Kitchen Surfaces & Fun DIY Holiday Decor
You are probably wondering why I am doing a holiday décor and craft blog. This is an easy answer is that your surfaces are touched everyday, I am all about supporting fun-filled family activities and want you to get the most out of your gift-giving this year.
Growing up in a large family I had to be frugal with my money. If I spent $50 for a gift on one of my nieces, I had to do the same for all my nieces and nephews. I also learned during my college years when money was tight that it wasn’t really the gift that counts, but the thought behind it. Yes, you could go and buy a gift card but where is the fun in that. So, this Thanksgiving Weekend, my younger children and I made some DIY Holiday Gifts. OK... You are probably thinking what do these DIY holiday gifts have to do with interior design. Well, a lot.... Just think about your current surfaces; kitchen countertops, dining room table, kitchen table, end tables, etc.. Are you visualizing them right now? Can you see the stain marks from that party and how you tired so hard to get that stain out, but it just will not budget?
Just think if you had these Easy Fun Affordable DIY Coasters, you would not have spent all that time researching and trying to get that stain out. Most likely, you would have handed them a coaster with no worries and back to the party you would go. So here are a few tips and ideas on how get the most use out of those countertops and craft up some amazing gifts this holiday season.
Project 1: DIY Homemade Coaster
The first one is for my little sister. I am hoping she is extremely busy this week and doesn’t read my blog until after her birthday 😊. Well, I can wish. This gift will be perfect for all the parties you will be attending over the holidays. You can use it instead of giving them wine, food, or flowers for hosting the party. This can also work for parents, birthday gifts, or holiday gifts for teachers. For my sister’s gift, I found pictures of us throughout the years; living back in Minnetonka, my graduation at SDSU, a great picture of us at my wedding, and at the MN State Fair.
Supplies
Bowl
Paintbrush
Mod Podge
(4) 4x4 tile or solid surface
(4) pictures
Instructions
Put Mod Podge in a bowl.
Center the pictures on your tile or solid surface:
I used solid surface samples from Corian due to being smooth on the bottom so it will not scratch the surface.
Developed 2x3 pictures at Walgreens.
Take your paint brush and dip it into the Mod Podge.
Go over the picture with Mod Podge:
It might move depending on how hard you press down; mine moved a lot due to my daughter painting the Mod Podge on the picture. It's OK since it's not a quick dry. I just kept centering the pictures.
We went over 3 - 4X reapplying Mod Podge every time; the more Mod Podge you apply, the more texture you will have on your picture.
Repeat the steps above with your other pictures:
We did an assembly line so my daughter could keep gluing down the pictures and I kept re-centering them... I did lose count on how many times she went over the pictures.
Let drive for a couple of hours:
I did 4 hours due to the amount of Mod Podge.
Then I put another coat on.
Your work of art is now complete.
Project 2: DIY Sugar Scrub – 12 Plastic Mason Jars of 4oz
The second one is for my younger children’s teachers. We have 13 teacher gifts we need to hand out this holiday season. My son Zeke is autistic and receives additional help with the school district. I could not just give his homeroom teacher a gift. They are all helping him tremendously.
My daughter Izzy also is autistic, and she goes to a home-school program through Creative Church. She also has 4 teachers that we need to give gifts too. Plus, the kiddos are in religion class and Izzy is also in swimming. So that’s how the magic number 13 happened. I researched affordable DIY holiday gifts and came up with homemade Sugar Scrubs.
I wanted something my children could participate in and assist me throughout the process. There are some sugar scrubs that use water instead of oil. However, when using water, you will need to use it right away. Water-based scrubs are not meant to be stored in a container like when using the oil. Since I needed 13 gifts, my instructions are for multiple gifts. I did run out and I will be doing this for Izzy’s swim instructor, mail person, recycling person, and my trash person. Just remember to give gifts to those you appreciate as well!
Supplies
1-part Oil
2-part Sugar
Essential Oil (Rosemary)
Food dye
Pot
Bowls
Spoon & spatula
4oz Containers of plastic mason jar set (Michael's has them inexpensive for a set of 10)
Stickers for container
Label (22807 Avery labels) fit perfectly on the 4oz plastic mason jars from Michaels
Gift bags or gift boxes (I used the snowflake gift boxes from Oriental Trading Company; pack of 12)
Instructions - (made 12 jars)
Put your oil in a pot and place it on your burner; low to 2 (for the knob setting).
It will only take a couple of minutes because you just want to melt it not boil it.
I used a 14oz jar of coconut oil due to the amount I was making.
Once melted pour into a large bowl.
Add your sugar (I used 4 cups).
Mix with a spatula until oil is blended.
Add 2 - 3 drops of your essential oil
I used rosemary because I had it on hand.
Divide it into bowls to dye the sugar with food dye
this can be skipped if you are not going to use the dye.
My children each picked two colors; Izzy chose red/green & Zeke went with blue/yellow.
Put it in the containers.
My children did this step; Izzy's was almost filled to the top and Zeke filled only to the middle; so roughly each container could have 3oz of sugar scrub.
Put stickers on the container; this step could be skipped too for simplicity.
Izzy had tons of stickers on each container.
Zeke had 1 or 2 stickers per container.
While they were putting the sugar scrub into the containers and decorating them, I designed the labels. I used Avery template 22807. It's the perfect size for the lid of the containers.
Put the containers into gift bags or gift boxes.
The gift boxes I purchased had to be put together, so I added a square label on the bottom of each box to hold it together more. Depending on the gift box you purchase this step can also be skipped.
Your beautiful Sugar Scrub is complete.
By the way... if you have dogs in your home, they will be licking it or you to death.... I mean, come on! It is sugar and oil. Who wouldn't devour it?
Now that you have all you need to make a few holiday gifts I want you to take a second to consider all the ways you entertain in your kitchen.
Do you have enough space to do these craft projects or are you going back and forth from the dining table to the kitchen?
Is your countertop at a height for you to be comfortable doing these craft projects with your children? I am short so the standard 36”H countertops in my kitchen are too tall for me when it comes to craft projects. I use my kitchen table for everything because it’s the right height; for me to do the mixing, blending, putting things together, chopping, sorting, etc… You get the picture.
Is your kitchen accessible for you and your family? Or are you currently struggling to make everything work?
If any of your answers feel a bit painful and cause ongoing frustration, it maybe time to invest. Kitchens are meant to bring "Joy" into it and your families. Let's face it. Our lifestyle is always changing. I have learned to transform my spaces instead of adapting.
How about you?
Let’s start promoting creativity and well-being for your kitchen so family and friends feel welcomed. Start dreaming about transforming your kitchen to what you have always wanted. You deserve it and if for no other reason, to bring more joy into your life and the lives of those you love.
I am only a phone call away to make that possibility a reality….
CW Design – Rising together with you
