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Home / Homemade Holiday Gifts (Including for Children)

Homemade Holiday Gifts (Including for Children)

The holiday season is a wonderful time to get together with loved ones, but it can also bring along a period of stress that can ultimately affect mental health. Financial pressure is among the highest on the list of holiday stressors. According to a Lending Tree poll, 13 percent of those surveyed are still paying off last year’s holiday bills while 41 percent expect to go into debt this holiday season.

Whether the financial pressures are contributing to stress or finding a meaningful gift is difficult, we’ve got you covered with a few budget-friendly and thoughtful ideas:

Involving children in gift-crafting can be a special way to connect. At $2 or less each, these homemade beeswax candles can be rolled from varying colors of beeswax sheets. Found online or local craft stores, beeswax sheets may be sold as kits with wicks and other decorative elements.

Here’s what you need and how to make them:

  • Beeswax sheets [1 sheet (8×16 inch) makes 2 candles]
  • Cotton string for the wick (8.5 inch long per candle)
  • Optional – holiday scented essential oils such as bergamot, cinnamon, orange, or a combination
  • Decoration such as eucalyptus, twine, labels

Here’s what you do:

  1. Measure out the length of the wick by measuring against the candle and allowing for ½ inch beyond the candle. Trim accordingly.
  2. Optional – soak wick in a few drops essential oils in a small ramekin. This will provide a nice scent when lit.
  3. Trim the beeswax sheet to 8×8 inches for a standard candle. If you are looking to fit the candle in a certain holder, use a candle that fits the holder as a guide to how thick to roll your candle.
  4. Place the wick at the base of the start rolling tightly.
  5. Give as a set of 3, 5 or 7 for an attractive bunch. Dress with lace, tree stems or eucalyptus. Be sure anything decorated on the candle is removed before lighting as they may be highly flammable.

You can never go wrong with A self-care gift. Children can help make these for a spa day with a parent. This cozy rose salt and sugar scrub is made with just a few pantry staples along with rose petals and essential oils.

Here’s what you need:

  • ½ cup coarse sea salt
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup coconut oil
  • 35 drops rose essential oils
  • 2 tbsp rose petals

Instructions:

  1. In a glass bowl, add coconut oil. Microwave for 30 seconds until melted, but not warm.
  2. Add sugar, salt, essential oils and rose petals. Stir until well combined, then place in the fridge for 30 minutes for the coconut oil to solidify.
  3. Mix one final time then add to gift vessels such as mason jars.

There’s nothing like a heart-warming sentimental gift. Whether a family member is still with you or their memory lives on, handwritten recipes on their own are special. This gift idea features a handwritten recipe on a tea towel using the iron-on method found online or at local craft stores. Give to several family members if buying a big pack of tea towels, or to someone as a unique gift.

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 cotton tea towel
  • 1 piece of iron-on paper
  • Handwritten recipe
  • Camera
  • Printer

Here’s what you do:

  1. Take a photo of the recipe. Using a scanner phone application such as Cam Scanner can help straighten out the image and provide a nice contrast for printing the image.
  2. Upload photo to the computer in a Word document. Mirror the image so that it prints backwards.
  3. Print and iron according to iron-on package instructions.

Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. For more tips, visit ahealthiermichigan.org.

A Healthier Michigan
Author: A Healthier Michigan

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