Homemade lotion is gift idea that can be so easy it’s almost cheating. Combined with the other homemade gift ideas on this blog, such as the homemade soap, lip balm, and bath bombs, homemade lotion would make an excellent additional gift idea to a homemade gift basket of bath products. Most people enjoy lotion, and it becomes almost a necessity for some during the winter months as the air gets drier. Lotion can be a potentially successful homemade gift for men as well if scented properly. The following tutorial uses a premade lotion base that takes a lot of the work out this project. If you want to customize your lotion base check out this lotion making tutorial. You can purchase this lotion-making kit with all of the ingredients to make the lotion base from scratch.

Ingredients.

As with many of the other bath products listed on this blog, all of the ingredients can be purchased through brambleberry.com. They have an entire section on lotion-making products. You can also purchase a pre-made lotion kit that contains everything you need to make 4 4-ounce botttles of lotion. Of course, you are stuck with the scent and color that is in the kit.

• Pre-made lotion base. If purchasing a gallon or more, consider buying a pump for the top of the bottle. Some health food stores actually carry lotion in bulk. Our local grocery co-op carries bulk lotion in their health and wellness section
• Fragrance oil or essential oil. Essential oils, though more expensive, have a purer and less artificial scent than the fragrance oil.
• Lotion Container
• Avery full sheet labels if you want to personalize the bottle
  

Directions

This couldn’t be any easier.

1. Pour your desired amount of lotion into a Pyrex or other heat-resistant container.
2. Mix in your desired amount of essential oil or fragrance. Start with adding a few drops. Nothing exhausts the olfactory sense than over-scented lotion.
3. Pour into the lotion container. If the lotion will not pour well, try heating up the lotion in 10-20 second intervals. Don’t get the lotion too hot as it might start to separate.
4. Make your label and apply to the bottle and you are done.

Another way to dispense the lotion into the containers is to pour the lotion into a ziploc bag. Mix in the fragrance. Then, cut one of the corners out of the baggie, and squeeze into the container. This method will waste about 5% of the lotion however.

Also, you can add colorant in step 2 if you desire, but colored lotion just never seems natural to me.

I personally have not tried making these homemade gifts, but I’m sure everybody on your list will be happy to receive them.

Homemade Gift Idea #92: Super Easy Homemade Lotion is a post from: 100 homemade gift ideas

Related posts:

1. Homemade Gift Idea #97: Homemade Bath Bombs
2. Homemade Gift Idea #94: Homemade Lip Balm
3. Homemade Gift Idea #99: Easy Melt and Pour Soap Bars

Such an unfortunate but catchy name. Bath bombs or bath fizzies make a great homemade gift idea because they are one of those luxurious indulgences that people often do not buy for themselves, but love to receive as a gift. They’ll love them even more when they realize it’s a homemade gift. They would make a great homemade gift basket accompaniment to Homemade Gift Idea #99: Easy Homemade Melt and Pour Soap Bars. You have probably seen them at bath boutiques, but basically bath bombs are balls of baking soda and citric acid that when dropped in water it dissolves, effervesces and releases the scents or other ingredients you put in them. Its kind of like bathing in bathtub full of Alka-Seltzer! It can be a soothing and therapeutic experience.

There are a couple of ways to make them. Here is the method I have used is based off a tutorial I found off of teachsoap.com:

The ingredients:

Citric Acid
A powder that you can find here at Brambleberry.com. You also might be able to find it at a local winemaking/brewing shop.

Baking Soda
Should be easy enough to find, check in your cupboard or refrigerator..

Witch Hazel
You can find this at here at Brambleberry.com. Otherwise you might find it at your local health food store or pharmacy..

Fragrance or Essential Oil
You can find this at, yep, you guessed it, Brambleberry.com, or your local heath food store..

Clear Spherical Molds
I found quite the selection here at soapequipment.com. I haven’t tried them, but I probably will. They have molds and bath bomb kits at brambleberry.com but no plain spherical ones which I prefer. I have also heard of people using ice cube trays..

I have tried colorants like food coloring, but think I would now prefer the simplicity of a white bath bomb. It’s just a matter of preference. If you do use food coloring make sure you only use a few drops per batch, otherwise it might stain someone’s tub.

The process.

It’s a bit tricky at first. You might have a bad batch or two in the beginning, or a few bath bombs that fall apart, but don’t get discouraged. You’ll get the hang of it..

1. Thoroughly mix 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of the citric acid. Make sure it is mixed well and there are no lumps.
2. Add your fragrance and color. Fragrances are your preference, but I enjoy essential oils like lavender or peppermint. If you are using food coloring, make sure to only use a few drops.
3. Lightly spray on the witch hazel while mixing. You want to spray enough on so the mixture just starts to stick together. Too much and the mixture will start bubbling and reacting.
4. Just after the mixture starts to stick together, press into the molds. Make sure you squeeze the mold halves together hard.
5. Wiat a few minutes, then tap them out of the molds.
6. Let sit a few hours or overnight, and then they’ll be ready for wrapping.

I have also seen some recipes that include epsom salt in the dry mixture, and almond oil to help keep the ball together. Some recipes also include cornstarch. I personally would advise against it, as I have read that it might irritate a rash or make it worse. There are conflicting views on this, but I leave it out to be safe.

I used clear colored wrapping, (I cannot remember what it is called… cellophane?) and raffia ribbon for the presentation of the gift.

I hope you enjoy making them. Make sure you make more than you need so you can indulge in this homemade gift yourself.

Homemade Gift Idea #97: Homemade Bath Bombs is a post from: 100 homemade gift ideas

Related posts:

1. Homemade Gift Idea #94: Homemade Lip Balm
2. Homemade Gift Idea #92: Super Easy Homemade Lotion
3. Homemade Gift Idea #99: Easy Melt and Pour Soap Bars