As the weather turns, it’s time to stock up on craft supplies! Before shopping, brainstorm ideas for thoughtful DIY holiday gifts and projects for snowy days, and create a shopping list (so you’re not tempted to buy everything)! Here are 3 simple projects (using pantry staples) to get you started. Happy crafting!
Cinnamon Sugar Body Scrub
You can spend an armload at the store and buy a pre-made mix OR you can spend virtually nothing and use ingredients you already have at home! Gather the following to get started: mason jars (preferably 4 oz), granulated sugar, vanilla, coconut oil and cinnamon. Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. After blending, transfer the mix to the mason jar and add your own label. For a professional touch, tie a cinnamon stick on the lid with red and white twine.
Dried Orange Slice Wreath
Making your own dried orange slices is fun and easy, and the results are beautiful. Plus, if you live in a dry place, these things will last for years! Simply follow these steps:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
- Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet, and a wire drying/cooling rack over the parchment.
- Spray the drying/cooling rack lightly with cooking spray.
- Slice your oranges as thinly as possible.
- Pat each side of the orange slices with a paper towel, then transfer them to the drying rack.
- Bake the slices for 1 hour, then flip and bake for 1 more hour.
- After 2 hours, check your orange slices every 5 minutes to see if they’re done. *They can burn easily, so monitor closely!*
- Once the slices are dry, remove them from the oven, and allow them to finish drying on the rack overnight.
- After 24 hours, add some twine and hang the slices in a window, over a fireplace, or around a tree!
3D Paper Pumpkins
Just in time for Halloween, these pumpkins won’t rot and all you need is paper, glue, a hole puncher and string! After gathering your materials and tools, Stack and fold 3 sheets of paper in half, then use scissors to cut out a half circle (with the flat side along the folded edge). Gently separate the sheets or cut circles, then use a glue stick to apply glue to the outer faces of each folded circle. Arrange the circles into a sphere and press the glued faces together. Punch a hole through the top, string pipe cleaner through the hole and curl the pipe cleaner ends. It’s a paper pumpkin!