Paper Mojo (papermojo.com) offers a wide selection of beautiful, tree-free, handmade papers that make lovely reusable giftwrap. Decorating with ornaments such as these Mini Snowflakes—made of sustainably harvested Wisconsin wood—from Etsy shop TimberGreenWoods (shop.timbergreenwoods.etsy.com) and bits of nature made for a lovely waste-free gift.
Photo By Thomas Gibson
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This supersimple but lovely cinnamon stick wreath smells wonderful. Bonus: It’s incredibly easy to make!
Photo By Howard Lee Puckett
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Culinary oils infused with herbs and spices make a gourmet gift that can add instant flavor to salad dressings, roasted vegetables and pizzas.
Photo By iStock
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For the cost of five bags of beans and some spices you can get four really personal gifts. Blogger Cassie Johnston of offers a recipe for Vegetarian Five Bean Soup Mix plus cute, downloadable cooking instruction labels on her website.
Photo By Cassie Johnston, BacktoHerRoots.com
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These tasty but medicinal tummy-soothing ginger chews are easier to make than you might imagine.
Photo By Megan Andersen, RadMegan.blogspot.com
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Beautiful holiday decor makes a perfect hostess gift—your recipient can make use of it all season, then toss the cut greens in the yard or compost bin.
Photo By Thomas Gibson
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Don’t let the perfume industry have all the fun when it comes to creating amazing scents. At the blog Sweet Tea Apothecary, you can find in-depth instructions to be “inducted into the secret society of perfumers.”
Photo By Sweet Tea Apothecary
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Beets produce a fabulous pink lip tint.
Photo By iStock
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Gifting a kid who loves to cook? Consider these supersimple aprons made out of vintage placemats, from the excellent blog and online pattern shop Made.
Photo By DanaMadeIt.com
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Made with thrift store forks, recycled can lids, a hammer and some letter stamps, these cute plant markers are incredibly easy to make.
Photo By Amy Friedhof, PinandPaper.blogspot.com
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Jane Kohlenstein of the blog Buzzmills offers a printable pattern for this adorable Raccoon Eye Pillow made from fabric scraps. Fill it with dried lavender buds with flax seeds or rice for a soothing eye pillow.
Photo By Jane Kohlenstein, Buzzmills.typepad.com
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Few things could be easier than mixing up a jar of homemade bath salts. If rosemary isn't to your choosing, swap out the essential oil with lavender for relaxation, citrus for energy, or cinnamon and fir for warming.
Photo By Gina Biancaniello, SoLetsHangOut.com
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For just $2 each and in less than 5 minutes, blogger Laura Russell of Make Life Lovely! transformed some old Mason jars, Epsom salt and a few craft-store trees into an adorable piece of decor.
Photo By Laura Russel, MakeLifeLovely.com
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Spice rubs can turn a basic piece of fish or meat into a true culinary experience—they also make great customizable gifts!
Photo By iStock
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Spicy cocktail nuts satisfy the sweet tooth without tons of sugar. Plus they deliver good fats, protein and fiber.
Photo By iStock
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Dryer balls make a lovely and practical gift. Whip up a few of these DIY dryer balls, then box up three with a bottle of your favorite essential oil for a heartfelt, handmade gift your recipient can use for years to come.
Photo By Jill Nystul, OneGoodThingByJillee.com
Gift-giving shouldn’t be about how much money we spend, but rather about choosing thoughtful gifts our loved ones can use to create a happier, healthier and more beautiful life. Nothing could be more in keeping with the spirit of the season than sitting down to create personalized gifts for each person on our list. We searched our favorite books, blogs and websites to put together this collection of delightful projects for everyone on your list–the modern homemaker, gardener, beauty maven or gourmand.
Need a gift for grandparents, a favorite aunt or a good friend? Consider uploading photos for a personalized calendar. Greenerprinter.com uses recycled papers and lets you upload images, add captions, see a PDF proof and order online, all for $16. Whether it’s photos of the kids in every season or your favorite pics from your girls’ vacation, you can give a year’s worth of memories.
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