Homemade Little/Big Gifts

[preciousjeni]

I've seen a billion threads on how to get cheap gifts but I was hoping that people could start posting how to actually create gifts.

(Also, I just started checking out Ebay stores and there are a TON of people who have Greek gifts for CHEEEEEAAAAP!!)

I'll begin (remember, we need explicit directions because some of us...well me...are totally craft inept)

Soap

6 oz of shea, mango, or almond butter
1 oz cocoa butter
1 oz beeswax
Fragrance oil if desired scent
Mica if desired for color

Soap Mold
Double Boiler
Container to hold the butter when you're finished

Add the beeswax in your double boiler and melt completely.
Add the cocoa butter to the double boiler and melt completely. Stir occasionally.
Add the shea, mango, or almond butter and melt completely. Stir occasionally.
Remove from heat. Add mica if desired and stir throughly.
Add fragrance oil if desired and stir throughly.
Pour the mixture into your container(s) and allow to cool.

*You can also use clear glycerin soap and put little foam sorority mascot into the soap or drizzle color into it!!

Candle

Pillar Candle
Decorative Napkins

Fine Scissors
Decoupage Finish (like Mod Podge)
Foam Brush

Cut out your motif from your decorative napkin. Keep only the top layer of the napkin with your motif. You can throw away the other layers.
Cover the surface of your candle with decoupage finish.
Press the napkin motif onto the surface of the candle. Smooth out any wrinkles with your fingers.
While the napkin is still wet, brush another coat of the decoupage finish over the whole candle to seal the napkin in place.

Luggage Tags

Card Stock Paper
Tag Holders

Create a design on your computer and use the card stock paper to print. Cut out the tag and simply slip it into the tag holder.

Mug

Pencil and paper
Pebeo Porcelaine 150 glaze
Brush
Mug
Paints/Pens/Other Decorations

Decorate mug
Apply glaze
Allow to set 24 hours
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes to seal

Vase

WHAT YOU NEED
• Clean, empty jar
• Acrylic or liquid tempera paints
• Paintbrushes or cotton swabs
• White glue
• Clear glaze (available at craft stores)
Time needed: Under 1 Hour
Mix paint with glue; keep paint thick
Use brushes to paint design on jar
Let paint dry, then seal design with coat of glaze

Velvet journal

• Blank hardcover book or notebook
• Ruler and scissors
• Velvet
• Fabric stamps
• Ironing board and iron
• Tacky glue
• Flat ribbon
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

Measure the cover of your book, then cut out a piece of velvet that's just slightly smaller.
Place the fabric stamp on your ironing board with the stamp side up. Put the velvet over the stamp, fuzzy side down, then spritz the back of the fabric with water. With the iron set on high, press down evenly for about 25 seconds (a parent's job). Carefully lift the iron, peel the fabric back from the stamp, and let the fabric dry. To add more patterns, repeat this process.
Put glue on the back side of the velvet and attach it squarely to the front of the journal. Cover the rough edges of the velvet by gluing a strip of flat ribbon on top of them.
Although cotton and polyester velvet do work, rayon and silk velvet make the best prints. Use fabric stamps (which cost about the same as rubber stamps) because they are tested for use with high heat.

Beaded Pic Frame

Wooden Pic Frame
Glue
Beads

Take a container that's big enough to hold the picture frame and put beads in it. Smear glue on the picture frame and, holding the frame over the container, start picking up handfuls of beads and dropping them onto the frame until it's covered.