Holiday 2016 DIY Gifting Guide

From wooden wall hangings to gemstone chokers, local artisans share their nine favourite do-it-yourself holiday gifts

DIY fanatics, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! December arrives with a flurry of jingle bells and rich holiday aromas, and the drudgery of the department store gift dash. Forego the stress (and expense) of the shopping mall this year by having a handmade holiday. 

Click through for a step-by-step list of nine fantastic DIY gifts… 

Sea Salt Body Scrub by Element Botanicals

“This scrub takes just minutes to make with ingredients you might already have on hand. If you don’t have any essential oils, you can omit them and it still smells amazing!”

Supplies

• ½ cup sea salt
• 1 sprig fresh cedar (approximately ½ tbsp chopped)
• 1 sprig fresh peppermint leaf (approximately ½ tbsp chopped) or ½ tbsp dried peppermint leaf
• 5 tbsp grape seed, avocado or olive oil
• 1-5 drops cedar leaf essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• Finely chopped cedar and peppermint (if using dried peppermint, pinch between your fingers as you add it to the mixture, to ’wake up’ the aroma)

instructions

1. Measure all ingredients into a small bowl and stir well with a spoon. Adjust oil if necessary.
2. Scoop into a small Mason jar, label and share!

Makes 1 small (125 ml) mason jar.

Where to find supplies

Cedar can be harvested from just about anywhere in B.C. Gently snap the last few inches of a bough from a low branch. To protect the health of the tree, always take only what you need. If you don’t have any fresh peppermint, you can find it and the rest of the ingredients at your favourite green grocer.

About Element Botanicals
Amber Haase is the creator of Element Botanicals natural body care, available across Canada and online. She and her family live, work and wild harvest ingredients for their products from their rural home in White Lake, B.C. Amber teaches many classes on botanical DIY crafting.

Glitter-filled Ornaments by LWmakes

“These glitter baubles are simple and quick to make, but will make an impact on any tree. If the ornaments didn’t come in a pack, you can use a glass, egg carton, tape roll or empty jar to keep the ornament upright. “

SUPPLIES

• Clear glass or plastic ornaments
• Glitter
• Something to hold the ornament steady
• Paper to cover your workspace
• A piece of paper or a funnel

instructions

1. Remove the top of the ornament and use the piece of paper as a funnel to pour the glitter in.
2. Tie with festive string, ribbon or bakers twine to finish.
3. You can also get creative and fill the ornaments with confetti, pom poms, curled ribbon, feathers… whatever you like!
    

Where to find supplies

Everything can be purchased from Michaels.

About Lauren Wells
Lauren Wells began her crafting journey in 2011 under the name Little Wren and has now evolved into LWmakes. Her work has been sold at Vancouver’s most popular independent boutiques and craft shows, as well as London’s famous Spitalfields and Brick Lane markets, along with the Renegade Craft Fair. Her projects are inspired by a love for flowers and vintage treasures, and some of her many crafting talents include resin flower earrings and teacup candles.

Glitter Tree Snow Globes by LWmakes

“This is a fun and relatively easy DIY with beautiful results. It is easy to personalize, and you can make it as simple or as challenging as you like. For example, if you prefer, you can buy bottle brush trees that are already covered in glitter, or do without the glitter all together and leave the trees plain.”

SUPPLIES

• Wide-mouth canning jars (or any clear glass jars with screw lids) 
• Assorted bottle brush trees (I used white trees, but regular green trees look great too) 
• A glue gun and glue sticks
• Artificial snow (I used a mix of plain and iridescent)
• Spray adhesive 
• Glitter
• A mat or paper to protect your workspace
• Small figurines or additional decorations (optional) 

instructions

1. Spray the trees with spray adhesive and then sprinkle with glitter. Let them fully dry. If you don’t want to use glitter, you can use the glue gun to glue beads on the trees as baubles, add ribbon or twine as garland, or just leave them plain.
2. Position the trees (and other small figurines if you have them) on the underside of the lid. I like to test out how it will look by putting the empty jar over top to see how it will look finished. Once you’re happy with the placement, use the glue gun to glue the tree to the underside of the lid. Pro tip: If you’re using canning jars, you can glue the two parts of the lid together before glueing on the tree. 
3. Add the snow. You can either put a bit of snow in the bottom of the jar, screw on the lid with the upside down tree, and then just flip it over letting the snow fall to the base of the tree. Alternatively, you can also pack some snow in around the base of the tree before screwing the jar on over top—it’s a bit tricky to make sure the snow doesn’t come out the edges, but it ensures the base of the tree is completely covered with snow. 
    

where to find supplies 

Everything can be purchased at Michaels.

Wood-burned Wall Hanging by Broken Fog

supplies

• Slice of round-cut wood 
• Soft grit sandpaper
• Transfer paper
• Wood burner
• Pliers
• Craft varnish
• Eye hook
• 6” chain
• Jump rings

instructions

1. Choose a hand-drawn design or inspiration image to transfer onto a piece of wood. 
2. Sand the surface with a soft-grit sandpaper to smooth. 
3. Transfer your design to the surface using transfer paper. Place the transfer paper dark side down onto the wood. Place your design on top, facing up. Re-draw over the image, and the carbon paper will transfer the design to the surface. 
4. Using a wood burner, follow the lines of your transfer with the burner. Tip: Test out some lines and markings on another piece of wood to get comfortable using the burner. 
5. Sand when finished and retouch as needed. Apply an indoor craft varnish or shellac to protect the surface. 
6. Screw an eye hook into each side of your wall hanging. 
7. Attach a 6″ piece of chain using a jump ring on each end of the chain. Pliers can be used to easily open and close the jump rings. Pro tip: Match your chain color to the jump ring and eye hook colours for a consistent look. 
8. For an alternate hanging method, attach a sawtooth hook to the back of the wood piece using a hammer and nails. This will give you a seamless look.  

Where to find supplies

At Michaels you can find round-cut wood, transfer paper, starter wood burning kits, jump rings and chains. Check out Home Depot for the sandpaper, craft varnish, eye hooks and/or sawtooth hooks. For a more rustic look, try finding a piece of wood outdoors and cutting it to size.

About Broken Fog
Broken Fog is a creative and collaborative local craft company specializing in wood-burned home decor, art prints, pins and necklaces. Partners Lara and Gerry design and make everything in their studio in the West End of Vancouver, drawing inspiration from the beautiful East and West Coasts of Canada. A combination of two art styles, Broken Fog has a little something for everyone, touching on both traditional tattoo style and flowing florals. 

Stone Choker by The Beautiful Nomad

Supplies

• 14 inches of beaded chain
• 5 open-jump rings*
• Spring clasp
• Gemstone connector
• Ruler or tape measure
• Chain cutters
• Two pliers

*When buying your supplies, make sure your jump rings fit through the beaded chain and spring clasp.

instructions

1. Cut the beaded chain into three parts: two at 6 inches and one at 2 inches.
2. Take your gemstone connector, open one of the jump rings using your pliers and slip it through one end of the connector. Also, put one end of your 6-inch chain through the jump ring. Close the jump ring using your pliers.
3. Repeat step 2 on the other side of the connector.
4. The front part of your necklace is now complete! Now let’s work on the back. Take two jump rings, open slightly using your pliers, and put one on each end of the 6-inch chains. Don’t close the jump rings quite yet!
5. Add your spring clasp to one of the jump rings and then close the jump ring.
6. On the other jump ring, you’re going to add an extender. Take the two-inch chain and put one end through the jump ring. Close the jump ring.
7. Now take your last jump ring and put it on the other end of the 2-inch chain. All done! Adding the extender can be optional but I find it’s helpful to add, especially if you’re giving the necklace as a gift!

where to find supplies

Your local bead store should carry all the supplies necessary! If you’re in the Vancouver area, I would recommend Country Beads on West 4th. I’ve been going here for years, well before I started my career as a jewellery designer—it’s a great place to be inspired! If you don’t have a bead store near you, Etsy is a great resource for supplies.

About The Beautiful Nomad
The Beautiful Nomad is a Vancouver-based jewellery brand specializing in handmade gemstone mala necklaces and other unique gemstone jewelry. Started in 2014 by Jessica Buell, the line is inspired by nature—the Earth, stars and seaside living. The natural beauty and sacred properties of gemstones are coupled with a modern look so that each piece is attractive and meaningful. 

Bath Bombs by Element Botanicals

“Everyone loves bath bombs! They are very affordable and lots of fun to make. When making them for kids, I sometimes hide a little treasure, fortune or even pop rocks in the centre.”

Supplies

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup citric acid
• Witch hazel in a spray bottle
• Rubber gloves
• Bowl
• Mould
• 15 drops cedar leaf oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• Optional: glitter and a few small sprigs of cedar leaves

instructions

1. Mix baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils well in a bowl. Wearing gloves, break up any clumps as you blend with one hand and spray the mixture with witch hazel with the other.
2. Squeeze the mixture in your hand gently. If it holds together when you open your hand, it is ready to mould. If not, spray and mix a bit more. Too much moisture will set off the reaction, so be careful not to overdo it!
3. Place a small amount of glitter in the top cavity of your mould.  Place the cedar sprigs on top.
4. Pack the mould firmly. If using a round mould, pack both sides and leave them slightly heaping and rough, then stick them together. You can leave your bath bomb in the mould for an hour or two to set or carefully remove right away and make more.
5. Place your bath bomb on a tray and allow to dry overnight before using.
6. Wrap in a cello bag or in tissue paper.

where to find supplies

The options are endless when looking for bath-bomb moulds: ice cube trays, empty fruit cups, small bowls, moulded baking pans and more. For the large round moulds, I go to my local craft store and buy several of the round plastic fillable ornaments. 

Soy Wax Candles or Wax Melts by Element Botanicals

supplies

• Soy wax chips
• Wicks or coffee stir sticks that have been soaked in olive oil for an hour for a wood wick-type candle
• Medium to large Pyrex measuring bowl
• Measuring spoons, whisk, hot pot mats
• Cedar and peppermint essential oils (approximately 15 ml essential oil per 125 ml wax)
• Mason jars or other fire proof containers
• Candy thermometer
• Chop sticks or long coffee stir sticks to hold the wick in place

instructions

1. Measure wax.  An easy way to figure out how much wax you will need is to fill your container with wax flakes to about an inch or so from the top of the container, dump it into your Pyrex bowl and then do it again. The solid wax reduces to approximately half the volume once it’s melted, so to find out how much solid wax you’ll need, simply fill the container twice.
2. Place the wax chips in the measuring bowl and microwave in one minute intervals until melted. Alternatively, you can heat the wax on very low heat in a pot, stirring often.
3. When the wax is melted and reads 185°f or slightly less, remove it from the heat and stir in your essential oils. 15 ml of essential oil scents a small 125 ml mason jar nicely.
4. Carefully pour the scented melted wax into your container.
5. Measure and cut the length of wick, leaving about ½ inch extra. Place your wick into the jar, centering it by using two stir sticks or chop sticks to hold it in place.  Let cool until wax is hard and white (usually 30 to 60 minutes).
6. Before your candle completely sets, sprinkle a little glitter or tiny sprig of cedar on top if you like.

To make melts for a wax burner

1. Pour scented wax into small silicone ice cube trays or candy moulds; allow to harden.
2. Package as many as you can fit in a mason jar, tin or waxed bag. One melt will scent a whole room nicely and are much healthier than the synthetic fragrance ones!

where to find supplies

You can find almost all of the ingredients for these crafts at Voyageur Soap and Candle based in Langley as well as online. You can also find soy wax chips at most craft stores. The amount required depends on the size of your container. Soy wax washes clean away, so you can reuse the container after!

Fabric Gift Bag by Anne-Marie Bélanger

“I always cringe when I look at the amount of paper and wrappers left behind after the gifts have been unwrapped. Why not use fabric to make a gift bag and have it be of use after the present has been unwrapped? It adds a personal touch to the experience. A simple fabric bag that uses classic, clean French seams finished with a simple felt rectangle stitched with the receiver’s initials.”

Supplies

• A 14″ X 28″ rectangle of fabric
• A 2″ X 4″ felt rectangle
• A 36″ long ribbon, no more then 1/2″ wide*
  *Before you cut your fabric, make sure it is washed and dried.

instructions

1. Fold your piece of fabric in half, wrong sides together to find the centre of the front of the bag. Once your centre is marked, pin your rectangle of felt making sure you only pin through one layer of fabric.
2. Once pinned, blanket stitch the rectangle on the bag. Now, embroider the initials on it using a simple split stitch.
3. With wrong sides together, pin both seams together. Sew seams with 1/4″ seam allowance. Trim any frayed edges and press seams open. Turn bag inside out, fold seams, and press flat.
4. Sew second seam 1/2″ from pressed folded seam. Back tack at beginning and end.
5. Turn bag right side out. Press a 1/4″ towards the right side of the bag along the top edge of the bag. Fold and press an additional 3/4″. Stich around the top of the bag along the fold, leaving 1/2″ open at the side to insert the ribbon. Edge-stitch the top of the ribbon casing. This will give a nice finishing touch.
6. Using a safety pin, thread the ribbon through the casing and make a knot to hold both ends together. Voilà!

where to find supplies

“Thrift stores are always a good place to find treasures and material for these projects. You can also scour your home for an old shirt or skirt that has been sitting around for too long. For spools of thread, try Dressew or any fabric store.”

About Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie has always felt that fabric can hold memories, memories that are too often left sleeping on the shelves. It was with a passion for those fabrics that Anne-Marie started making dolls for friends with vintage cloth; eventually that past time became fait pour toi dolls. With ‘fait pour toi’ she takes sentimental fabrics—baby blankets, a dress from a dear friend, a skirt from days gone by—and transforms them into playful keepsakes that will last a lifetime.