How to make New Year's gifts with your own hands so that it is festive, and at the same time fun and funny, and, at the same time, memorable for a long time, and even useful in everyday life? Of course, the easiest way is to buy a gift. But a purchased New Year's gift is still different from one made with one's own hands. A handmade gift always contains a piece of the soul and love of the person who made the gift. And this is worth a lot! And it doesn’t matter what the material price of such a gift is - one hundred thousand rubles or ten kopecks. Gifts made with your own hands have a completely different value; it does not come down to money.
So, we will talk about New Year's gifts made with our own hands - that is, from the bottom of our hearts.
Christmas wreath of tangerines
The New Year smells of tangerines and this wonderful time is not complete without a citrus companion, whose aroma can lift your spirits with its associations!
ABOUT! Fragrant tangerines
European culture has given us such a cozy way to decorate your home with funny and cute attributes, which include traditional Christmas wreaths that are usually hung on doors.
A wonderful decoration for your home
What do you think of this simple and fun tangerine (or other fruit) wreath idea that is sure to please the recipient?
Why not share the joy of citrus with your friends and neighbors? This wreath is a wonderful way to wish those you love a happy and healthy New Year!
A wonderful DIY product
To create your own, you will need tangerines, cellophane, clear tape, string and paper tape.
Prepare the necessary materials
Add a strip of colorful ribbon to the blank tag. Here the tape is installed along the edge so that both sides of the tag appear to be facing.
Cut out a piece of cellophane. Line up 8 tangerines along the length of the cellophane. Leave a little space between each fruit.
Lay out 8 tangerines lengthwise
Wrap the cellophane in a tube with tangerines inside. Secure with a few small pieces of clear tape.
Wrap all the fruits in cellophane
Tie a piece of string between each tangerine.
We fix each step with a rope
Tape the two ends of the cellophane together so that your tangerine tube becomes a ring (or wreath). Secure the structure with a piece of rope, add your congratulations (write your message before attaching, not after).
Tie the two ends of the wreath together
And tie the rope with a loop so that the finished craft can be hung comfortably. If the ends of the cellophane are too long or uneven, carefully trim off the excess.
An unusual and simple gift is ready
This might be interesting to you: REVIEW: How to make flowers from corrugated paper with your own hands? 125 Photos and 5 simple master classes
apple of paradise
You can make a DIY gift for your friend's birthday in the shape of an apple. The technology is simple: we take as a basis a ready-made shape in the form of a soft ball, which we decorate with round candies wrapped in organza.
We make an apple ponytail on top using floral tape and wire. This composition looks very beautiful if you use sweets in gold candy wrappers.
DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub
Here's another simple gift idea that can easily surprise your loved ones. A lemon-sugar scrub is suitable for any occasion, however, you can even give this gift to yourself if you decide to pamper yourself.
Treat yourself to something tasty
I don’t know about you, but as the cold winter months set in, my hands and feet become incredibly dry. This sugar scrub will help in the fight against such a defect. The bonus in favor of such a gift is that it takes no more than 10 minutes to make! Moreover, in terms of effectiveness, the home option will not be inferior to high-quality and expensive purchased peeling preparations that you will find in the store.
An effective skin cleanser
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups granulated loose sugar;
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (almond oil works too)
- 10-15 drops of natural lemon essential oil.
We take the necessary ingredients
Place sugar in a large bowl. Set aside. Measure 1/4 cup of coconut oil and place it in the microwave. Heat the coconut oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until it melts. Pour the butter over the sugar and stir. Add drops of lemon oil.
Mix all ingredients
If desired, add lemon zest for additional color and flavor. To do this, use a small grater to grate the peel of 1 lemon, then stir.
If the sugar scrub is too wet, add sugar, but no more than 1/4 cup, until the desired consistency is achieved. Then take a small jar. Labels need to be printed on a color printer, cut out and glued - it's that simple.
Place labels on the jar
Place your scrub into the prepared jar. Ready!
DIY lemon-sugar scrub
And to be a responsible giver, the first thing you need to do is test the product yourself before giving it away, right? Just take about 1 teaspoon of scrub, spread it on your hand and rub. When you are finished cleaning, rinse thoroughly. Lemon releases a fragrant, clean scent, coconut oil helps moisturize the skin, and sugar helps exfoliate dead skin.
Experience the effect of a hand scrub
Edible gift
If you don’t know the person very well or want to give a small present to your colleagues, we suggest making an edible gift. You can use literally anything for this: cocoa, nuts, homemade cookies, marshmallows and much more.
Handmade soap
Make your mother happy by giving her handmade soap. Rest assured that she will appreciate it. You can achieve absolutely any scent by combining natural essential oils to suit your mood. This project features three scents: Honey Oatmeal, Aloe Vera and Chamomile. And you can make your own variety by “seasoning” your soap in any way.
Wonderful elements of the New Year
When it comes to making soap, you will probably all be new to this business, just like me. Therefore, this life hack is intended for everyone who wants to take the simple route and not complicate their life: melt and pour glycerin soap into a mold.
Basic materials:
- 4 cubes of glycerin soap (120 g);
- Vaseline or vegetable emulsion;
- a spray bottle (with mist) filled with alcohol;
- soap molds (you can take specific soap molds or use the base of a yogurt container or any other plastic container).
Now for the basic soap making instructions. Regardless of the "flavor" of soap you want to make, the basic steps are the same.
An unusual gift for all occasions
Start by coating your molds with Vaseline or vegetable emulsion. Set aside. Cut the glycerin into cubes and place it in a microwave safe container with a spout.
Cutting glycerin
Microwave the glycerin in 20-second intervals until melted, but do not boil it. Stir until smooth. Mix the fragrances separately and add them to the soap.
Melt the base soap
Pour the "scented" soap into the prepared mold. Spray alcohol from a spray bottle onto the surface of the soap using the “cloud” function. This must be done in order to remove bubbles from its surface. Let the soap cool for 2 hours.
Combine all the ingredients and pour into the mold
To remove the soap from the mold, press down on the bottom of the mold and pull it out. If the soap still resists coming out this way, place it in the freezer for 10 minutes and try again.
Taking the natural product out of the mold
Now that all the steps are completed, I can share some amazing recipes with you! Add this to the melted glycerin before pouring it into the mold.
Use:
- for chamomile soap, use 1/4 teaspoon of tea leaves;
- 1 1/2 tsp. honey, 1 pinch of ginger and 2 tsp. oatmeal for honey;
- 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel for aloe vera hand soap.
I made several different types of soap in one day! It didn't take long to make and is a great gift for any occasion. I'm sure you will succeed too!
Give your soap your favorite shape and scent
Threads
Just like fabric, threads provide enormous scope for the use of imagination and the embodiment of the flight of creative thought.
A charming topiary will be a great gift for a woman. To make it, you only need to take a balloon, thread, glue, a cocktail stick, and a pot for home flowers. All this can easily be found in every home. But the admiration of the recipient of the unusual plant will know no bounds.
The remaining balls of yarn will be used to make pompoms. From fluffy lumps you can later make:
- decorations for keychains, handbags, clothes;
- hair accessory;
- soft toys for children;
- unusual rug;
- photo frame.
If you want to try yourself in the “real” business, you can knit a soft scarf or warm socks. Both do not require much skill or talent.
In the future, the set can be supplemented with mittens and slippers.
Peppermint Candy
Cooling peppermint candies make a sweet gift for the holidays and are easy to make at home. To create a pliable dough, confectioners' sugar and powdered gelatin are used, which are then rolled into a thin sheet.
Once the dough is cut into squares and allowed to dry completely, it can be decorated with rubber stamps using food coloring. The design possibilities are endless, and it's also quite a fun activity that really brings out the passion for creativity.
Plan your gift ahead because the mint needs to dry overnight, and be sure to use new (unused) rubber stamps that have been washed and dried. This recipe calls for meringue powder, which can be found at most baking stores.
Coin jewelry looks beautiful when it is packaged in small jars tied with ribbon.
You will need:
- 2 tablespoons cold water;
- 700g powdered gelatin;
- 1/3 cup meringue powder;
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar;
- 2 teaspoons mint extract;
- gel food coloring “black”;
- rubber stamp.
We buy the necessary ingredients
At the end you should have three sets of coins of a dozen (12 pieces) each.
Place cold water in a small seasoning cup. Sprinkle the gelatin powder evenly over the surface. Let sit until gelatin is absorbed and forms a solid mass.
Fill gelatin with water
Whisk together meringue powder and powdered sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Heat the gelatin in the microwave or on the stovetop for about 10 seconds or until the mixture has liquefied. Let cool slightly, then pour it into the powdered sugar mixture.
Add powdered sugar
Stir briefly, then add peppermint extract. Mix the mixture in the bowl with your hands until a stiff, pliable dough forms (you may not need to use all of the powdered sugar mixture).
Sprinkle the dough with additional sugar mixture and roll it between two sheets of parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to make the dough as thin as possible, or if you have a pasta machine, run the dough through the roller several times until it is very thin.
Bring the mixture to the desired color
Cut the dough into squares using a pizza cutter or small pocket knife. Let the mint dry.
When it hardens and sets its shape, it means that the product is ready for printing. Lightly paint over the print surface and paint over the maximum area of the rubber stamp.
Leave the mixture to chill in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours
Press the stamp gently but firmly onto the cut squares—do not press too hard as the candy may break.
Sprinkle with sugar
Leave the mint to dry for 5-10 minutes, then place them in jars or a baking bag.
Mints are ready
Chocolate card
A chocolate box is a handmade card that has a place where you can put a chocolate bar or another souvenir, such as money. You can give it as a gift for any occasion.
In order to make a New Year's chocolate maker with your own hands you will need:
- kraft cardboard 30*30;
- PVA glue;
- scrap paper;
- decorative elements;
- pencil;
- scissors;
- ruler;
- hole puncher;
- ribbon.
The size of the chocolate bowl directly depends on the size of the chocolate bar. Having measured it, you can start working.
Draw the dimensions of the future postcard on cardboard. In our case: height – 21 cm, width – 10 cm+10 cm, gluing area – 1.5 cm (see photo 2). Cut out the workpiece, run a runner along the fold lines, and bend it carefully.
If you don’t have a treadmill, then a pen with an “empty” shaft will do.
Glue the resulting card together and try placing chocolate there. It should fit freely inside.
Choose the size for the chocolate.
Use a hole punch to make holes at the top and bottom.
Now you can start decorating. To do this, use 2 scraps of paper, flowers, a chipboard and a die cut. In this process, you can show your creativity and use any decorative elements.
Now thread the ribbon through the holes and tie it, so the chocolate will stay in place.
Branch with pompoms
Everyone should definitely make this craft for the New Year! After all, this is such a popular and fresh look at decorating a New Year’s home. Some even completely forgot their Christmas trees, actively decorating their houses with branches like these instead. Here everything is limited only by your imagination. If you don’t know what to give your loved ones for the New Year, give them this decoration.
The bouquet will serve as a gift to someone close
Pompoms can be made either perfectly round or almost shapeless so that they do not look “refined”.
Count the number of turns so that the pompoms are the same
Alternate beads on each side of the branch and try not to repeat colors next to each other.
We tie pompoms to branches in a chaotic manner
Sweet gifts
Not only children, but also adults will be delighted with such a gift. After all, what could be better than your favorite sweets? That's right - a lot of sweets.
To make this gift, purchase:
- favorite sweets
- glue
- pot
- floral foam or polystyrene foam
- artificial grass
- skewers.
Connect all the parts as shown in the photo. The sweet gift is ready!
DIY mini gardens
How do you like the idea of giving someone a homemade plant? The smaller it is, the more cute it will be. For example, use walnut shells to plant this tiny aloe.
Or plant larger plants in a glass jar and decorate the arrangement with fun details.
DIY florarium
People love small things and mini gardens are a great way to lift their spirits. It can be placed on a windowsill or other prominent place to decorate the room. The perfect gift for Christmas!
A gift for a true traveler
Is your loved one crazy about a certain country or just dreams of going there? We offer to help him or motivate him to travel with our gift.
Spices in light bulbs
Don't throw away your old light bulbs, they can be turned into stunning containers for an elegant gift! They curl beautifully and can serve as decorative jars.
Old light bulbs for decorative solnitsa
Before you start this life hack, I want to remind you about the dangers of using light bulbs for other purposes, because they are made of thin and fragile glass and careless handling can be dangerous. The danger increases upon contact with food. Therefore, I would recommend that you position this gift as a decoration on the wall in the kitchen (which can be used on a rainy day).
Light bulbs as decor for the kitchen
You can put your favorite spices there and, as an appendix to the gift, add a mini-book (again, homemade) with your signature recipes in which you use spicy mixtures. For example, place a mixture for mulled wine in one “jar” and label it, and in the book recall the recipe for the drink.
How to do it?
Mix different spices and place in a mold using a funnel. Before closing, wrap a small piece of foil around the opening and then put the lid on. The metal layer will not allow large gaps to be left through which spices can spill out. However, the foil may break during twisting, so everything must be done carefully. Shake each jar a little to see if a hole has formed in the foil and if the contents do not spill out, then the process was successful, and if not, then repeat the process of putting on the foil.
Cute containers for your favorite spices
Instead of a book, you can make individual cards with recipes and directions for using each mixture and place them next to each jar.
Homemade gifts for February 23
Is it difficult to come up with a gift that can be presented to a man on February 23?
There are several ideas for this:
- A mug with an original mustache or inscription that can be made with a permanent marker.
- Ship with gifts. For the boat you will need cardboard, glue, and wooden skewers.
- We glue the base of the ship from cardboard. The sails are attached to wooden skewers. Paint the ship and put a small present in it.
- The foot massage mat will last for many years and will be good for your health. For the rug, use a rubberized base, pebbles or wooden wine corks and a glue gun.
- Using a glue gun, pebbles or wooden wine corks, cut in half lengthwise, are glued onto the base of the rug.
Gifts made from polymer clay
For quite a long time I was afraid and avoided polymer clay, despite its attractive capabilities and properties. It frightened me that in order to fix the finished polymer clay product, firing in the oven was necessary. It is known that if you do not maintain the temperature regime and accidentally overexpose the product, then poisonous gas will be released from the clay, and the slab can be immediately thrown away.
Funny cats made of polymer clay
But there is good news: not so long ago, clay appeared and became widespread, which does not require firing, but dries naturally in the air. This is a godsend for lovers of creativity! I advise you all to study this material well, because you can use it to create wonderful trinkets that are so nice to give.
New Year's clay bracelet for mood
You can use them to make Christmas tree decorations, keychains, hairpins, pendants, earrings and other little things. The method of use is extremely simple - a kind of plasticine that can be thin to the point of transparency (which is valuable when you make, for example, rose petals).
Symbol of the year for good luck
There are some subtleties in this matter!
Very often, items from the kitchen are used to make clay products - cookie cutters, forks, knives, cutters.
Do not mix clay utensils and food products. You can certainly use cookie cutters, a rolling pin, etc. - but once you use them for clay, they become your non-food craft supplies and shouldn't go back into the kitchen again.
Master class on making strawberries
Just feel like a real chef and roll out your clay (I work on wax paper to protect my table) until it's about 5mm thick and then work by hand.
To complement your New Year's and Christmas gifts, you can decorate gift wrapping in an unusual way using a baking dish, letter stamps, and clay. Roll out the clay as described above, make a shape using cookie cutters and write the names of your loved ones for whom the gift is intended. Polymer clay comes in a variety of colors, including metallic effects, so you're sure to find a piece you like.
Decorate your cup and spoon with your own hands
The best part about working with clay is that if you mess up, you can start over. Once you're happy with the result, make a decent sized hole (I used a bamboo skewer) and leave to dry (or bake if your clay is bakeable).
Beach bag with original print
A gift in the form of a bag with an unusual design will definitely surprise even your best friend. You can sew it using cotton material or purchase a ready-made one-color bag.
Acrylic paints are best suited for creating a picture. You can draw by hand or use a stencil, as shown in the photo.
Crafts made from salt dough
While working with clay, I started thinking about all the chemicals that would be in it and decided to make my own homemade clay. To implement my recipe, just remember your childhood, because everything is so simple - you will need regular salted dough (a little more salty).
Here's the exact recipe:
- 1 cup flour;
- 1½ cups salt;
- 1 glass of water (perhaps a little more or a little less).
Mix salt and flour in a bowl. Add water ¼ cup at a time, stirring well. You may not need all the water, or you may need a little more, depending on the humidity and temperature of the work area. Form into a ball, then remove from the bowl and rinse briefly. It should be firm but pliable. You can mix in the desired color now, or do it later on the finished product after firing, covering it with paint on top (or use both methods at once).
Bright and pliable salt dough
Shape as desired. You can let the piece air dry, but baking at 120 degrees will cut down on the work. Baking time will depend on the thickness of the pieces. If the pan is the size of a ping pong ball, bake it for about 20 minutes.
Shape the dough as desired
When everything is done, let the product cool completely. They can then be painted and are quite durable and can last for years.
Dry and paint the gift
Gifts for boyfriend or husband
There is a stereotype that men are given socks, panties, shampoo and shaving supplies on all holidays. Destroy it and make something interesting with your own hands, show your love and care.
What to give your beloved guy or man on New Year's Eve? Of course, a useful and practical gift made by you, for example, a case, a pillow, a notepad - more ideas below.
Idea 19: "Snow Globe"
Snow globes are especially popular among small souvenir gifts; they are scattered from store windows.
To do this at home you will need:
- jar,
- artificial snow,
- small artificial Christmas tree (or snowman figurine, house)
- glue gun
How to do it: Attach a figurine to the lid of the jar (or to the bottom, but this is harder, since you have to drag your hand into the jar), artificial snow to the lid and to the bottom.
No. 20: Tablet case
If you buy felt or felt and sew a case for the tablet yourself, you will get a good gift with great savings. This can be done either with a sewing machine or by hand, since there is little work.
No. 21: Floppy Notebook
Floppy disks have long lost their value as storage media; they have ceased to be used, replaced by flash drives.
But you can probably find a few at home in boxes or drawers that you’ve been meaning to clean for a long time. And now they can finally find a use.
- With two floppy disks and about 50 leaves measuring 9x9 cm , you can make an original notebook, almost certainly no one else will have this.
- You just need to pierce the leaves with a hole punch and connect them to the floppy disks with a ribbon.
No. 22: Hand-painted pillow
A very simple, pleasant and cute gift that will definitely not leave your husband or boyfriend indifferent. Required:
- regular pillowcase
- fabric marker
How to make: Take a stencil with a pattern and transfer it with a pencil onto a pillowcase. And we paint on the fabric with a special marker. Iron it through the fabric - your New Year's gift is ready.
Idea 23: Photo Frame
To make family photos look even better, place them in a beautiful and original handmade frame. Buy the most ordinary and cheap picture frame and decorate it to your liking. To do this you will need a glue gun.
Second option : just hang the photo on a branch. In this case, it is better to attach the photo to the tape with silicone glue.
No. 24: Chocolate tree
Almost everyone has a real or artificial Christmas tree at home for New Year. It creates a mood and spreads the spirit of a fairy tale. But sweets do this too, so I think a gift in the form of a chocolate Christmas tree would be a good addition to it.
Natural substitute for polymer clay
Here's another recipe that's a little more involved, doesn't use salt, and produces a finer finish.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cornstarch;
- 2 cups baking soda;
- 1 cup cold water;
- dye if desired.
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring. The mixture will gradually begin to thicken, like mashed potatoes. Remove it from the heat and let it cool.
Homogeneous mass of starch
When cold enough to work with, knead the dough as above. You can add a tablespoon of oil (baby oil, petroleum jelly or mineral oil) and a teaspoon of liquid vegetable glycerin to make it smoother.
Snow-white dough for creativity
At this point, you can cut the dough into several pieces and color them with food coloring (or wait and color them later in the process). Using gloves will protect your hands from food paint and will also reduce fingerprints on the product.
Form the shapes into the desired shapes. Bake at 120 degrees for 15-20 minutes. This type of dough must be baked, as it will not harden on its own.
Choosing a mold for sculpting
If you want to decorate your crafts, wait until they are completely cool.
Forming a finished composition
This dough and others like it can be made in large batches ahead of time and frozen in a zip-top plastic bag. Be aware that once removed from the freezer, condensation—moisture—will form on the surface of the dough and must be dried before use. After defrosting, the dough will become a little harder and more crumbly, so you need to take more time to knead it to work. If the dough is too sticky, place it on a cutting board and lightly flour it.
Gifts for friends/employees and colleagues for the New Year 2021
What to give to colleagues and friends for the New Year holidays? The answer is simple: sweets, cards, Christmas tree decorations and small crafts - you can do all this quickly yourself. See ideas!
No. 12: Sweet gifts for New Year's Eve
Since childhood, we have become accustomed to sweets under the Christmas tree. This is probably the most universal gift you can think of, because both children and adults love candy. And if you present them in an interesting package, it will be even nicer.
You can make a jar of sweets as follows:
- Take a small jar (preferably some non-standard shape) and paint it to your taste. You can paint the glass or lid and tie it with ribbons.
- Fill with jelly candies, marshmallows, small meringues, chocolate pieces, whatever you like best. Place it all in a jar in layers.
As an option, you can make a “jar of healthy goodies”, instead of sweets, place different types of nuts, dried fruits, candied fruits - what a great gift for work colleagues for the New Year.
No. 13 New Year's bouquet of candies or sweets
It’s always a pleasure to receive a bouquet, even for New Year’s, and it’s edible! The financial costs for such a bouquet are small:
- about a dozen sweets,
- wrapping paper
- box or jar for the base of the composition.
There are a lot of options for decorating a New Year's bouquet - look at the photos and choose what you like!
How to make a bouquet of sweets and chocolates - read 5 master classes here!
No. 13: Potholder for a cup/glass
For those who like to take coffee or tea with them, give them a small homemade potholder. With it, they will be able to run about their business with a hot drink in their hands without burning them.
Idea 14: New Year's Bottles - Reindeer
Fluffy wire, decorative eyes and a spout - and ordinary bottles turn into real New Year's deers! Such a gift is perfect for a large number of people at once, for example, work colleagues, when it is expensive to give something to everyone, but treating them to a bottle is just the thing.
No. 15: Knitted mobile phone case
A telephone is a thing that is constantly in front of our eyes. So even such a detail as what case it comes in can affect our mood. And if you give a homemade knitted case , the recipient will remember you every time he uses it.
No. 16: Linen bag with candies
Not only the gift plays an important role, but also how it will be packaged. Small homemade bags are perfect for showing that although the gift is small, your efforts and time have been invested into it.
No. 17: New Year's sweets - gingerbread
During the New Year, it's time to enjoy the gingerbread hour. Perhaps you have your own special family recipe, if not, then there are many detailed cooking options on the Internet.
If you make them in the shape of snowmen, people or gingerbread men , you will get small, delicious New Year's gifts. You can pack each one in a small gift bag and please your friends.
Another option is to attach a ribbon to the top of the gingerbread to hang on the tree as a toy.
No. 18: Happy New Year card
To show how sincere and warm your wishes are, write them on a handmade card. Fold the cardboard in half and decorate it with drawings, appliqués, ribbons , as your imagination dictates.
You can make it in a small format with a hole in the corner so you can hang it on the Christmas tree.
Ideas for homemade clay
Any type of paint can be used to paint finished products. Be sure to cool them after baking, as some oil-based paints can be flammable. Apply a sealant such as varnish or paste. Use wax for shine.
Beautiful owl for your guest
If you see any unsightly fingerprints on the item after baking, use sandpaper to lightly rub off the top layer.
Add special effects by adding colored mica or glitter. To do this, mix it into the clay before baking.
Bright clay pendants to complete the look
You can also decorate the product with rhinestones or foil. Place the pebbles on top and then press them into the clay. Then take them out, add glue and push the rhinestone back into the hole. You can bake most rocks and be fine. Crystals and stones will not melt, and they rarely ever crack at the low temperatures required for this clay.
Make your own magnet
Advantages of handmade
Handicrafts have always been valued in Rus', and even today manual labor can become a good additional, and sometimes the main income.
Making things with your own hands will be a good pastime for the housewife herself, and maybe for the whole family.
This is a great way to get rid of unnecessary things that have been lying on balconies, mezzanines and closets for a long time.
Additional advantages of handmade include:
- an excellent opportunity to switch from work problems and everyday affairs;
- the likelihood of making an original or useful thing;
- the opportunity to get rid of unnecessary things for your own benefit;
- the ability to reduce the cost of purchasing gifts or earn a little money by creating unique crafts.
Making souvenirs will help develop perseverance and attention to detail, artistic taste and creativity. Small details of future gifts develop fine motor skills and help strengthen neural connections in the brain, which is especially important for children and the elderly.
Candles
Typically, a homemade gift for the holidays is either some kind of exotic food or candles, since both of these options are always needed and you can’t have too many of them! Since sometimes sweets are not quite suitable for a special person or occasion, candles will save the day - it works flawlessly.
Scented candles for a romantic setting
There are three reasons why I love giving homemade candles to friends for the holidays. First of all, they are amazingly customizable: there are many different scent oils and colors to choose from, and you can decorate your jar however you like!
Use your imagination to create the mood
They are then very easy to make and therefore the process does not take much time. It's just a matter of mixing, heating and pouring (and maybe decorating). Most of the time you'll spend making candles is a process of waiting for the wax to melt, then for it to set after pouring. At best, the entire gift will cost you 100-150 rubles, but the aesthetics will be top notch.
A wonderful gift for warmth and comfort
Making large quantities of candles at once will be the most economical undertaking.
Here's what you need:
- Soy candle wax (or candle wax of your choice);
- Candle wick;
- Ceramic tableware;
- Hot glue;
- A small piece of cardboard that will hold the wick;
- A saucepan and a glass bowl for a water bath;
- Food thermometer;
- Oven;
- Fragrance oil;
- Dyes (optional);
- Container with spout (optional).
Before you begin, make sure you have the correct type and size of wick for the size and type of candle you are making. If you are using soy wax, make sure your wick is suitable for soy candles. If your candle shape is wide, make sure your wick is wide enough in diameter for optimal combustion. Most craft stores where you can find these supplies will make recommendations on the packaging for the type and size of wick you should use depending on your project (it's all a lot easier than it sounds).
Step 1
Start melting the wax. I used soy wax, which I melted in a double boiler using a bowl that I placed in a pan of boiling water. Melt the wax, keeping the flame on medium to low. Never leave melting wax unattended!
Wax will melt faster if you break it into small pieces.
Step 2
While the wax is melting (and while you are keeping an eye on your wax), secure the wick to the bottom of your jar. Apply some hot glue to the center of the jar and hold it until it dries.
Step 3
Secure your wick so that it stands vertically. I used cardboard as a lid for the jar, cutting it into a round shape and punching a hole in the center for the wick. I then cut off part of the circle so I could pour the hot wax inside. Make a knot in the wick if it is very thin and is likely to fall.
You can use a pencil instead of cardboard
I attached the homemade retainer using hot glue (don't worry, dried hot glue applied to the glass is relatively easy to clean up when you're done). This is just one of several ways to balance the wick.
Step 4
Once your wax has melted, let it cool slightly before adding coloring (if desired) and scent. Wax purchased from craft stores usually comes with instructions that recommend the ideal temperature for adding scents and colors to the wax, depending on the type you are using.
For my wax, it was recommended to add aroma oil when the wax reaches a temperature of 40-60 degrees. Do not add oil to hot wax, also because some fragrances can lose their scent when in contact with a high temperature liquid.
While the wax is soft, you can adjust the position of the wick
To speed up the cooling process, I poured my hot wax into a temperature measuring cup with a spout.
If you have purchased special scents or dyes intended for candle making, they should include guidelines on how much to use based on the volume of wax you are working with.
If you have a standard essential oil in bottles with a dispenser, then I suggest focusing on your own taste, and starting with the first 5 drops, add a few drops at a time, stirring and inhaling the resulting aroma. Continue experimenting until you achieve the desired saturation.
Step 5
Pour the wax into a jar and let it cool.
Work carefully: melted wax is very hot
Step 6
When your wax has completely cooled, trim the wick so that the tail is approximately 1 cm. Your beautiful scented candle is ready!
Leave sufficient wick length
Step 7 (Optional)
Give your candle a rustic look by decorating it with burlap and twine. Make a design on the burlap and paint it with acrylic paint.
Making a candle yourself is easy and simple
Use hot glue to attach the burlap to the jar and make a bow from the twine. Natural materials will attract the eye, add coziness and emphasize the original origin of the gift.
VIDEO: DIY options that will make a unique gift
Interesting ideas
Do it yourself
Materials
Any materials can be used as sources. They could be:
- wood, in all its manifestations: sticks, boards, saw cuts;
- textile;
- yarn;
- paper.
As decoration you can use:
- lace;
- ribbons;
- beads;
- coins;
- rhinestones;
- shells and everything else that has not yet found its place.
