by Maddie Mellen
When money is tight around the holidays, unleash your creativity and make your own gifts.
Holiday season is upon us, which means endless Christmas shopping. Without a job, low income, and just no time to shop, it’s hard to accomplish getting gifts. Use these do it yourself ideas to really do the job.
1. Homemade fleece blanket
The first present you can make is a fleece blanket. For a throw size fleece blanket, you’ll need 1.5 yards of the solid fleece. You’re also going to need some trim. To get started, you need to cut the selvedge edges of both sides on your fabric. Make your cuts straight. Next, fold your fabric and make sure the other two edges are cut straight as well. Finally, fold the fleece in fourths, matching the corners. Use a bowl to trace a curve onto a corner, and then cut a curved edge on all four corners. Sew-in the trim on the sides to complete your fleece blanket.
2. Homemade peppermint candles
You can also make homemade mason jar peppermint candles. You’ll need to purchase mason jars, soy candle wax, candle flakes, peppermint essential oil, tea light cups, and candle wicks. First, glue the candle wick inside the mason jar (or a tea light cup). Next, melt soy candle wax over a double boiler or in microwave according to what your package says. Then, once the wax is fully melted stir in about 15- 20 drops of peppermint oil. Pour the mixture into mason jar or tea lights. Use a pencil to wrap the candlewick and hold in place so the candle wax can harden. Leave candle to set for several hours. Quick, simple, and easy!
3. Hot chocolate stirrers
‘Tis the season for hot chocolate! Make diy hot chocolate stirrers. You will need Hammonds Peppermint stirrers, a package of light cocoa candy melts, and marshmallow bits. Begin by pouring the marshmallow bits into a shallow baking dish, large enough to roll peppermint sticks in. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave candy melts in 30 second periods. Stir in between, until they are fully melted. Dip each stirrer in melted chocolate, coating three-quarters of the stick, getting off excess. Then roll in marshmallow bits, and be sure to cover all sides. Set onto wax paper and then put in the fridge to set . When the chocolate hardens, store them in a container then give your gift.
Senior Kailin Strauch said that her mom makes lots of different diy sugar scrubs, and sells them at their tanning salon.
“She enjoys making them and they’re easy to make,” said Strauch. A sugar scrub can also be a nice, simple gift.
4. Homemade coffee/tea mug
If you know someone who drinks coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, this is the perfect gift for them. Purchase a plain white coffee mug, enamel paint, and paint brushes. Paint the mug however you would like, let the mug sit and dry, then put it to use.
There are endless ideas of diy gifts that could go on forever. With plenty of websites that have hundreds of diy gifts listed, it’s easy to find a gift a specific person would like. If you just go on your search engine and type “diy Christmas gifts” and there will be plenty of sites to pick from, with so many options and ideas. There are lots of high quality presents you can make for low prices.