble Bloom Co.
Christmas Citrus Handmade Soap Bar via Shimmer Soapery
Snowman Goat Milk Soap via Soapisticated Suds

Clockwise from top left:
Gentle Santa Soap via Tailored Soap
Natural Christmas Charcoal Soap via ADK High Peaks Beauty
Santa Suit Goat Milk Soap via Soapisticated Suds
Peppermint Twist Candy Cane Soap via Ruby Fizz Soaphouse

Left to right:
Christmas Oranges Soap Gift Box via Gifansy
Snowman Candy Cane Soap via Love Lee Soaps
Santa’s Cookies Soap Set via B Sweet Soap

I hope you love these handcrafted Christmas soaps as much as I do! If you’d rather make your own soaps for the holidays, you can explore all of my homemade soap recipes here. Or check out my holiday DIY projects for other handmade Christmas gifts you can craft at home. Explore more DIY Christmas gift ideas on my Pinterest board here along with these creative Christmas gift wrapping ideas on Soap Deli News.

For more DIY ideas throughout the year, be sure to follow Soap Deli News across all your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me now via Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter.

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Homemade Gift Ideas, Shopping Tagged With: christmas, Christmas gift, christmas gifts, etsy, gift idea, gift ideas, gifts for women, handmade, handmade soap, shop small, shopping, stocking stuffer, stocking stuffers

Homemade Winter Gifts for Your Seasonal Holiday Gift List

December 11, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Not all handmade gifts are created equal. So it can be hard hunting for homemade gift ideas that you know will truly be appreciated. To take some of the guesswork out your holiday gift list, I’ve put together a gift guide filled with homemade winter gifts.

So whether you’re crafting handmade gifts for a winter holiday, or making birthday or hostess gifts, this collection of homemade winter gift ideas are perfect for everyone on your list!

Homemade Winter Gifts & Ideas

1. Hot Chocolate Lotion Bars

These DIY hot chocolate lotion bars from Eco Living Mama (pictured) make lovely seasonal stocking stuffers and handmade holiday gift ideas. Not only do they smell amazing, they made with all natural, good-for-your-skin ingredients. Make it.

2. Hot Chocolate Milk Bath Salts

Another chocolate inspired homemade gift idea, these hot chocolate milk bath salts from Everything Pretty are the perfect homemade winter gift. Not only do these bath salts soothe seasonally dry skin, they’re the perfect way to relax amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Make it.

3. Sugar Plum Body Butter Bars

These silky, lightweight body butter bars from Humblebee & Me are made with plum oil for its moisturizing properties and rich, seasonal scent. They can be tinted with mica, if desired, and are perfectly sized for stocking stuffers for simple homemade winter gifts for friends and coworkers. Make it.

4. Homemade Mulling Spices

These fragrant, homemade mulling spices from Hello Glow make wonderful homemade winter gifts for wine lovers. (Trust me, I know!) However, this recipe works beautifully with bourbon as well. Included with the printable recipe are easy instructions for making citrus ginger mulled wine to include with your gift. Make it.

5. Peppermint Orange Body Butter

A recipe from one of my guest posts on The Nourished Life, this peppermint orange body butter recipe helps to nourish and protect dry, winter skin. It’s a super easy homemade holiday gift to make while the fresh citrus mint fragrance is perfect for the season. Make it.

6. Christmas Tree Bath Bombs

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, these Christmas tree bath bombs from Onion Rings and Things (pictured) are a winter delight when taking time out for self care. Scent them with essential oils for natural homemade winter gifts for your friends. They’re perfect for helping ease the pressures of the holiday season and forcing that much needed time off from the stress of daily life. Make it.

(While this bath bomb recipe calls for food coloring, I recommend using a bath bomb colorant or lake dye instead for a colorful bath that won’t stain your tub.)

7. Skin Softening Hand Scrub

Winter is rough on dry skin. However, it can be even more brutal on dry hands. Help your friends, family and even teachers (who are always washing their hands) keep their hands soft and moisturized this winter with this easy skin softening hand scrub recipe from Soap Deli News. Make it.

8. Holiday Gifts in a Jar

Sugar scrubs are so easy to make. Why not make a trio of three mason jar sugar scrubs for your homemade winter gifts? No Compass Necessary shares their natural sugar scrub recipes for peppermint, vanilla spice and frankincense sugar scrubs. Plus there are free printable labels to make gift giving even easier! Make it.

9. Fizzy Bath Salt Recipe with Essential Oils

It’s hard to avoid a cold during the holiday season. So why not give a gift that tackles all of one’s holiday woes – winter sniffles included? This fizzy bath salt recipe from Soap Deli News fizzes like a bath bomb but is SO much easier to craft. While taking a time out to relax in the tub, the combination of Epsom salt and essential oils help to clear nasal passages and ease sore muscles. Make it.

10. Hot Cocoa Bath Bombs

If you’ve mastered the art of bath bombs then this DIY from A Cultivated Nest is a must for your homemade winter gifts. These cute homemade hot chocolate bath fizzies look like something you could eat, complete with “icing” on top so you can wow your friends and coworkers with your mad crafting skills. Make it.

11. Scented Dry Oil Body Spray

This best homemade holiday gift idea for a DIY dry oil body spray from Soap Deli News (pictured) is a long time Pinterest favorite. It makes lovely stocking stuffers or homemade winter gifts for friends and family. Make it.

12. Homemade Massage Candles

Candles are another amazing way to enjoy your favorite scents. However, these homemade massage candles aren’t just great for making the room smell great. They can also be massaged onto skin once the wick is blown out. Then simply massage onto skin to condition dry patches and add a wonderful holiday scent. Make it.

13. Simple Solid Perfumes

Solid perfumes make wonderful homemade winter gifts for friends. This easy DIY perfume trio from Hello Glow using natural essential oils to create three lovely fragrance blends – energizing, calming and joyful. If aromatherapy isn’t quite your thing, swap them out with fragrance oils in your favorite seasonal scents. Make it.

14. Hand Poured Herbal Candles

Candles always make lovely homemade winter gifts for just about anyone. I especially love gifting candles as handmade hostess gifts throughout the year. These DIY hand poured herbal candles from The Herbal Academy are especially perfect for the winter season. Naturally scented with simple essential oil blends and botanicals, these candles are made with toxin free soy wax. Make it.

15. Essential Oil Room Sprays

This trio of essential oil room sprays from A life Adjacent are another wonderful gift for the hostess this winter at holiday gatherings. Crafted using only distilled water, vodka and essential oils, you can make room sprays scented in cola, mulled orange cider, vanilla latte and hot cocoa for natural home scents throughout the season. Make it.

16. Homemade Winter Hand Scrub

We all suffer from skin that feels dry and tight in the winter. Our hand, especially, tend to suffer from hand washing and other daily activities. Help your friends and loved ones pamper their hands with this homemade winter hand scrub from Lemon Peony (pictured!) Make it.

17. Shimmering Body Butter

This cardamom scented shimmering body butter from Wild for Nature is non-greasy. So moisturizing dry hands this winter won’t leave behind those messy oily fingerprints. It’s warm spiced fragrance is perfect for winter weather, while the addition of bronze mica makes it holiday party perfect! Make it.

18. Eggnog Soy Wax Candle

This delightful candle tutorial from Jojotastic is crafted with soy wax and natural essential oils for a fun spin off the popular holiday drink. Infused with with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla essential oils, this soy wax candle looks and smells just like eggnog! Make it.

19. Handmade Rosemary Mint Soap

Everyone uses soap, which is part of why it makes such a great handmade gift ideas. These rosemary mint soap bars from The Turquoise Home are made using a natural melt and pour soap base in addition to honey to nourish dry winter skin. Rosemary and peppermint essential oil then add a delightful seasonal scent. Make it.

(Prefer to make cold process soaps for your homemade winter gifts? Try this rosemary mint cold process soap recipe! And don’t forget to check out these pretty gift wrap ideas for your homemade holiday soaps.)

20. Stovetop Potpourri

This beautiful jars of stovetop potpourri from Tidbits will not only make your own home smell like the holidays, they’re also shelf stable. So they’re perfect for homemade winter gifts for neighbors, teachers and coworkers – all the people you’re not quite sure what to give for gifts. Choose from three delightful home fragrance blends with this cost effective homemade gift DIY that also comes with free printable labels. Make it.

21. Gingerbread Bath Bombs

Gingerbread is always at the top of my list for homemade winter gifts. There’s just something about those warm spices and the fragrant scent that make the season feel comforting and inviting. These gingerbread bath bombs from Beauty Crafter (pictured) are no exception and are perfect for stocking stuffers and other seasonal winter gifts. Make it.

22. Gingerbread Men Soap Bars

There are so many wonderful ways to gift gingerbread for the holidays, I couldn’t stop with just one DIY ideas. These super easy, glittering gingerbread soaps from Soap Deli News are made with just three ingredients and are perfect for last minute homemade winter gifts for friends and family. Make it.

23. Gingerbread Man Soaps

If glitter isn’t your preference, not to worry. These 15-minute DIY gingerbread man soaps from Happiness Is Homemade offer a more traditional take on gingerbread. Simply add a bit of soap paint to your finished gingerbread soaps for the cutest stocking stuffers ever. Make it.

24. Gingerbread Men Snow Globe Soaps

Snow globes are always a favorite during winter. This creative homemade soap tutorial from Soap Deli News shows you step-by-step how to make your own DIY snow globe soaps with little gingerbread men hidden inside. They’re not only super cute, but they’re also a favorite among both kids and adults alike! Make it.

25. Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies always make delightful homemade winter gifts. The warm seasonal spices are definitely my favorite this time of year! This gingerbread cookies recipe from Evermine, however, offer a unique twist on traditional gingerbread cookies. Each gingerbread man cookies is designed to hold a candy cane inside it’s grasp! Make it.

26. Boozy Wood Infused Bourbon

Gifts for guys can be hard. However, this DIY for wood infused liquor from Man Made DIY (pictured) is perfect for homemade winter gifts for him. Simply infuse a piece of grilling wood – along with dried fruits and spices if desired – to create unique holiday alcohol blends that can be enjoyed throughout the winter holiday season. Make it.

(Not sure about making your own infused alcohol without a little extra guidance? Try one of the DIY liquor infusion kits from Vena’s Fizz House for all your favorite liquors.)

27. Needle Felted Wine Bags

Don’t just gift a bottle of wine this holiday season. Gift it with your own handcrafted needle felted wine bag! Not only are these wine bags WAY easier to make than you might think, they are also reusable and regiftable making them perfect homemade winter gifts for the eco-conscious. Make it.

28. Wood Burned Rolling Pin

This DIY allows you to explore your own creativity even if you’re short on time. The perfect gift for bakers and foodies alike, these easy wood burned rolling pins from Delia Creates can be customized in minutes with just a simple, inexpensive wood burning kit. Make it.

29. Marzipan Pinecone Treats

The fact that these marzipan pinecone treats from Country Hill Cottage look just like pinecones delight me to no end. A simple no bake holiday gift, these pinecones are made using marzipan, almond slices, cocoa, and spices for unique homemade winter gifts. Make it.

30. Gourmet Vanilla Extract

If you have an instant pot then you’re going to love this homemade holiday gift idea. Tidbits teaches you how to make your own gourmet vanilla extracts for your favorite foodies in three gourmet flavors – chocolate vanilla, cinnamon vanilla and coconut vanilla – in your instant pot. Plus there are free printable labels to make your gift look perfect! Make it.

31. Simple Beeswax Candles

These simple, natural beeswax candles from Hello Nest only take five minutes to create. Perfect for any minimalist in your life, this gift also makes a lovely addition to anyone’s home decor. Even better, you can buy beeswax sheets with Prime shipping for the perfect last minute holiday gift idea. Make it.

32. Cookie Cutter Fudge

This homemade cookie cutter fudge recipe from Crafty Morning is perfect for the baker in your life. Not only are your friends and family gifted with homemade fudge – yum! – but your gift comes wrapped inside a cookie cutter that can be added to their collection. Make it.

33. Peppermint Patties

Peppermint patties are one of my all time favorite candies. These homemade peppermint patties, however, are the most amazing thing ever! Learn how to make your own at The Gunny Sack. Then top your handmade treats with crushed peppermint for delish homemade winter gifts everyone will love. Make it.

34. Peppermint Mocha Salt Scrub

Coffee scrubs are touted for anti-aging skin care benefits. But when you combo a coffee scrub with mocha, you’ve got the perfect homemade holiday gift for the coffee lovers in you life. Learn to make a salt scrub with a caffeine punch at Everything Pretty. Make it.

35. Christmas Tree Body Wash

This fragrant, bubbly Christmas tree body wash recipe from Humblebee & Me makes great homemade winter gifts for those surprise guests. Or slip them inside your family’s stockings for homemade skin care they’ll love bathing in all winter long. Make it.

More Homemade Winter Gifts & Ideas

Didn’t quite find the perfect homemade winter gifts for your holiday gift list? Take a peek at these DIY Christmas gift ideas. Or shop from my handmade holiday gift guides below.

For homemade winter gifts and ideas, you can find me on your favorite social media platforms. You can follow me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, DIY Craft Project, Gift Guides, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and body, christmas, Christmas gift, christmas gifts, craft, diy, gift guide, gift idea, gift ideas, handmade gifts, holiday gift, holiday gift giving, holidays, homemade gift, winter

Handmade Holiday Gifts & Ideas (Your Etsy Gift Guide for the Holiday Season)

November 29, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

If you need ideas for handmade holiday gifts, then you’re to love this year’s Etsy gift guide! Not only is there something for everyone on your list, but I’ve also met and/or purchased from quite a few of these amazing crafters. So you can shop with confidence with any one of these creative small business owners.

I love buying handmade. Every since I discovered (and went a little crazy) buying prints from The Black Apple (ie. Emily Winfield Martin) on Etsy in the way way back I was hooked. It wasn’t long until I was selling art prints of my own (surprise!) followed by soap later on. In the midst of this, I also bought tons of jewelry and soap from other artisans.

I even bought handknit merino wool socks from an Etsy seller in Canada to keep my toes warm when I started selling my own soaps at my local farmers market. This in turn led to an entire new world of handmade artisans for me to fall in love with. So keeping with that theme of creating and buying handmade, here are some of my favorite handmade holiday gifts of the season – all from Etsy, of course.

Handmade Holiday Gifts

One of my favorite handmade holiday gifts to give – and receive! – is pottery. Not only is it beautiful, it’s also functional. Making it the perfect handmade gift for anyone on your holiday gift list. I feel incredibly fortunate to live in an area abundant in talented potters. Many of whom pass their gift forward either through teaching or internships. I recently met a new potter who I fell in love with on sight. (Well, her pottery. Although she is remarkable as well.)

I met Ingrid Chase earlier this month at our city’s biannual RIOT Rooster – a yearly indie craft fair. Not only is Ingrid local to my hometown, she’s also an art teacher. Her online shop, IMC Clay, is filled with unique, one-of-a-kind mugs, succulent planters, vases, ring dishes and even earrings! So there’s something for everyone on your list.

I’m especially fond of the texture and hand sculpted elements that Ingrid adds to each of her pieces. It not only makes her work unique (and recognizable) but it also makes each piece she produces its own little work of art.

My dear friend, Bambi, and I both purchased items from Ingrid this month, though selfishly as a treat for ourselves. Bambi bought a pair of one-of-a-kind (reversible!) earrings while I purchased what is my new favorite coffee mug. You can shop with Ingrid for your handmade holiday gifts (and self indulgences) on Etsy here.

Bright Life Skincare is another wonderful local artisan that I had the pleasure of shopping with during RIOT Rooster. Izzy Donahue sells a variety of natural skin care products in her Etsy shop. Her products include bath soaks, lip balms, sugar scrubs, muscle rubs and facial serums. While many of Izzy’s products are well suited for stocking stuffers, they also are perfect for creating a handmade holiday gift basket. For a holiday themed gift, consider gifting her peppermint foot soak.

I also purchased two lip scrub and lip balm duos from Unbound Elements at the same event to give as handmade holiday gifts this winter. Also local to the area, Lyndsey Dickerson is a talented artisan who crafts not only natural beauty products, but amazing jewelry as well. Her beard wax and mens fragrances make great handmade holiday gifts and ideas for him. While her hot chocolate lip balm is perfect for the kids’ stockings.

For handmade holiday gifts for her, I’m fond of Lyndsey’s coffee body scrub and butters. However, I also love her one-of-a-kind rings, earrings and necklaces.

Or consider this lovely essential oil gift box. This adorable wooden gift box includes a set of two essential oil blends of your choice, one diffuser necklace, description cards and two aromatherapy inhalers.

Lyndsey’s other half, Stuart Harrison, also has an Etsy shop called Splintered Thought. He handcrafts heart-shaped wooden jewelry boxes that are perfect for anyone planning to pop the question over the holidays.

Or, if you have a teenage daughter, consider these handcrafted unicorn fantasy stacking rings. These can be purchased as a group or individually depending on your budget.

I also love this more masculine skull ring for the guys. All of these rings are made by another local artisan, Piper Lane of Magpiper Metalworks. While she did not attend RIOT Rooster this year, I did meet her there the year prior. In addition to rings, Piper also sells earrings, bracelets and pendants.

I recently made a purchase from Hoops and Expectations for a birthday gift for my dear friend, Bambi. After staying with her during my separation, I learned some pretty nifty things about her that I didn’t know before. As it turns out she is completely kick ass at embroidery. She has a small trunk that she keeps on display in home. One night, we opened up that trunk, and I got to see inside. The trunk was filled with the most beautifully embroidered pillows. I expected her to tell me they were machine made, as the designs were so detailed and completely perfect. But no. Bambi had made them all herself!

While these days Bambi makes and sells her own seed bead jewelry, she used to sell embroidered pillows when she lived in Wisconsin. So knowing her love of David Bowie and her desire to find the time to embroider again, I bought her an awesome David Bowie embroidery kit for her birthday. However, if David Bowie isn’t your thing – or your friend’s – Hoops and Expectations sells other complete DIY embroidery kits for your fellow crafters. In her shop you find all kinds of fun kits from cacti to the Grinch! In fact, I’m thinking of trying out one of these amazing kits for myself in the New Year. You can browse all of the designs offered by Hoops and Expectations in her Etsy shop here.

If you’re looking for houseware related handmade holiday gifts, then be sure to check out Highland Ridge Rustics. Located in Tennessee, this shop offers hand cut metal Christmas tree ornaments, wall hooks, signs and other home decor and even products to organize your life. I bought a mail organizer from them around two years ago and absolutely loved it! However, lately I’ve been eyeing the line of handmade trivets they offer. These come in other shapes, including one the shape of Texas, and make a great gift for anyone who loves to cook or entertain.

And, of course, no soapmakers handmade holiday gift guide would be complete without soap! So here are a few of my favorite handmade artisan soaps of the season! Clockwise: Two-Pack of Holiday Soaps from Savory and Rose, Snow Covered Fir Tree Soap from The Village Soapsmith, The Night Before Christmas Soap from Owl Natural Soaps and Snowflake Christmas Soap from The Charming Frog. For more handmade holiday soap gifts, be sure to check out my full curated collection of artisan soaps on Etsy here.

More Handmade Holiday Gifts & Ideas

Didn’t quite find what you were looking for? Try one of these other Etsy gift guides for handmade holiday gifts.

Also be sure to check out this collection of pretty ways to wrap your gifts this holiday season!

For handmade holiday gifts and ideas, you can follow me on your favorite social media platforms. You can follow me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Handmade Home, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: Christmas gift, christmas gifts, etsy, gift idea, handmade gifts, holiday gift, holiday gift giving