Easy DIY Handmade Candle Gifts

DIY Candle Gift

Originally, when I purchased this candle making hit from Hobby Lobby, all I wanted it for was the pot to melt my lotion pops and lip balms. The kit was $23 regular price but of course I brought out the 40% coupon and got the kit for $14. Me being me, I saved the candle making contents for another day to experiment. As the holidays are fast approaching and my budget getting smaller, I pulled the candle making contents out to check out what I had to work with. The contents included palm wax, a color/fragrance wax bar, thermometer, 9 wicks and 3 little tins to make the candles. Well how do you include 9 wicks and 3 tins?

I headed to my favorite cheap crafting solution store… The Dollar Store! I found a set of 3 little plastic dishes that look like cupcake wrappers. I bought 3 sets of 3 to go with the 9 wicks. Now my total was $17 for 9 gifts minus the wrapping or bags they will go in.

Now the kit did originally come with instructions which of course I couldn’t find because I was looking for them. So I just kinda winged this part as a learning process….

First, I warmed the water in my pot and placed the pot from the kit in the water to create a  double boiler. While the water and pots were warming, I placed the wicks inside the containers.

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Second, I placed about half of the bag of wax into the pot and let it melt down. I did stir occasionally using a silicone spatula that I use for the body products. You can use a spoon that you don’t mind not using for food again.

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Third, I added half of the color/fragrance bar and allowed it to melt down. Continue to stir once in a while to get an even coloring. My coloring was a dark green and the fragrance was a sweet floral scent which I really do like. While that was melting I placed chopsticks (pencils would work as well) next to the wicks to help keep them in place when I go to pour.

Fourth, after allowing the wax to cool for a few minutes (Not to long or it will begin to solidify), I poured the wax into the containers. I did this slowly so that the wicks would get shifted and the wax was even. I didn’t realize that one of the containers had a crack in the side so a little wax did come out until the wax started to solidify.

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It took about an hour for the candles to cool down but I think they are very cute and easy to make for a gift. Now to figure out what to wrap them in??

Here is a link the kit on Amazon which is more expensive than the Hobby Lobby price but still a great way to save some money by making multiple gifts to give at one time.

Candle Making Kit

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DIY Dollar Store Advent Calendar

see & explore

I grew up enjoying the chocolate filled advent calendars which my kids and have adopted the advent calendar tradition. These advent calendars are hot commodities in my area and sell out very quickly so we have learned to be on the hunt for them. Last week, Danyella and I went into Hobby Lobby and found the calendars…

They wanted $8 for an advent calendar that was smaller than the ones we have bought in the past. No way was I going to pay $8 for cheap chocolate in a cardboard box! That is just absurd inflation when I could make a better one for the same price or cheaper.

So, I headed to my favorite place for cheap crafts…. The Dollar Store! I purchased snowflake printed zip bags, small bags of Danyella’s favorite candies, a pair of socks (she loves penguins), lipsmackers, holiday bracelets and holiday erasers. Plus I had some holiday kisses to use as well. All of these would be fun treats for her to open once a day and better than the overpriced advent calendar. I already had leftover wrapping paper, tape and a cardboard box to cut up and I printed the numbers through my Google Docs account. So I spent a total of $7 plus tax for our DIY advent calendar!

Materials:

wrapping paper

cardboard box (cut into the size/shape you desire)

tape (I preferred double-sided but you can use regular clear tape)

printed numbers 1-24

fun goodies for 24 days

zip lock baggies

Directions:

  1. Create 1-24 and cut each number out than tape them to the bags
  2. Fill the bags with your goodies
  3. Wrap the piece of cardboard with the wrapping paper
  4. Create row with the tape to stick the bags (I created 3 rows starting with 24 at the top and ending with 1)
  5. Press the baggies onto the tape for the kids to peel off each day
  6. Place your advent calendar on display and start on December 1st

Brown Sugar and Sea Salt Body Scrub DIY Gift

Brown Sugar and Sea salt body scrub

Today starts our Teach Me Tuesdays Holiday Edition! I will be featuring different gifts you can easily make at home and add some handmade love to your gift giving this holiday season.

Body products are always a popular gift to give for a holiday gift especially for the person who has everything. The brown sugar and sea salt body scrub has always been a popular item at my craft shows because they are all natural and great for the dry, winter season. Here I am going to teach you how to make your own scrubs at home from ingredients you have at home.

Ingredient List:

Brown Sugar

Coarse Sea Salt

Olive Oil

Honey

Essential Oil (optional)

4 oz. Jar with tight lid

Depending on how many you want to make will depend on how much you will need in ingredients. I typically make mine in batches and give them away to a group of my female friends and family.

For a jar, you can use a mason jar but that can get a bit pricey if you need to make multiple scrubs. I like the white 4 ounce plastic containers because they are a better price on Amazon and they keep the scrubs moist a lot longer then the mason jars. You can find the white plastic jars here: White Plastic Jar with Dome Lid 4 Oz – 12 Per Bag

Instructions:

In a bowl mix together 2 cups of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1/4 cup of olive oil per 4 oz jar. Mix really well so that all of the ingredients are evenly distributed through the scrub. If you know that someone doesn’t like fragrances or has a reaction then you keep the scrub just as it is. I like to add a few drops of essential oil to my scrubs to give a nice scent and enhance the shower experience plus essential oils have so many benefits for the body and skin. Next, you pack the scrub into the jar. Last, you can make cute tags with what the scrub is and the ingredients (always better to be safe then sorry to let people know what is in it).

Now you have a cute, useable gift to give someone this holiday season! I hope you enjoy and make lots of these scrubs for friends and family.

handmade

Best Christmas Movies List

Best christmas movies to watch

Yes, I know that I am about to talk about Christmas Movies and it is only August but having a baby due around the Holidays, I just can’t help but already get into the holiday spirit! I started watching Hallmark Channel’s Christmas in July movies (starting July 1st) and thought I was past my Christmas obsession until the other day…

I have been binge watching Grey’s Anatomy (bad, bad idea when you are pregnant!) and they had a holiday episode on the other day and I started crying (hormone overload) about how I wish it was Christmas time. Partly, this is coming from the fact that I keep overheating and would really love the cold winter air. Partly, this is from working on my gratitude journal and the realization that most people only have that thankful spirit in November and December instead of the whole year. The last part comes from the fact that Christmas movies just make me happy and I want to feel happy!

Today is 117 days until Christmas and I posted yesterday a meme on my Instagram and Facebook baby support group that was Elf and said 118 days until Christmas. It sparked a whole discussion about favorite Christmas movies. So, Danyella and I complied a list of our favorite Christmas Movies and classic TV shows to share with all of you.

https-www.facebook.comkaellaboutiqueposts146643746677789

This is a PDF version you can download and print to keep track of which ones you watch this holiday season! https-www.facebook.comkaellaboutiqueposts146643746677789

That is our list which some movies are classics, some are black and whites, some are kids and all are just wonderful. What are your favorite Christmas movies? Did I miss any that need to be added to the list?