Gifts from the Heart

 Gifts From the Heart

Jo Francks, MH

Giving gifts from the heart that you have made yourself and put your love into is fun and rewarding.

Making them with children is always adventurous. We used to have fun making fizzy bath bombs that my kids would give to their friends for Christmas. They smelled good, were inexpensive, and their friends loved them. For adults, bath salts are nice and can be just the thing people need after a stressful holiday season. 

Here are a few fun ideas for making gifts from the heart.

Fizzy Bath Bombs:

1 cup baking soda

½ cup cornstarch

½ cup citric acid

10-20 drops essential oil

Mix together and sprinkle lightly with witch hazel in a spray bottle until it holds together when a little is squeezed in the hand. Spray a little and stir, repeat. It can take some time. Add the Essential oils at the end of mixing. Kids like peppermint, or citrus scents. Lavender can be used as a relaxing scent. Pack tightly into molds. Mini cupcake molds, candy molds or ice cube trays. After about 10 minutes turn molds upside down and tap to get the bath bombs out. It takes practice. If they fall apart spray with more witch hazel and re-mold.

Bath Salts:

1 cup epsom salts

1 cup coarse sea salt 

10-20 drops essential oil

Food coloring (optional)

Place salts in a large bowl and mix well. Scoop about ½ cup in a small bowl. Add the drops of essential oil and food coloring and mix well. Add the blended mixture to the large bowl a little at a time until you are pleased with the scent and color. Pour your salts in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake every day for a few days before packaging.

For relaxing bath salts add 10 drops orange, 5 drops lavender, and 5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oils.

For energizing bath salts add 5 drops eucalyptus, and 10 drops peppermint essential oils

Playdough:

1 cup flour

½ cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon vegetable oil of any type

1 cup water

Essential oils about 10-15 drops (optional)

Food coloring (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a pan and heat on medium heat stirring constantly. When it all clings to the spoon and becomes a ball, remove from heat and place the dough on a piece of wax paper. Allow to cool until it can be kneaded. Knead the dough until it is smooth. If you would like to add essential oils, use about 10 drops by poking a few holes in the dough, drop 1-2 drops of essential oil into each hole, knead the dough until it is well mixed. Keep in an airtight container.

Food coloring can be added during the heating process if desired.