Uhhh, do you know what next Sunday is? Yeah, that’s right, it’s Mother’s Day! Just in case you need a gift idea that you can rock out fast I thought I’d post a super fun and easy project that you could whip up in no time…Bath Salts! AND, this is even a gift where you could get your kiddies involved. Cause, all gifts are better when they are made with love…and little hands!!
So pretty, right? And this gift couldn’t be easier to make and personalize to the momma you love. You only need a few ingredients to make the bath salts and the jar to package them is pretty simple to make too…gotta love that! Here’s what you need:
Bath Salts and Pretty Jar
3 cups Epsom salt
5-7 drops of essential oil or fragrance oil (you can find bath fragrance oils in the soap-making section of craft stores)
1 tsp glycerin (optional…glycerin is used as a skin softening agent!)
1 gallon ziploc bag
8 oz mason jars
heavy duty glue like E-6000
cardstock or scrapbook paper
compass, scissors
modge podge and foam brush
pack of wooden spoons (I found mine at Wal-Mart for 99 cents…can we say DEAL!)
pretty ribbon
Here is what my Epsom salt, fragrance oil and glycerin look like in case you aren’t sure what to look for!
**I used a Lemon Verbena fragrance oil here but I also really like to use a Peppermint Essential Oil(6 drops)-Eucalyptus Essential Oil (4 drops) mixture!!
To make the bath salts, just place 3 cups of epsom salt into the ziploc bag, add 5-10 drops of fragrance or essential oil slowly until you get the smell you like and then add 1 tsp of glycerin to the bag as well. Zip up the bag and mix or shake well. Open up the bag and let the salts dry out for a day or so and then you can add them to your jar. A pretty smelling gift, what could be better?
Here are the mason jars I used…you can get a 4-pack of these for less than $3.50!
Ok, so first things first. We need to glue the two lid pieces of the mason jar together so when your giftee opens up the jar the lid doesn’t fall apart on them! You want to separate the the metal band of of the mason jar from the flat lid component like in the first picture. Then, glue around the inside of the metal band, like the second picture and press the flat lid into it. Let dry for a few minutes.
Next, measure the inside indented portion of the mason jar lid…if you buy the ones I bought it should be about 2.5 inches in diameter.
Then, get your compass out and get your 10th grade geometry on. Set your compass for 1.25 inches, which will be the radius of the circle of scrapbook paper you need to cut out and decorate the lid with.
Draw your circle, like so, and cut it out…Easy peasy, right!?! Please ignore the butterfly cut-outs…another project for another day!
Then, modge podge the outside portion of the metal lid, place your scrapbook paper circle on and press it down and let dry for a few minutes. Then modge podge the top of the paper circle, let it dry and do it one more time! Cool, the lid is all done!! Uhhh, except if you think your giftee takes super steamy baths…then you may want to do a coat of acrylic sealer on top just to be safe from the paper curling up on them!
Next, whip out your wooden spoons and cut the ends off, like so, with a handsaw…it’s really fun to use man tools every now and again! Now, you have super cute little dipping spoons to add to your bath salts jar…adorable aren’t they!!
Then, tie a ribbon along the outside rim of the mason jar and don’t forget to tie your dipping spoon to it as well…
PERFECT! The prettiest Mother’s Day gift…and it was all made with LOVE!
LOVE!
Happy Mother’s Day 🙂
Mod Podge Amy says
So cute!! That is so easy and I love the spoon 😀
Carol says
This is such a great idea, I think I will be doing ti with my girl scout kiddos
Kracked Kat says
Maggie! I was going to do a similar tutorial on my site, http://www.thekrackedkat.blogspot.com for Teacher Appreciation Week, but you did such a fantastic job I thought I better leave it to the professionals. So, instead I linked to it. I hope you don’t mind. Please stop by and tell me what you think. I could use a little constructive criticism as I am brand new to the blogging community.
Shannon
Missy says
This is so fun – I think I will make some for my neighborhood “adopted” grandmas:) Thanks for sharing.
Colleen says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. Do the bath salts ever go bad?
TheDixiePixie says
Thank you so much for an awesome idea. I was so excited about this, I ran to Wal-Mart right away! I got most of the supplies there, but can you tell me where you found the liquid glycerin? I could only find it in solid form. Thanks again for the awesome tutorial (and perfect gift-giving timing!).
Maggie says
I found my glycerin at Hobby Lobby in the soap-making section. Most craft stores will carry it there and some health food stores will too. It’s not a crucial element of the bath salts (just a skin softener) so if you don’t find it it’s really no big deal!!
Enjoy!
-Mags
Its Black and White says
it seems like it would have been easier to modge pogde the loose part of the lid (the circle) and then just glued it together.. that way any non circular edge would have been hidden by the lip of the lid.. just a thought =) this is a GREAT idea tho.. i love bath stuff.. what self respecting woman doesnt 😉
Pati @ A Crafty Escape says
I just made some of these to fill a favorite glass bottle I found at the thrift store. Linked back to you: http://acraftyescape.blogspot.com/2010/05/flor-de-lis-lavender-bath-salts.html
Thanks for the inspiration!!!
BulbinBlue says
Wow! Your tutorial on making your own bath salts is really great.
Bulb in Blue is a site for creative ideas and we would love to get in contact with you about featuring your tutorial on our site if you are interested!
http://www.bulbinblue.com
Blueteam@bulbinblue.com
Dead Sea Salt says
Thanks for sharing this wonderful gift. It is a great gift especially to our special someone.:)
E says
Hi I stumbled upon your post and love the idea!! I’m thinking of making these for my bridesmaids/special people gifts. How many jars does this make out of curiosity so I know how much stuff to get. I’m needing to make about 10.
Rachel says
Adorable! I love the spoon–that’s the perfect addition! Great idea!
Rachel @ Maybe Matilda
~Iffy~ @ StayAtHomeNation says
Hi there, I made these last year(before I started blogging) so I posted them this year & linked back to you. I’d love for you to stop by Stay At Home Nation & check it out. Feel free to link something up too as My Favorite Things Party just started & will be going on all week. Thanks so much!
~Iffy aka Cameron~
StayAtHomeNation.blogspot.com
Bowdabra says
We absolutely LOVE how you made these adorable jar in a fun and practical gift for mom! We are featuring this post on our blog today in our Feature Friday Mother’s Day gift ideas. Thanks for sharing. We will be following your blog on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest! We are giving this post a pin!
Thanks for sharing! Stop over and see your feature!
Susie at Bowdabra
http://bowdabrablog.com/2012/04/27/feature-friday-mothers-day-gifts/
Donna says
This is a great idea. I just love it. I will be making this. I also like the comments made from the people who made this. It helps. Thank you for sharing.
Vickie says
I do bath salts all the time for gifts ~ but I had never thought about the spoon.
I love it!!! Thanks for the idea!
Kelly says
I just found Morton Epsom salt at the Dollar Tree for $1! 4 pound bags of plain and 3 pound bags of lavender! Can’t wait to turn them into cute gifts!
Pam says
The recipe you give in this post does not tell how many jars it will fill. Also, it does say how many of the spoons you use for your bath. Perhaps that’s up to the individual receiving it. However, it would be nice to have some type of guideline here. Others might like to know this as well. Thanks.
Rose says
When I made this I used the scoop from baby formula . (Of course you have to have someone save them for you if you don’t have a baby.)