One artsy gift idea is making fragrant oil infusers out of used tea bottles. I peeled off the outer wrapper of a clean, empty bottle, and filled it about halfway with vegetable oil (the carrier for the essential oils that give it its fragrance), and put in about 40 drops of pure orange oil and 3 drops of peppermint extract per bottle.
Then, using old scraps of colored paper, ribbon, string, and twine, I decorated the outside of the bottles. Tape is sufficient to hold the paper to the glass, especially rolled into a circle so it doesn't show, but yarn or twine is what you'll want to use to hold the ribbon to the bottle. You can also cut out some decorative paper and cover the cap, as well.
Then, for the infusion sticks, (which are traditionally long wooden rods inserted into the open bottle, which absorb the oil and disperse the scent in the air,) I used 6 unused chopsticks from take-out Chinese restaurants and bundled them up with string, attaching them to the outer bottle. To use, simply take the cap off and place the sticks in. Unlike a candle or lamp, do not light or use fire around these. Whenever the bottoms of the sticks are thoroughly soaked in oil, (a few days) flip them around to keep the aroma circulating.
Another creative gift idea is crocheting or knitting drawstring pouches and filling them with a loved one's favorite soap. (I like the organic, hand-crafted types.) Knit or crochet a 5 in. x 7 in. rectangle, and "sew" the edges together using the same yarn you used to make it, leaving one end open. Then finger-crochet a 1 ft. chain and weave through the fabric near the opening, about one inch down, making sure the two tails come out level on the front. You can then insert the soap (or other gift of your choice) inside, and pull the cord taut, and you've got your drawstring bag. :)
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