Christmas Cheer & Crafts

As some of you babes may know in addition to loving kicks and kinis, I LOVE trying out new crafts. I find it therapeutic and a lot more personal. This Christmas season I made my friends and family gingerbread men sugar scrub stocking stuffers! I first saw the DIY project on Pinterest while exploring gift ideas and felt confident that I could do it myself. After posting my gingerbread men sugar scrubs on my story, some of you asked how in the hell did I make it, so here it is:

Gingerbread Men Sugar Scrubs

Supplies:

• Gingerbread Man Mold
• Glass Microwavable Bowl
• Metal Mixing Bowl
• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil
• 3-4 Blocks of Shea Butter Soap
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon Allspice

Instructions:

At first I followed the exact instruction from Pinterest (click here for this post’s inspiration) but quickly learned that this wasn’t coming out the way I wanted it to. Here is my tweaked version for delicious smelling gingerbread men sugar scrubs!

1. Lay out and organize your table or kitchen. *I had the mold ready to go laying next to my mixing bowl so I could quickly pour out the mixture.*
2. In a metal bowl add brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. *If there are other spices you would like to substitute for or include you’re more than welcome too. Just smell it and see if it’s to your liking. Keep your loved ones’ allergies in mind if there are any.*
3. Mix the dry ingredients (brown sugar and spices) all together in the metal bowl using a whisk.
4. Place three to four blocks of shea butter soap into a glass bowl and add coconut oil. Then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir it with a spoon, place it once again in the microwave for another 30 seconds.
5. Add the vanilla extract into the glass bowl and mix it with the melted shea butter.
6. Then swiftly pour the melted shea butter into the metal bowl containing the dry ingredients.
7. Whisk it all together thoroughly.
8. As fast and gracefully as you can, pour the mixture into the gingerbread molds. *The sugar hardens rather quick. After my first batch I learned it’s better to make a mess and to continue stirring as the mixture is poured into the mold.*
9. After filling the molds, place the tray into the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
10. Remove tray from freezer and swoon over your adorable gingerbread men sugar scrubs!

I packaged my sugar scrubs into sparkly festive tissue paper and cellophane gift bags. Your presentation is entirely up to you!

BONUS CHRISTMAS CRAFT BELOW!

Know someone who loves candy? I have another sweet Christmas craft for you.

I made my boyfriend a candy Christmas wreath! It was extremely easy to create and the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Maybe you’re cutting back on sweets, you can replace the candy bars for anything really (as long as they’re reasonably sized).

Candy Christmas Wreath

Supplies:

• Bags of Candy
• Hot Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks
• Foam Wreath
• Christmas Bow

Instructions:

1. Open the bags of candy and organize it by size
2. Glue the Christmas bow to the top center of the foam wreath
3. Begin gluing larger candy side by side (mixing the different kinds of candies)
4. Glue smaller packets of candy on top of larger candies and cover up any open areas
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the back of the wreath
6. Lastly, glue small pieces of candy to any gaps you may see

Be sure to keep this project in a safe environment before gifting (away from pets and small children). Handle with care as some pieces may fall.

Merry Christmas to my mermaid gang! Let me know if you would like for me to share more of my DIY projects in the comments below.