Hello, Ladies!
We can tell by now that Christmas is closer than ever. The streets get merrier and the lights get brighter! And our families deserve better. After a whole year full of – maybe complaints, fights, and – love and joy, why don’t we end this year right, by being a blessing and giving our family members a little of happiness? Here, we have shortlisted the best and most memorable gift for your families, and most of them cost very little from you!
1. For Dad – DIY Water Marble Mugs
Ever remember the water marbled nail tutorial? Inspired by this awesome ideas, now, we will water marble… a mug! It is a super simple and inexpensive gifts, but surely will left your dad with an ear-to-ear smile!
What you will need:
1. Nail Polish
2. Warm water in a bowl – make sure to place it in a bowl that is no longer used for food, because sometimes it can leave residue of the nail polish.
3. White mug
4. Toothpick
5. Optional: Sharpie
How you do it:
1. Prepare the nail polish color you want.
2. Clean your mug first!
3. Put few drops of your nail polish to the warm water until it starts to disperse over the surface of the water, and you can use toothpick to help you to create designs.
4. Quickly take your mug and dip it directly to the water, hold it for 4-5 seconds, and take your toothpick to remove any excess nail polish, and voila!
5. To customize it even more, you can make a stencil of the words you want to write on the cup from a plastic paper, paste it on the mug, then take your gold (or any color you preferred) Sharpie, to create little dots over the stencil. If you are happy with your dots, take out the sticker, and it’s ready to go!
2. For Mom – DIY Sugar Scrubs
For our moms who works all the time, sometimes we want her to stay down and rest. For busy moms who are always thinking of her work, of her family, of us, let’s give her something to calm her and relieve her stresses!
What you will need:
1. Sugar (the amount is up to how much you want to make it)
2. Coconut oil
3. Essential oil
4. Food coloring
5. Bowl
6. Spoon
How you do it:
1. Melt your coconut oil in the microwave for about 25 seconds until it is completely liquid.
2. Put the sugar in a bowl, and add your melted coconut oil, and stir it well. If it seems too wet, add more sugar. If it seems to dry, add more oil. Do this until you get the consistency you like.
3. Next, add a few drops of food coloring until you get the color consistency you like. Remember not to add too much, so it won’t leave any color on your hands or feet!
4. Then, add few drops of essential oil, and mix it well.
5. For packaging, place it in a transparent small jar. And to make it cuter, don’t forget to make your own label to indicate what scent you made, etc. For extra services, you can always attach a DIY massage coupon for your mom! <3
3. For Sister or Girl Friends – DIY Bath Bombs
Of course, for bath bombs, you can opt to go to Lush to get some from their various and beautiful product. But do you know, that you can make it on your own?
What you will need:
1. 1/2 cup of baking soda
2. 1/4 cup of citric acid / cream of tartar
3. 1/4 cup of cornstarch
4. 1/4 cup of salts – preferably mineral salts
5. 1 tbs of water
6. 1 tsp of essential oil
7. 3 tsp of olive oil
8. Food coloring
9. 2 bowls – for mixing
10. Molds
How you do it:
1. Set out the molds before starting! You can opt to put a flower petals, dried herbs, or anything to your preferences in the mold.
2. Mix the dry ingredients (baking soda, citric acid / cream of tartar, cornstarch, and salts) to the bowl.
3. Mix the wet ingredients (water, essential oil, olive oil, and food coloring) to another bowl, and mix it well.
4. Gradually add a small amount of the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Do not mix it too fast, or else the mixture would start to foam.
5. After the mixture is all set, quickly pour the mixture into the mold, and pat it out gently to make a smooth surface.
6. After 10 minutes, you can take out your bath bombs. You can use it immediately, but for best results, we recommend you to let it rest overnight and they will be fully set!
7. For packaging, find a cute transparent jar, and don’t forget to put your cute cards and greetings!
4. For Brother or Boyfriend – Holiday Hot Cocoa
Yes, it is hard to find gifts for your brother or boyfriend. But you know, we got your back! This would be an adorable extra gift for them besides your game gift card, wallet, or whatever you will give them this Christmas!
What you will need:
1. Disposable plastic bag
2. handful of mini marshmallows
3. Hot chocolate sachets
4. Chocolate chips / crushed sugar canes
5. Red craft pom
6. Craft eyes
7. Rubber bands
8. Hot glue gun with hot glue sticks
9. Scissors
How you do it:
Reindeer Hot Cocoa Cones:
1. Place hot chocolate inside the first disposable piping bag and tie off with a mini rubber band. Cut off excess plastic.
2. Place this first bag inside of the second bag and pour in chocolate chips.
3. Next, put in the marshmallows and tie that off with rubber band. Place pipe cleaners around the top for antlers. Glue on eyes and nose. If desired, print out the free gift tag and attach.
Santa Hot Cocoa Cones:
1. Fill disposable piping bag with a few inches of crushed candy canes.
2. Place hot chocolate mix inside small plastic bag, twist, and tie off with mini rubber band. Cut off excess plastic.
3. Place that bag inside the piping bag and stack mini marshmallows on top.
4. Glue the eyes, nose, and top hat pom . Print and attach free gift tag with instructions if desired.
5. For Kids – Christmas Cookie Bar
Nothing is better to give for your kids a little sweet treats! Here, we will give you a super easy christmas cookie bar treats recipe!
What you will need:
1. 2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
2. 1 cup of granulated sugar
3. 1 cup of firmly packed golden brown sugar
4. 3 large eggs
5. 1 1/2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
6. 3 cups of all-purpose flour
7. 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
8. 3/4 teaspoon of salt
9. 1 1/2 cups of Christmas M&M’s , plus more for topping
10. 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, plus more for topping
11. 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips
How you do it:
1. Preheat oven to 150 degree celcius.
2. Line a 9×13 baking dish with foil, leave some overhang to make removal easier.
3. Spray foil generously with nonstick cooking spray.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until fluffy.
5. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.
6. Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
7. Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.
8. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.
9. Press additional M&M’S, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.
10. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning.
11. Let cool completely and cut.
Have a great holiday, Ladies!