Almost Free Herbal Gifts to Give

Almost Free Herbal Gifts to Give

I don't know about you all, but as much as I love the holidays, it is always a time when I feel a little pinched.  And especially in this economy!  I want to give to everyone...but is that possible if I am not independently wealthy?  Only if I use my ingenuity!  If we only look around our household, I'm sure all of us have bits of ribbon, glue, mason jars or clean empty jars we have saved.  With a few elements from the kitchen, and some paper and a printer---we can give abundantly!  Below are some recipes and ideas to check items off your gift list, without breaking the bank.  I think these gifts are all the more precious, because it isn't junk that will end up in the landfill or the back of someone's closet.  These are usable, and much appreciated gifts that will come from your heart and your kitchen.  How great is that?  Here are five different ideas to take and make your own:

1. Bath Salts--- How To Make Bath Salts | Homemade Bath Salts - Freshskin Beauty

    Basically, it’s a mixture of baking soda and Epsom salts with some essential oils added for scent. If you have dried lavender buds      or rose petals, mix them in too.  So cute when placed in a clean glass jar with a little scoop, or cup.  Tie it with a ribbon and a tag        and you have a delightful gift.

2. Herbal Sugar Scrub--- Sugar scrubs are good for exfoliating the skin and leaves your face soft and fresh.  If you have a few friends that you think will enjoy some skin care, this recipe is easy and impressive.  All you need is some olive or coconut oil, essential oils you have on hand (if none are around just skip but lavender, lemon or rose geranium are all heavenly) and some sugar.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil
• Few drops of essential oil(s) of choice (optional)

Mix well but don’t over-mix. This is good placed in jelly jars or clean baby food containers.  Use paint or decoupage lids with wrapping paper, antique pages from old torn books (music pages, old school primers, even newspapers).  Add a homemade tag with a ribbon.  

3. Quick Bread---Baking is perhaps the easiest gift of all. Food is always most appreciated.  And quick breads or loaves are super easy.  Here are 20 different recipes sure to please: Our 15 Best Quick Bread Recipes (allrecipes.com) After your loaf has cooled, wrap well with tin foil and tie it up with a bright red or green ribbon.  Add a tag with ingredient list.

4. Homemade Candy! These recipes take very little ingredients, time or effort.  And they make impressive gifts for the sweet toother on your list 10 DIY Homemade Herbal Candy Recipes and Their Benefits - Home Remedies (homeremedyshop.com) But what to put them in?  Plastic food bags with ribbons and label, mason jars with a tag, or if you can find empty tins at the dollar store or a thrift store those are good too.

5.   Cinnamon Hot Cocoa mix…with a printable tag.  Who doesn't want hot cocoa on a long winter's night?                                                      Easy Cinnamon Hot Cocoa Mix- The Kitchen Garten    If you have extra mugs on hand, a bag of this mix with 2 mugs in a basket          would make a great gift, or just put the mix in a mason jar with ribbon and tag.

These are just a few ideas.  If you look around your home, I'm sure you will find all kinds of ideas for free or almost free gifts.  If you have some herb plants, why not root some slips of your plant to give, or maybe you have a few extra seeds you've saved from your garden---why not create an artistic envelope to put them in and put them in one of your empty flowerpots?  We talked earlier about making your own herbal cleaning products---why not mix up a couple and label them and put them in a bag with a few purchased cleaning cloths?  Gifting doesn't have to leave us broke.  It is supposed to uplift our friends and families as well as ourselves, and when we do it almost effortlessly, it does!