3 DIY Christmas Gifts for the Savvy Shopper
The holidays can get expensive. A student on a budget will need to read this to give mom and dad the love they deserve without spending an arm and a leg. These are a few DIY gifts to save your wallet this Christmas.
Shopping for a tea lover? What better gift to give them, than the Christmas tea! Customise your Christmas tea by switching up the colours and flavours!
What You’ll Need:
- styrofoam cones
- individually wrapped tea bags, the number depends on how big the cone is
- glue gun with glue sticks
- small paper mache boxes or some kind of short, round cylinder to use as the “stump”
- wooden stars or other star trinkets for embellishment
- rice, for weighing down boxes (optional)
Step-By-Step:
1.) Add tea bags starting at the base of the cone. Place a thin line of hot glue along the upper edge of the back of a tea bag, then attach it to the cone. Hold the tea bag in place until the glue sets.
2.) While gluing the next tea bag, slightly overlap it over the one that was just glued to cover up the styrofoam cone underneath. How much you overlap the tea bags depends on the size of your tea bags. Finish the entire base before moving upwards, then repeat the gluing process until you reach the top.
3.) Attach the top of the paper mache box to the base of the cone using hot glue.
For more stability, add some rice in the bottom half of the box to serve as a weight, then use glue to seal the top piece of the paper mache box to the bottom piece to create one unified “stump.”
I don't know about you guys, but after the Holiday season i often feel stressed. What better way to unwind then by having a bubble bath with a DIY bath bomb. Use them yourself, or gift them for others! The fizzy bubbles, essentials oils, and beneficial minerals are a treat for the senses.
Something I always crave in the holiday season is chocolate! Thats an excuse...I ALWAYS crave chocolate..I know im not the only one out there! Gift your loved ones with some delicious treats, the effort you put into them is what makes them so special!
- Makes: 1 ice cube tray (about 16 chocolates)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1hr 20 minutes
- 2 1/2 cups milk, or dark chocolate, chips
- 2 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp chunky peanut butter
- 6 soft caramel chews
- 2 tbsp chopped, salted, roasted peanuts
- 2 large marshmallows, cut in half and sides trimmed
- Cooking spray
- Pastry brush
- Ice cube tray
Directions
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl.
- Microwave the chocolate in 30 second intervals until melted (stir between each interval) should take about 90 seconds depending on your microwave.
- Spray the ice cube tray lightly with cooking spray, and use the pastry brush to coat all sides up to the top of the tray. Also, use the brush to remove any excess cooking spray so there is not a pool in the bottom of the trays.
- Fill the ice cube tray about ⅓ full with your choice of chocolate.
- Allow the chocolate to sit in the ice cube tray for 2-3 minutes.
- Tilt the trays and rotate to make sure that the melted chocolate coats all of the sides of the tray.
- Put your chocolate shells in the freezer for 1-2 minutes until the chocolate has slightly thickened, but is still liquid.
- Tilt the trays and rotate again to make sure that the melted chocolate coats all of the sides of the tray with a thicker coat of chocolate this time.
- Allow the chocolate to sit in the ice cube tray for 2-3 minutes until it is mostly set.
- While the chocolate is setting prepare the fillings. Take each caramel and mash in 1 tsp of peanuts so that it is well combined. Cut the marshmallows in half lengthwise and trim the sides to fit in the ice cube tray.
- Fill the chocolates with soft caramel chews and chopped peanuts, peanut butter, or marshmallows. Try to make sure that the filling stays in the center and does not touch the sides of the tray too much or the chocolates may stick in those spots when they are unmolded.
- If needed, refresh the melted chocolate by heating in the microwave for 20 second intervals, stirring between each, until the chocolate is melted again.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the filling until it is covered by a layer of chocolate.
- Tap the ice cube tray on the table to allow the air bubbles to escape and the chocolate to settle. Push down the marshmallows if they start to float to the top of the tray and show through the chocolate.
- Pour more melted chocolate over the filling if needed until it is covered by a layer of chocolate again.
- Clean the top of the ice cube tray so that you can see the partitions that separate the “cubes”. This will help prevent your chocolates from sticking together and help them to release from the tray when it is time to unmold them.
- Place the trays on a flat surface in the freezer for about an hour until the chocolate has hardened.
- Remove the trays from the freezer and allow to temper for about 5-10 minutes.
- Unmold the chocolates by lightly twisting the ice cube tray as if you were trying to release ice. Turn the tray upside down over a sheet tray lined with wax paper or parchment paper to catch the chocolates. You may need to lightly tap the bottom of the tray to coax the chocolates to release or you may need to twist the ice cube tray a few more times.
Video: http://content.jwplatform.com/previews/Wdluq9Ew-Uxz1iiwt
Have a great shopping season Stargirls!
Follow us on snap chat: elle-coutureFollow me on insta: lisagueerl
