6 Budget-Friendly & Easy Last-Minute DIY Gifts
Happy mid-December, Flower Friends! The 10 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS countdown clock is officially ticking! In this blog post, we'll delve into the art of creating meaningful gifts that are quick and easy to create, inexpensive, and many even use ingredients you probably already have on hand. From elegant ornaments to savory spices and soothing bath essentials, these DIY creations are bound to fill your gift-giving with joy and sincerity.
Dried Flower Ornaments
Dried flower ornaments are beautiful and make great gifts. I love receiving ornaments because when I’m decorating the tree each season, I get the opportunity to remember the person who gave it to me and reflect on the precious memories that we’ve shared. You may have things around your yard that you can put inside of them or you can buy dried flowers at the local craft store or Amazon. Use any clear ornament you wish. Here are the bows I hot glued on to save me a little time, but you can hand tie ribbon on them too.
Healthy Taco Seasoning Mix
Store-bought spice mixes are so convenient for everyday cooking, but unfortunately many are packed with unnecessary ingredients and fillers. I’ve gotten away from purchasing these for the most part. I make my own ranch mix, french onion soup mix, and taco seasoning mixes now and they are all easy to throw together in big batches. Taco seasoning is by far the easiest because you probably already have all of the ingredients sitting in your spice drawer ready to go. And we all have taco lovers in our life! Throw it in a basket with some chips, salsa, Mexican rice, a small grocery store gift card for meat and veggies, and don’t forget the margarita mix and you have a pretty incredible and fun gift!
NOTE: I doubled the recipe below to fill a square spice jar.
Here’s the recipe that I use courtesy of Wholesome Yum:
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp sea salt
1/2 tbsp black pepper
1/2 tbsp smoked paprika (regular is fine too)
1 tsp dried oregano (or dried cilantro)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp cayenne powder
Mix everything together. 2 tablespoons = 1 taco seasoning packet.
Herbal Bath Salts or Sugar Scrub
2 Ingredients and a Jar! Couldn’t be simpler.
Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt
20-30 drops of essential oils of your choice.
Here’s a Lavender and here is Epsom Salt.
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Alternatively, you can make a sugar scrub too using only 3 ingredients!
1 cup of fractionated coconut oil or other oil of choice
2 cups granulated sugar
15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil
Mix together and fill any pretty jar or container you have.
Bird Seed Ornaments
We’ve made these a few times. It gets the kids in the kitchen developing all kinds of motor skills and it feeds are feathered friends during the winter months too! Here’s the recipe:
¾ to 1 cup birdseed
1 packet (.25 ounce or 7 grams) of gelatin (unflavored—I use Knox)
¼ cup boiling water
Cookie cutters, lightly greased*
Twine and/or ribbon
Parchment or waxed paper
Straw
Make the gelatin (this is your glue). Mix the seeds into the gelatin mixture. Press into the ornaments. Use a straw to make a hole for the hanger. Let dry. Tie on some ribbon or jute long enough so it can be hung from a tree. Store in the freezer if you aren’t giving them right away.
Wildflower Seed Bombs
Another kid-friendly activity. Take tissue paper or construction paper and tear it into pieces. Soak it in water. Take a food processor or blender to emulsify the paper. Squeeze out any excess water. Spoon a layer of the paper mixture into a mini muffin tin sprinkle seeds and then add more paper mixture on top. Let dry. You can use any seeds you want. I used seeds that I had on hand. I imagine you could do herbs or small vegetable seeds like carrot seeds too. Then package in a cute little organza or burlap bag with a bow. Really fun little gift that someone will love when they bloom in the Spring!
🎁 To wrap up, these DIY gifts allow you to express your creativity without breaking the bank. Remember, it's not just about the gift itself, but the love and effort poured into its creation. So, whether you're crafting for a friend, family member, or even yourself, embrace the joy of handmade gifts and the genuine connection they bring. Wishing you a festive and fulfilling holiday season filled with the warmth of shared moments and the magic of thoughtful gestures. Next week, I’ll be sharing a few recipes using fresh herbs from your garden that will sure to impress everyone around your Christmas table.
Keep Blooming,
Nicole Dillon, Breemar Flower Farm
