I have a lot of hard-to-shop-for people on my list, and I always want to give my friends and family something they will genuinely like. I thought these DIY Christmas gifts and ornaments were really cute, easy to make, and best of all one-of-a-kind.
It’s the wrapping that make these soaps so precious!
To make:
A goat’s-milk formula and a beguiling bird mold—along with thoughtful packaging—result in bars that seem like they cost a fortune. First, melt the soap according to package instructions ($3.30 for 1-pound M&P base; brambleberry.com). Pour the mixture into the silicone mold ($18.85; vendio.com/stores/chaseho). Let it set for four hours, then pop out your bar. To wrap these soaps, we used unbleached coffee filters, rectangular cardboard boxes ($4.50 for 25; 2¾”W x 3¾”L x 1¼”H;sunshinecontainer.com), and paper color-copied from a vintage bird guide.
Tip: Enclose each oval soap in a coffee filter before boxing—the ruffles gather neatly around curves.
Absolutely ADORABLE gloves:
Bring a bit of earnest irony to a pair of gloves with this hilariously tender riff on tough knuckle tattoos. Borrow our intentionally sweet phrases above, or come up with your own eight-letter expressions. We chose wool-blend gloves ($24; carolinaamato.com), but any knit version will work.
Step 1: Slide one glove onto your hand. Using a pastel chalk pencil ($5.59 for four; joann.com), mark each knuckle with a horizontal line at the bottom of each finger (the first joint) and another just below the second joint. Remove the glove, then repeat for the other hand. If needed, enlist a friend to mark your dominant hand.
Step 2: Lay the gloves, marked sides up, on a flat surface. Working within the horizontal lines, and using the chalk pencil, spell out the phrase you plan to stitch across both gloves. Try the gloves on to check that your letters are positioned to satisfaction.
Step 3: Using six-strand embroidery thread that contrasts with the color of your gloves, sew directly over the chalk letters with a basic stem stitch, making sure to sew through the top layer only. (Get a quick stem-stitch tutorial here.) Remove any stray chalk with a damp cotton swab—and spread the word!
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It’s all about gold and metallics these days, so some gilt found-objects would be chic and sentimental!
This time of year, pinecones and acorns are free for the taking. And in less than an hour, you can cast your findings in 18-karat gold — spray paint, that is.
Step 1: Gather or purchase acorns and hemlock pinecones (acorns, $8.75 for bag of 40; amazon.com; pinecones, $4.99 for three quarts; save-on-crafts.com)
Step 2: Use hot glue to affix a jump ring ($2.99 per 120 pack; joann.com) to the top of each acorn or pinecone, near the back.
Step 3: After the glue dries, carefully spray the objects with one coat of Krylon’s 18-karat gold paint ($3.99 for eight-ounce can; dickblick.com)
Step 4: Let paint dry for 20 minutes, then spray the charm with clear finish (Krylon Make It Last Clear Sealer, $3.63; misterart.com) allow 10 minutes to dry.
Step 5: String the charms onto gold chains.
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