Now is the time to start thinking about holiday gifts, especially if you like to give handmade gifts. You need some time to gather your supplies, experiment with the techniques you are using, and of course to make everything and wrap it up beautifully. (And, if you don’t want to make your own gifts, might I suggest heading over to my etsy shop to purchase some unique handmade jewelry? wink, wink…)

If you’d like to make your own gifts, here are a couple ideas to try:

Sugar Scrub – I make this for myself using a combination of oils (such as olive and grapeseed, which I can get at the grocery store, essential oil for fragrance, and jojoba or sweet almond which are a little harder to find but available at my local health food store in the beauty section) and sugar. Add a bit of vitamin E oil for a preservative, and package it in a nice jar, and you have a great gift for someone! Experiment with different oils and scents, or substitute epsom salt for the sugar. To use, simply rub some on your hands or any part of your body that could use some exfoliation and moisture, then rinse in warm water.

Edited to add: check out the comments for another sugar scrub idea, and also try this brown sugar version from craftzine.

Decorate some votive holders (or other types of candle holders, the technique is pretty much the same).

Also check out my tutorial page for more ideas!