It occurred to me last month, as Christmas crept sneakily toward us, that my desire to actually attempt some of the smashing homespun gift ideas I’d been pinning with passion, combined with my astounding ability to procrastinate, were a match made in hades.
And then I promptly forgot that profound thought and continued on my way. As is common for gifted procrastinators.
Until last week when my hubby mentioned that his family’s Thanksgiving gathering, which – with migratory birds as grandparents – translates to our “Thanksgiving AND Christmas gathering”, was happening in a matter of days.
Shut.the.front.door.
I admit I considered the ‘fleece throw, picture frame & mixed nuts’ fall back, but then in a moment of bravery ran off and purchased 3,253 mason jars.
At least that’s what it looked like when I unpacked.
So I got my homemade-makin’ heinie into action and whipped up these bad boys and, hallelujah, got inspired to procrastinate a little less next year.
Beans. Soap. Almonds. Merry Christmas!
Naturally, in my mad scurry to assemble everything, complete with spiffy labels, and make it out the door in time, I completely forgot to snap some photos of the Confetti Bean Soup and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread mixes. Gah! So click on the links for instructions and images right from the original blogs.
The bean soup fits nicely into the pint sized mason jar, and the quick bread fits into the quart sized mason jar {when each layer is packed down tightly – which also makes for nice, clean layers}, and those labels are right here {the lid labels fit perfectly under the rim of the lid}:
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread Mix : Lid labels and Instruction tags
- Confetti Soup Mix : Lid Labels and Instruction Tags
The instruction tags, which you can simply punch a little hole in and tie around the neck of the jar with ribbon, are above too. You could do just the instruction tag, or if you wanted to cover the top with fabric {removing the need for the lid label}, I’ve included the label in tag form too so you can tie it along with the directions. Simply click, download and print!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any issues – I’m still trying to figure this whole thing out and what the best way is to make free printables available to you!
And then there’s these little gems…the candied cinnamon almonds. Holy mackerel, are these babies delicious. And ridiculously easy, to boot!
The smell that overtakes your kitchen as the sugar and spice mingle in the water {and yes, that’s about the extent of the ingredients…apart from the nuts!} is reminiscent of the mall at Christmas time. Only you don’t have to take a second mortgage out on your home in order to chew a few.
Seriously, it’s magical. Make them. Not to be pushy or anything.
{Easy Peasy} Candied Cinnamon Almonds
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of sugar
- 3 cups of raw almonds (or any other nut that tickles your fancy)
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- a sprinkle of allspice and/or ground cloves {optional}
- 1/4 cup of water
Directions:
- In a large skillet combine the sugar, spice and water.
- Add the nuts and stir constantly with a spoon over medium heat, evenly coating the almonds with the syrupy mixture.
- Continue stirring until the sugar crystallizes, you’ll notice the syrup will go from glossy to matte in what seems like a nanosecond, after stirring for a while.
- Remove the pan from the heat and scoop the candied nuts onto wax or parchment paper. Technically you should ‘let them cool before serving’, but we felt it necessary to try one every 10 seconds to ensure quality. They’re wickedly delicious warm, albeit a little ‘damp’.
- These can be made a few days ahead and kept in airtight containers.
Recipe adapted from One Charming Party
* Lid Labels for the Candied Cinnamon Almonds can be found here.
And then there’s the sudsy component of these nifty little gift bags.
My delightful neighbor introduced me to the wonders of homemade soap…or “semi homemade” soap {it’s simply a melt and pour base with whatever additions we feel like throwing in}.…when she sent me home with an oatmeal body bar and a goat’s milk tea tree bar for my face. Clearly, she loves me.
Or thinks I stink.
If actually taking a shower wasn’t epic already, it’s now at a whole new level of coolness.
We bought our soap bases here at Wholesale Supplies Plus, and used Oatmeal, Goat’s Milk and Mango Butter. You can also get great deals on 2 pound blocks of melt & pour soap over here at Nature’s Garden.
Simply select your base, your essential oils {or fragrance oils} – I get a lot of my essential oils through Vitacost – and then throw in whatever else you think would compliment your recipe. For instance, I found some ground orange rind in my spice cupboard, so tossed that in with a little handful of oatmeal and a healthy pinch of finely chopped, fresh rosemary to my “Autumn Oatmeal” bar, which also had clove oil in it.
You can really have fun with this, just be sure to follow the basic proportion guidelines {just a few drops of oil/fragrance will do}. There’s a boatload of information right here for first time soap makers. Okay, soap melters and pourers. er. ers.
Once melted, mixed and poured, just allow your bars to cool, pop out of the mold and wrap in wax paper. You can tie with raffia and a little tag. I made little labels for mine {shocker, I know} and would love to share them with you…however that would mean you’d have to use the exact same ingredients as I did, which is unlikely – because just WAIT until you see the list of fragrance options. It’s fah-bulous!
I bought my silicone soap mold from Amazon.
We also have lip balm, boo boo balm and other fun things up our sleeves…but I can’t very well tell you everything I’m giving away this year now can I?
The ideas are endless…especially with Pinterest at your fingertips!
Toss your jars, bottles, bars, pets and kitchen sink into a basket, or brown paper bag, tie a cute tag to it – like the one below – and you’re all set to deliver this Christmas!
Click on the tag to download your very own gift tag printables.
And if you happen to get a bar of soap from me for Christmas…just smile, gasp sweetly and declare, “what!? You made this?!” and pretend you never read a word of this, k? Thanks.
Now don’t wait until 2 days before Christmas to put your goodies together. Put on your big-girl, no-procrastination panties and whip these babies up.
Seriously, what kind of turkey waits until the last minute.
Sheesh.
