DIY Gifts Made Simple and Encourage Slow Living

Here are a few DIY gift ideas that are fun and simple to make and encourage slow living. Be sure to make extra for yourself!

There are certain times of the year when holidays and birthdays just seem to be back-to-back, unrelenting gift shopping and spending. We try to keep high spirits but it can be expensive and exhausting.

Now, before you scratch this plan because you don’t believe yourself to be creative or artsy do not worry! These are simple gifts that I know they’ll love 🙂

You’re also encouraging slow living and self-care to your cherished ones.

A huge plus to this is that you’ll not only be learning a fun new hobby, you’ll be saving money! Once you gather the needed ingredients for your chosen DIY gift you’ll have plenty to make over and over again. Have fun and experiment!

So what are you waiting for? Here are a few fun and creative ways to bring joy and excitement back to gift-giving.

Coffee Scrub

If you love the smell of coffee then this should be an easy go-to for you.

Ingredients / Supplies

• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 3/4 cup fresh Coffee grounds
• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/4 cup Almond Oil
• Jar of choice 3 – 4 oz
• Spoon

Steps

• Mix the coffee and sugar into a large bowl – stir well
• Add the coconut oil and mix until coated evenly
• Measure out into the jar/jars you need

Common Coffee Scrub Questions:

Can you use used coffee grounds?

• Yes and no. While it is not advised that you use used coffee grinds, you still can. The hold-off is the grinds having been mixed with water and that leads to bacteria growth; so, use it quickly (within a week). I would not recommend this for gift-giving but rather for yourself.

Can you use cold-press coconut oil or does it have to be fractionated?

• Fractionated is recommended but you can use the standard cold-press coconut oil. It’s actually what I prefer to use because it’s what I always have plenty of. The difference would be when it settles and cold-press can solidify when too much is used in the mixture.

How long will it last?

• Try to use it within 3 months. Make smaller batches if you’re unsure how quickly you’ll go through it.

How often to use?

• Every few days. One to three times a week.

Sugar Scrub

Ingredients / Supplies

• 2/4 cup Cane Sugar
• 2/4 Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/4 cup Almond Oil
• 15-20 drops essential oils
• Jar of choice 3 – 4 oz
• Spoon

Steps:

• Mix both sugar into a bowl – combine well
• Add in both oils
• Mash and stir together with a spoon until well combined and a little creamy.
• Measure out into the jar/jars you need

Common Sugar Scrub Questions:

Want it a bit more creamy?

• If you want a little extra cream add a little extra almond oil.

What essential oils to use?

• Be cautious of the oils that will need diluting or are unsafe for skin contact. The ones I recommend are lavender, rosemary, cedarwood, and eucalyptus. Do not use ‘hot-oils’

Can you use cold-press coconut oil or does it have to be fractionated?

• Fractionated is recommended but you can use the standard cold-press coconut oil. It’s actually what I prefer to use because it’s what I always have plenty of. The difference would be when it settles and cold-press can solidify when too much is used in the mixture.

How long will it last?

• Try to use it within 3 months. Make smaller batches if you’re unsure how quickly you’ll go through it.

How often to use?

• Every few days. One to three times a week.

Lip Scrub

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Cane Sugar
• 1 tablespoon Ground Coffee
• 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
• 1 teaspoon of Raw Honey
• 1/2 – 1 oz jar
• Spoon

Steps

• In a small glass bowl combine all of the ingredients. Mash and stir together with a spoon until well combined and a little creamy.
• Scoop into your jar

Common Lip Scrup Questions:

How often to use?

What type of exfoliate is the best?

• Use your finger to scoop a small amount of lip scrub out and gently rub it on your lips to exfoliate, then rinse off with a wash water
• Make sure you’re leaning over a sink when you use this since it’s fairly messy to use.

How long will it last?

• 2-3 months

Additional Notes

• Jars for storage:
  • grab your reusable jars if you have some or jump over to amazon and order these cute 3-4oz mason jars
• Printed or written labels
  • Canva is a great place to go if you want to design a special label
• Twine for the label or leaving a cute handwritten message.

I hope you love these DIY gifts for slow living as much as my friends did for their birthdays. Enjoy!