Monday, October 25, 2010

Have a Handmade Christmas ~ Week 2

 Welcome to week 2 of Have a Handmade Christmas Carnival! I hope you are willing to join me in making this a Handmade Holiday!

 This week at Proverbs 31 Living I have been talking about herbs, so today I decided to share some homemade herbal gift ideas. I think herbs are a lot of fun and I enjoy growing them and they are also fun to share with others.

Here are some ways: (and even if you don't grow herbs yourself, you could make some of these gifts by buying bulk herbs at a health food store.)






Idea #1 ~ Pot some herbs and give them for people that enjoy fresh and natural cooking. One of the pots in the picture actually shows a Rosemary plant that a friend of mine gave me last year. I have really enjoyed using it. They other one is Oregano that I potted this fall from out of my garden. Another option is to start brand new plants right now to have them ready for Christmas. Or even simpler, you could give a gift of the pot, soil and seeds.

Speaking of seeds.....

Idea #2 ~ If you have herbs or flowers that are producing seeds, save them! I made little envelopes for these and now they will make a perfect little gift. I know many a gardener would appreciate organic seeds. (And by the way, these two packets, one of Calendula and one of Echinacia are for one of you! See below...)

 To save the seeds you simply find the old flower heads and basically tear them apart. The seeds are usually quite easy to find. Make sure to get them from nice specimens of flowers.





 Idea #3 ~ Bath Bags. Make little cloth bags filled with either 1/2 cup oatmeal or dry milk as well as some (one kind or a mixture) of herbs. Both oatmeal and milk are good for the skin and the herbs can create a very soothing and healing aroma. I used Oatmeal with mint in one and catnip in the other. Lavender and chamomile are some other good options.

To use simply tie under the flow of water while the water flows in or even let it sit in the bath water like a tea bag.

 Idea # 4~ Dried herbs. If you have an abundance of herbs why not make them into welcome gifts for your cooking friends? I dried mine in my dehydrator, but them in sandwich bags and then I made little tags for them as well. I had fun used recycled brown card stock, magazine pictures, white card stock and a marker to make labels.
Idea #5 ~ Make up some herbal teas along with a tea ball and other fun tea things.
Idea # 6 ~If you want a gift for a feline receiver, use some catnip and make a little stuffed toy- I hear they love them!
Idea #7 ~ If you want to give a gift with a Victorian touch, make (or buy) some stationary and in the box put a little bag of yummy smelling herbs. Then they can send out scented stationary.
Idea #8 ~ Give Pesto, mint jelly or other edible treats.

How about a giveaway?
 Since I do have an abundance of herbs I thought it might be fun to share some of them with you! I am going to give away the items pictured as Item # 2 (Seeds) and Item # 4 (dried herbs). If you would like to win please leaving a comment below letting me know which one you would like if you win.

Additional chances to win will be given to those that link up a project of their own (please leave another comment too) and those that are followers through google connect, e-mail subscription or RSS feed of my blog (please leave another comment telling me how you subscribe.)

This giveaway is open to anyone and will be open until October 31.

Now it is your turn!!
Please link up your handmade Christmas projects. You can link up gift ideas, foods, decorations, basically anything handmade. I do ask that you please link back to A Handmade Christmas here at Proverbs 31 Living in your post. If you would add the logo to your post as well that would be appreciated too. Also please link to your specific post not just your blog. Thank you!


25 comments:

Prairiemaid said...

Hi Abbi,

I am interested in the seeds...or the dried herbs! Either one, they are both so nice. I love your labels.

Here is an idea....

We make "warmie bags". You can vary the size to whatever you would like or in our case, sometimes it is for a small child so we make the bag somewhat smaller. You cut a piece of material about the same size as a bandanna. Fold (with the right sides together) in half. Sew the long side and one of the ends. Turn inside out and fill with rice, approximately 2 cups. Add dried herbs. I use about 1/2 cup of lavender. Fold raw edges of opening in and sew closed.

Warm in a microwave for about 2 minutes, sometimes 3...but it will be WARM! These are great for aches and pains, regardless of age. I especially like to have them on hand for ear aches when the grandkids are here.

Every year, each member of the family receives a new bag with their Christmas goodies and they use them all year.

Blessings,
Cheryl

Prairiemaid said...

I am a follower (I think on Google connect...it comes up in my dashboard).

You can also add dried herbs to bath salts....use Epsom salts. I actually prefer to use essential oils in place of the herbs, but both work well.

And you could infuse the herbs with olive oil to make an awesome salad dressing or to drizzle over bread. Somewhere I saw a post where they did this and bottled it in some cute glass bottles from the dollar store and tied a raffia bow. Looked great!

Tasha said...

Hi Abbi,
What great ideas for the herbs!
I would love either. I added my idea too!
Have a great week!
Tasha

Merry Jo said...

I think I would like the dried herbs best.

Jackie said...

I love all of your ideas for using herbs as gifts. I would like to do more with herbs and am enjoying your posts. I grew basil, chives, sage, and cilantro this year.

Also, I think either the seeds or dried herbs would be great for your giveaway. How sweet.

Twinsmom said...

Thank you for the giveaway! I would love the dried herbs, and yes, my cat would go bonkers over the catnip! haha

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog and am getting lots of great ideas.
I would be interested in the dried herbs
carolyn
missindy76 at sbcglobal dot net

angie said...

All good ideas. I think I would most enjoy the dried herbs to use in my bath. I appreciate your frugality and resourcefulness.

Zimms Zoo said...

would love to win some herbs.

Blissful & Domestic said...

What a fun idea. Those are just so cute and I bet they smell wonderful! Thank you for this post because it reminded to work on something for Christmas this week:>

-Danielle

Anonymous said...

I'd love the dried herbs as I could use them right away for some Christmas gifts :).

Anonymous said...

I'm subscribed (RSS)

Hallie said...

I will be starting an all new garden in the spring so I would love the seeds! Thanks for sharing! :)

Hallie said...

I am a follower thru Google connect!

Unknown said...

having the seeds would be awesome since then I was have the dried herbs every year. That would really be the best.
thanks so much
Blessings Nancy Jane

Sue D said...

I would like to win the seeds. I grew basil this year for the first time --thanks for the ideas on how to use it.

Bridgett said...

Awesome ideas! My favorite is the bath bags! Cute!

~ I would like the dried herbs if I should win :)

Bridgett said...

I also linked up! :)

Bridgett said...

In addition, I follow you through Google. :)

Mary Ann said...

Thank you for hosting the handmade Christmas carnival! I've linked up with a little girl's skirt and purse I made for our niece.

Mary Ann said...

I would love to win the herbs! Thanks for the chance.

Mary Ann said...

I just subscribed to your blog via Google Reader.

Kristina said...

The herbs would be my choice: great idea! I too have excess basil and have pesto ingredients on the grocery list next week. After that I may just have to dry the rest...love that idea as a gift for other foodies!
khsavings @ gmail.com

Nola said...

I would love to win some dried herbs. But I am not sure if this giveaway is only for US (I am in Canada) so if not I understand, just pick someone else if I were to win. :)

How neat though! I wish I had a knack for growing herbs. Mine don't grow well.

Anonymous said...

Hi Abbi! I would like either!!!! They are all such great ideas! I wish that I were creative so I could post an idea of mine but I'm not! LOL! :) Such good ideas though! :)

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