How fun would this shirt be to pull out of the Christmas boxes every year? I’ve got a shirt for my oldest, now I’ve got to make one for my youngest!

Here’s how you can put together the No Sew Snowman Shirt:

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• White t-shirt 
• Crafting felt in black and orange
• Fabric glue
• Iron (optional)
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Begin by ironing out your shirt as well as the felt sheets. This step is optional, but it may help you apply your snowman face. If you choose to iron, just use a low heat and no steam.

2. Cut out the shapes you will need to create the snowman face. I cut out a large triangle for a nose using the orange felt. Then, I cut out a few large circles from the black fabric to use as the eyes and buttons. For the mouth, I cut out smaller but uniform black circles.

3. Add a small dab of fabric glue (it will help the felt adhere better than hot glue, plus it will keep the pieces together in the washing machine) to the back of the felt pieces. Assemble the face of your snowman. Press the two large circles for eyes first, then the carrot nose, then the coal mouth. Finish by adding a few large buttons under the mouth.

4. Hold the felt pieces in place until secure. Try hanging your shirt on a hanger so it has plenty of space to dry and not be bothered.

5. Once dry, your shirt can be worn and enjoyed! Wash on a gentle cycle and never machine dry. Turn inside out before washing and your shirt should last for seasons to come!

Today’s homemade gift idea can’t get much simpler. So, I happen to think it would make a perfect last-minute gift!  Simply head to your nearest dollar store, pick up a fancy dish towel and some ribbon and get started!

Here’s how to create a No Sew Dish Towel Apron that any chef would love to receive:

DIY No Sew Dish Towel Apron

Supplies needed:

• Thick ribbon, at least 1 yard
• Cotton dishtowel
• Iron on fabric tape or fabric adhesive
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Begin by folding your towel into the size of apron you want. You can fold it down to about 8 inches by 8 inches square for a child, or simply fold the towel in half for an adult. If you wish for a longer apron, manipulate the fabric to get the shape you wish. For the sample you see here, I folded the towel once in half, then folded each end in about 2 inches.
2. Apply a strip of iron on fabric tape OR fabric adhesive to the inside of your folded seams. Press and iron the towel if needed. The idea is to use the tape or adhesive to secure the shape of the towel.
3. Apply a length of adhesive tape or glue to the top of your towel. Press the length of ribbon into it. Press and iron if needed. The ribbon should now be adhered to the towel, leaving you two lengths on each side for tying.
4. Once your adhesive is dry or ironed in place, your towel can be used. Simply use the excess ribbon as ties, tying them behind your back to hold the apron in place.

“Twizz the Season” Treat Bags

I have got the cutest, last minute gift idea for you! Kids young and old will love this under the tree or in their stockings! Since I supply the printable tags for free, this will be a really budget friendly and quick idea to put together. Especially if you pick up your supplies at the dollar store!

MATERIALS:

• Twizzlers candy
• Clear small treat bags
• Stapler
• Scissors
• “Twizz the Season” printable tags

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Using scissors or a knife, carefully cut the Twizzlers candy so that the pieces fit easily into your clear treat bags with some empty room at the top.
2. Fill the treat bags with some of the Twizzler pieces.
3. Fold the top of each treat bag over a bit, and staple it closed.
4. Cut out the “Twizz the Season” printable gift tag.
5. Line the tag up on the top of the front of each bag, and staple it on in each corner.

Related holiday gift ideas:

• Curried Lentil Soup in Jars
• Peppermint Brownie Jars
• Christmas Tree Bath Bombs
• Scented Candy Cane Play Dough

Homemade Christmas Tree Bath Bombs

Bath bombs are easy to make and are always well received as gifts. They’re made of ingredients that will make your bath water fizz and smell delicious by releasing essential oils. These Christmas Tree bath bombs can be made in just a few minutes, even by beginners! They’re also the perfect size for putting into organza bags to give as gifts over the holidays.

Bath Bomb Ingredients:

• 1 Cup baking soda
• 1/2 Cup citric acid
• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• Green food coloring
• A few drops of essential oil (your choice)
• Spritz of water, as needed
• Silicone Christmas Tree mold

Bath Bomb Directions:

1. Combine the baking soda and citric acid.
2. Add in the coconut oil and then the water a little bit at a time and combine to mix using your hands. You want it slightly dense but not soaked through.
3. Add in several drops of green food coloring and use your hand to thoroughly mix.
4. Spoon the mixture into the Christmas Tree mold filling each cavity about halfway. Use your fingers to press down.
5. Spoon the remaining mixture evenly into the cavities and continue to press down.
6. Set the Christmas Tree bath bombs in a cool/dry spot for 24 hours to allow them to set.

*Makes 6 Christmas Tree Bath Bombs

To use them, just drop a bath bomb into your warm bath water. Watch as it fizzes and dissolves before your eyes while releasing the essential oil.

Other Easy DIY’s:

• Whipped Vanilla Coconut Body Scrub
• Vanilla Bath Bombs
• Pumpkin Pie Sugar Scrub

This is such a simple gift idea that is inexpensive and a great way for kids to use their imaginations rather than grabbing for the electronics.  Today I would love to share my Play Dough Gift idea…Candy Cane Play Dough!

You can make the Candy Cane Play Dough and give that as a gift… or you can fill a jar with the dry ingredients and let your recipients make the play dough themselves at home. Either way, I think it’s a fun and unique gift idea for kids.

Here’s how to make Candy Cane Play Dough:

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup salt
5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil (or 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract)
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 cup cold water
Red washable paint/watercolor
White glitter

DIRECTIONS
1.  In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.

2.  Add the extract, oil and water and mix until well incorporated.

3.  Remove dough from bowl and place on a flat, lightly floured surface. Knead until a soft play dough forms (this takes about 3-4 minutes).

4.   Separate the play dough in half. Set aside one half and place the other in a medium mixing bowl.

5.  Add the red paint/watercolor to the play dough in the bowl and mix until your desired color is achieved. I added about 2 Tablespoons of paint to get a rich red color.

6.  Lay both colors of play dough out on your play surface and sprinkle with glitter. Enjoy making candy canes, peppermint “candies”, etc!

There you have it! A fun and frugal gift idea that kids are sure to enjoy! I’m excited to give it to my daughter, maybe we’ll get to enjoy drinking hot coffee on Christmas morning!

This year for Christmas, I wanted to create something personal and unique for our nieces.  Especially since they have somewhat unique names themselves. I know what it’s like to have an unusual name and not be able to find my name personalized on anything in the stores!

This may not be a surprise to most of you, but I like easy projects. (Easy with a capital ‘E’.) If a craft project will take me longer than an hour to complete, I say forget about it.  This Sharpie mug project is almost embarrassingly easy. Including the mug washing, drawing and baking, these mugs were finished in an hour. And the baking takes 45 minutes!

Here is how to make DIY Sharpie Snowman Mugs:

You will need:

• White china mugs
• oil based paint pens (I used orange and black for my designs)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Oven

1. Head to your nearest dollar store and buy some plain white china mugs. Then hit up Michaels (use the 40% off coupon!) or a craft store that sells oil based paint pens. They must be oil based or the ink will rub off after use.

2. Wash the mugs in hot soapy water. Dry thoroughly. Clean the area you will be drawing on with rubbing alcohol.

3. Start drawing the snowman face. (Copy my finished pictures if you want.) If you make a mistake, the ink rubs off easily with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab.

4. Once you’re satisfied with your drawings, place the mugs on a baking sheet. Then place the tray into a cool oven (placing a cool mug into a hot oven may crack your cup!), set the temperature for 350 degrees, and then bake for 45 minutes.

Note: Be sure to hand wash these mugs! Placing them in the dishwasher could result in the ink being removed.

There you go! World’s most simple, but fun craft project! One I’m sure someone on your gift list is sure to love!

Here are some other homemade gift ideas you may like:

• No Sew Superhero Mitts
• Holiday Simmering Packages
• Hot Chocolate Ornaments
• Homemade Lavender Lotion Bars
• Homemade Sore Muscle Soak
• Scented Candy Cane Play Dough

(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.)

DIY Wine Glass Snow Globes

You guys, I made a Christmas craft!  I’ve been spending all my time baking these days so I wasn’t sure I’d get this done!  And I even love the way it turned out! 

This is one of those projects that make me wonder why I left it until the last minute. It was so easy. The hardest part was hunting down the fake snow (which I found at Walmart). I’m sure you could find everything you need at the dollar store, too.

Here’s what you need to make these Wine Glass Snow Globes:

• Wine glasses
• Little trees and/or figurines
• Fake snow
• Cardboard (I used a cereal box)
• Glue gun
• Pencil
• Pillar candles

First of all, you’ll want to place a glass upside down onto cardboard and trace a circle around the glass.

Using a hot glue gun, attached your objects to the cardboard. (I used trees and a snowman from Michaels)

Once you’re satisfied that your objects are glued down well, fill glass with a few tablespoons of fake snow or glitter.

Next, line the rim of the glass with hot glue and press on cardboard with the objects attached.

Finally, flip them over, then place them where you want to display them, then put a pillar candle on top!

Hope you enjoy this idea! This is the first time I’ve created decor for Christmas!

I thought you guys would like to see what my mom made for a few of her girlfriends for Christmas this year!  They’re Holiday Simmering Packages!  They’ll make any home smell wonderful, just like Christmas!  (They’re not meant for drinking, but for simmering on the stove.) I think I’m even going to make up a few for my girlfriends!

For her recipe, my mom used her dehydrator to dry the oranges, lemons and apples, but you could also dry them in your oven or just use fresh peels!

Print

Holiday Simmering Packages

Ingredients

• 3 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1-2 dry orange slices
• 1-2 dry lemon slices
• 1-2 dry apple slices
• 2 tsp. whole cloves
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 2 tsp. whole spice
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1-2 crushed bay leaves
• 2 tsp. dried mandarin orange peel

Instructions

• Place all the ingredients in a plastic bag.
• Put a label on the bag with these instructions:
• Place ingredients in a pot of water and simmer, adding more water as needed! Makes your house smell wonderful!

These simple to make  Hot Chocolate Ornaments are the perfect addition to any gift!  Add one along with a mug and some extra hot chocolate. Or tie one to a gift bag. Or maybe you could add it to the tree at a party for the hostess to find at some point. The options are endless really.

Just as the gifting options are endless with these ornaments, there are also many ways to put these together.

This is what I used to make these particular hot chocolate ornaments:

• A pack of hot chocolate
• mini marshmallows
• candy cane (crushed)
• plastic ornament (a pack of four from Walmart)

Here’s how to make the ornaments:

1. Start with a clean ornament, take the top off, then fill each ingredient into the ornament using a funnel.
2. Add the hot chocolate mix, then the crushed candy cane, then the mini marshmallows.
3. Put the top back on.
4. Create a little label with instructions, then add it to the ornament.
5. Make sure to deliver these standing upright, unless you want everything to be mixed up!

Here’s are some other items you could add to each ornament:

• sprinkles
• chocolate chips (or white chocolate, mint chips, peanut butter chips)
• different flavoured hot chocolate packs  (rolo, mint, etc.)
• mini rolos
• Skor bits

I hope you enjoy making these Hot Chocolate Ornaments!

After a hectic day, there is nothing as soothing as a long soak in the bath tub. Adding bath salts not only adds to the relaxing nature of baths by making the water smell delicious  but by providing healing and soothing aspects to your skin!

Why not try this simple recipe for homemade bath salts to give away to the bath takers on your gift list!  I’m sure they’ll love it!

Print

Homemade Bath Salts

Ingredients

• 2 cups Epsom Salts
• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 2-3 drops Essential Oils

Instructions

• Add the Epsom salts and baking soda to a bowl.
• Stir to combine.
• Add essential oils.
• Let the bath salts dry overnight before adding to your jars.

Notes

If you want more than one scent, separate the salts into more than one bowl before adding the oils.

For my particular bath salts, I made one jar lavender scent and the other peppermint.  The decorative jars I picked up at a local dollar store.  As for the tags, I made them using a couple of paper punches my mom and I have in our craft supplies.

]]> https://www.simplyfrugal.ca/homemade-bath-salts/feed/ 1 https://www.simplyfrugal.ca/vanilla-bath-bombs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vanilla-bath-bombs https://www.simplyfrugal.ca/vanilla-bath-bombs/#comments Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:59:50 +0000 http://simplyfrugal.wpengine.com/?p=52977

Easy DIY Vanilla Bath Bombs

Let’s make Homemade Vanilla Bath Bombs! These are so simple and fun to make. They make fantastic gifts too! Recently we attended a birthday party for a new four year old and she loved that she could use them in her bath that evening. 🙂 The other thing I love about this DIY is that you can customize the scent to the person you’re gifting it to.  Maybe the recipient would prefer peppermint or lavender or even eucalyptus scented bath bombs.  Simply replace the vanilla essential oil with the oil of your choice.

BATH BOMB SUPPLIES:

• 1 Cup Citric Acid
• 2 Cups Baking Soda
• 1 oz Shea Butter or Coconut oil (melted)
• 5-6 drops Vanilla Essential Oil
• Spray bottle of Witch Hazel
• Silicone mold

BATH BOMB DIRECTIONS:

*If you have a manicure, wear gloves, or use a fork during the mixing process.

1. In a mixing bowl combine citric acid and baking soda, being sure to remove all lumps.
2. Add in melted butter and vanilla essential oil and continue to mix.
3. Using your spray bottle of Witch Hazel, spray the mixture 2-3 times and mix, slowly adding more witch hazel until the mixture holds it shaped when pressed together.
4. Pour into silicone molds, making sure to compact them tightly.
5. Allow to dry in silicone molds for 12 hours. Once 12 hours is up, remove from molds, and allow to dry an additional 24 hours for a nice hard bath bomb.

TO USE:

Break bath bomb under running water for a nice fizzing and relaxing bath.