8 Home Gift Ideas: Simple, Quick & Ecological

In a world where everything is at our fingertips, handcrafted gifts in which time and love have been invested are priceless. That's why more and more people are turning to handcrafted gifts to delight the hearts of loved ones. With the holidays fast approaching, get started on your homemade gifts now, making them in a leisurely fashion over the coming weeks. Lhen the holidays come around, you'll be happy to give gifts that come from your own creativity, while reducing your environmental footprint with zero-waste gifts. 

Here are 8 ideas for homemade gifts that are simple, quick & eco-friendly.

Homemade gifts - Natural body products

Making homemade body products reduces the use of chemicals and ensures the quality of the ingredients used. These recipes are simple to make and allow you to create healthy body products with mouth-watering scents.

Homemade soap

Here are two recipes for artisanal soaps that we've fallen in love with. These soaps are easy to make, with safe, accessible ingredients. You don't need to know the basics of saponification to make these soaps. homemade soaps. 

Skin scrub

A simple beauty product given as a gift can encourage you to take a moment for yourself. These two exfoliating recipes are made with simple ingredients you probably have on hand. These exfoliants keep for several months, so they're an ideal gift to prepare in advance. Here are our homemade scrub recipes:

Spice Skin Scrub

Green Tea Skin Scrub

Whipped body butter

Le homemade body butter is an excellent alternative to moisturizers, which are often more drying than nourishing. However, this body butter is soft and moisturizing, leaving the skin well nourished and infused with beneficial natural oils. You can choose the essential oils you like and add them to this body butter. whipped butter to personalize the result. Our favorite? This blend of essential oils invoking peace and harmony.

Bath salt with essential oils

To encourage relaxation, there's nothing better than a warm bath with Epsom salt and essential oils. Thanks to you, those around you will be able to relax in a therapeutic bath. Who knows, maybe it'll become a ritual, and you'll be asked for more bottles of this delicious bath. bath salt with essential oils.

Homemade gifts - Our gourmet suggestions

Give one of these gifts, or combine a few of these ideas to create a basket of homemade treats.

A duo of vinaigrettes

For many, a store-bought vinaigrette means peace of mind, since it cuts down on meal preparation time. But a homemade vinaigrette has all the makings of a crowd-pleaser, especially when it's made from wholesome, preservative-free ingredients. Multiply these recipes according to the number of jars you wish to offer. Present them in glass containers beautifully decorated with fir branches.

Greek vinaigrette

Maple and sesame vinaigrette

Popcorn bags

Visit popcorn or popcorn is a much-loved snack. Yet we often associate it with a guilty pleasure, an unhealthy food or a naughty treat we indulge in on movie night. But think again! The popcorn you make yourself from organic, non-GMO corn kernelscorn kernelsquality coconut oil and healthy seasonings is rich in antioxidants and fiber. Once made, bag your popcorn for a truly appreciated hostess gift.

Biscotti

The biscotti are true holiday classics! They're so delicious with coffee or tea, yet few people take the time to make them. So it's a real pleasure to receive one as a gift. These biscotti biscotti are sure to bring a smile to the face of everyone around you.

Homemade granola

Visit granola is a pantry essential. Most people buy a store-bought version without ever bothering to make their own. Thanks to you, those around you will receive a delicious, quality granola featuring healthy ingredients such as rolled oatsoats buckwheatbuckwheat pecans and chia seeds. This recipe can be prepared in advance and bagged, or it can be put in the oven. Mason jars decorated with pretty ribbons and a cinnamon stick.

Kale chips

Here's another recipe that takes little time to prepare, yet is a real crowd-pleaser. For a unique taste, use maras pink salt when making these kale chips. Don't hesitate to enhance their flavour by adding some nutritional yeast or Cajun spices.  

Homemade gifts - Time to wrap

Part of the pleasure of giving a gift is decorating it beforehand. Here are a few wrapping ideas that will give your gifts a unique cachet while respecting the environment.  

The basket

Garnish a wicker basket with a few homemade concoctions. One basket can be themed around gourmet products, while another can be well-stocked with natural body products. Flea markets and thrift shops often have a large inventory of baskets just waiting for a second life.

Dish linen

Wrap your gift in a pretty dishcloth. This will also serve as a gift. It's the perfect way to give while minimizing the impact of waste. There are several Japanese wrapping techniques furoshiki use pieces of fabric to cover gifts.

Brown paper

Most packaging paper is non-recyclable. Not so with brown paper. This paper makes pretty, minimalist packaging that can be decorated with hemp thread or wool scraps. As a bonus, you can write your wishes directly on the paper, so you don't have to buy a card.

A simple branch

Most homemade gifts are naturally pretty. This is true of homemade soaps, products preserved in glass jars and transparent bags that show off delicious foods. Why hide such beautiful confections? Simply add a pretty cotton ribbon and decorate with a fir branch or cinnamon stick.

Happy gift-giving!

About the author

Naturopaths of La Boite à Grains

Team of licensed and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau, Outaouais.

Original article written by Véronique Cousineau, Naturopath