DIY Thank You gifts
for those special people in your life!
We are so
blessed to have some truly wonderful people in our lives that stand by us
through thick and thin, offer us a shoulder to cry on and a hand to high-five!
From parents to partners to loved ones, all of these people deserve to know
that their efforts and support are cherished and valued, and what better way to
say “thank you” than with a gorgeous, hand made gift which will bring a smile
to their faces? Here are some DIY ideas on how you can make inexpensive,
handmade presents for those special people in your life.
1. Nothing
pleases a sweet tooth more than a large jar of home-baked cookies, there are so
many variants to choose from, and you can always make a mixed batch of them
instead of just one variety. However, for the serious chocolate chip cookie
connoisseur, a basic, delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe will hit the spot
and have your loved one asking for more!
What you
will need:
*recipe
courtesy Betty Crocker*
- 3/4th cup granulated
sugar + 3/4th cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 2 ¼th cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
(optional)
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate
chips
How to
proceed –
- Pre-heat oven to 375*F
- Mix both sugars with butter,
vanilla and egg
- Stir in flour, baking soda and
salt; then add nuts and chocolate chips
- The dough should have a stiff
consistency
- With a clean ice-cream scoop,
scoop dough out on to un-greased cookie sheets, keep them 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or till
the edges are golden brown; let them cool for a little while and then
remove from the cookie sheet to cool on a wire rack.
- Fill in a large Jar and gift!
2. Customized
essential oil blends have a multitude of benefits, and are suitable gifts for
everyone. Essential oil comes with a number of health and beauty benefits, and
recipes are easily available online. Using a safe carrier oil to blend the oils
with, and always storing them in dark colored bottles, will ensure longevity of
the oil and retain its benefits. If a loved one has a specific problem, your
oil can serve to alleviate it and provide some much-needed comfort.
What you
will need:
- Amber colored bottles for
storage
- Essential oils [Lavender,
Rosemary, Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile]
- Almond or Olive oil
How to
proceed –
- Insomnia Remedy: Blend 6 tsps
of Olive oil with 10-12 drops of Lavender and Ylang Ylang oil
respectively. Fill in bottle and the oil is ready.
- Stress relief and relaxation:
Blend 6 tsps of Almond oil with 12-15 drops of Roman Chamomile. Fill in
bottle and the oil is ready.
- Muscle pain relief: Blend 6tsps
of Olive oil with 12 drops of Lavender and Rosemary oil respectively. Fill
in bottle and the oil is ready.
A family
wall will serve as a tribute to the most special people in your life; your
family. Dedicating an entire wall which highlights your best moments with your
family, including celebrations, birth and other special occasions, will remind
each and every one of you of how important you are to each other. For those
family members who have passed on, a remembrance section will keep the
happiest, most cherished memories alive.
What you
will need:
- Designated wall space
- Framed photographs with
backings, ready for hanging
- Knick knacks and memorabilia
from travel
- Awards, trophies and other
articles of achievement
- Hammer/ Drill and associated
nails/bits
How to
proceed -
- This is a relatively simple
exercise. Decide on where to place the photographs and make the
appropriate markings on the wall.
- Place photographs and framed
certificates on the wall after hammering nails in the previously marked
areas.
- Surround the photographs with
small knick knacks and medals. A corner table could serve as a spot for
large trophies.
“I love
you” coupons are a fun way to keep any relationship alive, and also serve the
dual purpose of resolving conflicts! Gifting a partner a booklet of handmade
coupons with specific “benefits” will allow them to “cash in” on them when they
want to. For parents who are making these for their kids, little treats such as
“an extra 30 minutes of TV, Please!” or a “get out of doing the dishes” coupon
can fun to their lives! For romantic partners, you can use your imagination;
there are options in the likes of “this coupon entitles me to breakfast in bed”
or maybe “no TV channel switching during football night”. The options are
endless!
What you
will need:
- 12 sheets of thick, colored
paper, A4 Size
- Sharpies or markers
- Glitter and decorations [in
case you want to add some bling to your coupons]
- Clear sticky tape
- Stapler or hole-puncher
- Scissors
How to
proceed –
- Cut the paper into equal,
horizontal strips, each A4 sheet should render 4 strips.
- Write a unique coupon out on
each strip. Decorate with glitter if you want.
- Run the sticky tape around the
perimeter of the coupons, so as to prevent tearing.
- Collate the coupons by piling
them on top of each other till a little “booklet is formed. Two blank
strips could be placed at the beginning and end of the booklet for it to have
an authentic “cover”.
- Either staple them together or
use a hole-puncher and ribbon to bind the booklet together.
- Gift it to a loved one! *This
makes an excellent Valentines Day gift as well!*
Combining
gifts in a basket or simply gifting them separately will surely make your loved
ones very happy, and with the number of DIY gift-making options available,
there will always be a new gift to make for them during special occasions.
Guest article from www.glad2bawoman.com. Glad2bawoman is an online media company for
women with over 77,000 members. The articles on their site encompass various
topics around Health, Empowerment, Relationships, Fashion and Leisure.
