Simple DIY Christmas Gifts to Make for Teachers

1. First, the coconut oil needs to be soft enough to whisk but not so soft that it starts to melt. To soften your coconut oil, place it in a glass bowl and microwave for 5-second increments checking on it every single time.

2. Once the coconut oil is soft, you will whisk the 1/4 cup coconut oil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This adds a lightness to the coconut oil and also gets out any lumps. 

3. Next, add in the 1 cup pink himalayan salt and 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil to the whipped coconut oil. Fold gently to combine the ingredients.

4. Add in 6 drops of vanilla and 4 drops of peppermint essential oils to the mixture. Stir to combine.

5. Finally, store the homemade pink himalayan salt body scrub in an 8oz glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. 

1. First, the coconut oil needs to be soft enough to whisk but not so soft that it starts to melt. To soften your coconut oil, place it in a glass bowl and microwave for 5-second increments checking on it every single time.

2. Once the coconut oil is soft, you will whisk the 1/4 cup coconut oil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This adds a lightness to the coconut oil and also gets out any lumps. 

3. Next, add the 3/4 cup raw sugar and 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil to the whipped coconut oil. Fold gently to combine the ingredients.

4. Add in the 3 drops ginger, 3 drops vanilla, 2 drops cinnamon bark, and 2 drops clove essential oils to the raw sugar and coconut oils mixture. Stir to combine.

5. Finally, store the gingerbread raw sugar scrub in an 8oz glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. 

1. Add 1 cup of epsom salt and 1/2 cup pink himalayan salt to a glass bowl and mix.

2. Second, add 2 tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil and between 20-30 drops of winter nights essential oil. This is a blend, but you can also combine 15 drops of Northern Lights black spruce, 5 drops of cedarwood, 5 drops of orange, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oils. Mix the salts, fractionated coconut oil, and essential oils with a spoon to combine well. 

3. Lastly, spoon the DIY epsom salt foot soak into a glass mason jar for a special gift. They have a shelf life of 6-8 weeks in these jars, so it’s best to make them right before gifting. I always try to avoid using plastic containers when using essential oils, as the oils are so concentrated they can break down most plastics. Just add a simple twine, ribbon, and homemade gift tag with a special message for your kids’ teachers!

1. Combine the epsom salts and dead sea flakes in a glass bowl.

2. Add 20 drops of peppermint essential oils to the combination of salts. Mix the salts and essential oils with a metal spoon to combine well. 

3. Add the pink himalayan salt to a different glass bowl. Add 10 drops of vanilla essential oils. Mix the salts and essential oils with a metal spoon to combine well. 

4. Lastly, spoon bath salts into glass mason jars in layers to create a candy cane effect. I like starting with a white layer at the bottom, adding pink, white, and pink, and finishing with white for a total of 3 white layers and 2 pink layers. 

1. Chop up 1 pound of your goat’s milk melt and pour the soap base into similar-sized pieces, about 1-2 inches in size.  This will make it easier to melt and stir the soap.

2. Place the pieces of melt and pour soap into a double boiler on your stovetop. Heat the water to a gentle boil, using the wooden spoon to stir the soap pieces after they melt.

If you don’t have a double boiler, then you can do what I did and use a large saucepan with water halfway up the side while placing a 4-cup glass measuring cup inside. The measuring cup works well, making pouring into the molds much easier.  

3. Continue stirring the soap until smooth and no pieces are left.  Once that happens, remove the double boiler or glass measuring cup from the stovetop and dry off the bottom.  They will be hot, so make sure to have towels and pot holders nearby.  Turn off the stove.

4. Then add the 5 teaspoons of coconut oil and 5 teaspoons of raw honey to the melted soap base, making sure to stir very well.  Next, add the 80-100 drops of the essential oil blend (40 drops Grapefruit, 30 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce, 15 drops Lime, 15 drops Orange)  you selected directly to the mixture and stir again.

Last pour the soap into your soap molds.  I find that this soap recipe makes around 4-5 bars of soap, depending on the molds you use.

5. Leave the soap in the molds for several hours or overnight.  The soap is usually ready after a few hours, but it’s best to leave it overnight to be sure it has hardened all the way through.  Peel the molds back slowly and gently, so the handmade soap bars come out clean and beautiful.

1. Measure out 1/4 cup shea butter and break it into smaller pieces. This will make it easier to melt and stir.  Then add the shea butter, 1/4 cup of sweet almond oil, and 1/4 cup of beeswax into a double boiler on your stovetop. For mine, I used a large saucepan with water halfway and a 1-cup glass measuring cup to make pouring easier. Heat water to a gentle boil, whisking until they start to melt together. 

2. Continue whisking the mixture until smooth and no pieces are left. Once that happens, remove the measuring cup from the stovetop and dry off the bottom. The measuring cup will be hot, so make sure to have towels and pot holders nearby. Turn off the stove.

3. Add 40-50 drops of essential oils (20 drops of vanilla, 15 drops of cedarwood, and 15 drops of cypress) into the mixture and stir well.  Then pour into silicone molds about halfway up (or glass jar or metal tin if using) and let cool.  If you want to make an unscented lotion bar, then omit using any essential oils.

4. Let the mixture harden completely before removing the bars from the soap molds, usually waiting at least 2 hours up to overnight.  This will allow the lotion bars to be removed easily.  Peel the molds back slowly and gently, so the top of the hard lotion bars comes out clean and beautiful.

5. Store your lotion bars in an air-tight container, in a cool, dry place that avoids direct sunlight (so they don’t melt).  You can also wrap them in plastic wrap for safekeeping. They have a shelf life of around 1 year, making them the ideal gift to make ahead or for any time of the year!