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December 22, 2008

Cheap And Easy Handmade Gifts

Chances are if you're not done Christmas shopping yet, it's going to be to late to order things on-line and have them arrive in time for Christmas. Maybe money is running low and you still have a handful of folks to find a gift for.

If you have a low budget, a little bit of time, a creative or crafty bent, you can make some nice personal items for the stragglers on your Christmas list. And they're nature friendly, too

I got this idea from Martha Stewart years ago. Homemade bath salts:
2 Cups Epsom salts
1 Cup Baking Soda
1-2 drops of essential oil
1-2 drops of food coloring
Measure out Epsom salts into a bowl and add food coloring. Mix until you get an even color. Add essential oil and mix to distribute. Add baking soda, mix and decant into a pretty jar and dress with a bow.

Rice bags:
I used the good portions of my tired massage linens to sew 4" x 6" bags.
Fill them with 2-1/2 Cups of uncooked rice.
You can make a "pillow case" with pretty fabric for a washable cover.
Mine fit into a ziploc sandwich bag. Make sure you include directions on their use:
Heat in the microwave for no more than one minute or you will scorch the rice and possibly create burns. Place bag on tired or aching muscles. Should hold heat for 20 minutes. Can also be stored in the freezer and used as a cold pack.
I got disconcerted looks from my customers when I gave these as gifts to my regular clients. I'm sure they were thinking, "gee, all I got was a bag of rice!" when they left, but many came back and thanked me profusely for such a handy self-care tool.

Some of the best ornaments on our tree are the ones we made or got from friends. Dressing the tree became a walk down memory lane every Christmas when ornaments were unearthed from their wrappings. Many have a sentiment on the back with a date or a name. Make your own ornaments this year and give as gifts. They will become more valuable to the recipient each year.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at December 22, 2008 10:11 AM