Peppermint Treats: Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

General gifts are easy to find. Give them something special with Christmas crafts. Tailor made-gifts are not only great for people who are hard to buy for, but they also cut your costs in half. Most craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michael's carry everything you need to make something special. Here are a few ideas that will help you create the perfect gift.

Peppermint Massage Bars
These soaps smell and look wonderful. You'll need a massage bar mold, one 5 lb. bag of cubed soap (clear or white), red coloring (the container will say whether it's safe or not to use on skin), and peppermint scent. You can pick these items up at your local craft store.

First, melt 6 to eight cubes of soap in a microwave safe dish. When melted, the soap is really hot so be careful. Add 10 drops of peppermint scent to your melted soap. Add red dye until color is a light to medium pink. Mix well. Pour into mold, and let it sit for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator or until cool.

Peppermint Bath Salt
All you need is Epsom Salt, peppermint scent or your favorite scent, and baking soda. Mix 1 cup of Epsom Salt and 1/3 cup of baking soda together in a plastic baggie. Add 8-10 drops of scent. Seal baggie, and shake well. Jelly and jam jars are perfect to present your bath salts with. Add a Christmas bow and a bit of ribbon for a holiday gift.

Gift Baskets
Gift baskets are easy to make; they save time and money. Find a local dollar store or craft store for your decorations. Depending on your style preferences, start by picking out a few baskets or containers. Cookie jars, wicker baskets, and trinket boxes work well. You also want to pick out a few cellophane gift bags and some holiday ribbon. Once you've finished gathering these things, you want to search for the gift basket "filling".

The "filling" can range from cookies and candy to teddy bears and soda, depending on what he/she likes. Now your ready to craft! An easy gift basket example would be: You have a tin container full of their favorite cookies, and you have a blue teddy bear which is their favorite color.