Season for Suds

In my quest for making home made Christmas gifts this year I searched the internet high and low for ideas and found some great ones.

I have begun with home made rose bath salts and rose bubble bath. The recipe was simple and putting together the finished product was even more fun.

I hope that the ladies on my gift list enjoy them!

Recipe for Bath Salts

Ingredients: Baking soda, Sea salt or table salt, Epsom salts, Essential oil(s) of your choice (I used Rose), Food coloring, Large mixing bowl, spoon and Measuring cup.

Instructions : In a mixing bowl, add 3 cups of epsom salts, 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of sea salt (or table salt). Mix thoroughly. Once these ingredients are very well mixed, then add the food coloring. I only used two drops of red to create a pale pink. I didn't want to dye anyone's bathtub! If you want to mix colors, it is better to do it in another bowl rather than directly in the salts. Once you have the color you desire then mix in your essential oil. I used about 20 drops of rose. I added it until I could obviously smell the rose scent. To make sure I had a true scent, I smelled some of Rudy's coffee and then smelled the salts. If it works in Bath and Body, it will work in my kitchen!

Bubble Bath Recipe

Ingredients: Plastic Bottle with a tight lid, sweet almond oil, Essential oils (I used rose), 1 cup unscented shampoo or liquid soap, liquid glycerin and Distilled water.

Directions: Mix together 4 cups of distilled water, soap or shampoo, 4 ounces of liquid glycerin, 1/2-cup of sweet almond oil, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s). Mix well. Transfer the mixture to a new plastic bottle purchased just for this purpose.

Recipe compliments of:

http://household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/09/homemade_bath_salts.php

After I made the salts I placed them in jars from the kitchen. I placed the bubble bath in travel 3 oz bottles that I purchased from Wal-mart. I chose the hot pink to go with my rose theme.

Because the lids on the jars were various colors I spray painted them gold. I made labels using a handy packet of decorative papers that I found at Michaels. Found in the scrapbooking aisle, they are supposed to be used to back photos but they are handy for any paper project. I used two different papers per label and punched a hole in the corner. I fastened the labels on the bottles with left over ribbon that I had in various shades of pink. If you have the space, hang on to nice ribbon that you get on gifts and packages. Even the smallest bits can come in handy!

I made a bow with the main ribbon and then placed "bits" of coordinating ribbons and raffia to make it look a little less traditional.

To complete this bath and beauty present, I have a few more goodies to make and might plan on purchasing bath "poofs" or another bathroom accessory as long as the price is right!