Easy DIY Thanksgiving Hostess Gifts

The hostess of Thanksgiving dinner does a lot of work. Not only does the host the party, she also typically prepares the Thanksgiving dinner, and gets her home ready for all of her guests. Giving the hostess of the Thanksgiving dinner you plan to attend a hostess gift is a great way to show your appreciation for everything she has done for the event. These DIY gifts make perfect Thanksgiving hostess gifts.

Memory Drawing: If you are good at drawing, doing a memory drawing makes a great DIY hostess gift. You'll need: some good quality drawing paper, pencils, erasers, and a frame for this project.

Cut your paper to fit the size of frame you purchase, such as a 5 x 7", an 8 x 10", or a 4 x 6" frame. Next, think about a time you shared with the hostess and begin to draw it from memory. Alternatively, you could use a photograph of the memory as reference for your drawing. Once you are done with your drawing, put it into the frame to give to the hostess of Thanksgiving dinner. She'll love the thoughtfulness you put into the gift!

Picture Ornament: If you know your Thanksgiving hostess puts up and decorates a tree for the holidays, a picture ornament will give her something to add to her tree that's special and unique. For this DIY hostess gift you'll need: some photos, cardstock, a hole punch, a circle template or circle cutter, scissors, acid free tape, ribbon, and lamination paper.

First, trace a circle onto the photo and cut out with scissors. Alternatively, if you have a circle cutter, you may use this tool to cut out a circle from the photo. Utilize the tape to adhere the photo circle to cardstock and trim around the circle. Next, laminate the photo and cardstock circle. Punch a hole in the top of the photo with a hole punch. Put a ribbon through the punched circle and tie at the top in order to form a hanger by which the hostess may hang the photo ornament on her tree.

Spicy Tea Soaps: Spicy tea soaps make another great DIY hostess gift. Your hostess will be able to enjoy these after the celebration in a bubble bath or as hand soap. For this Thanksgiving gift you'll need: soap molds, glycerin soap base, a large glass measuring cup, a large kitchen knife, a medium sized pan, a stove, water, dried chamomile flowers, herbal tea bags, a stirring spoon, dried lavender flowers, a cutting board or block, rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, soap colorant (optional), essential oil, tape, and decorative boxes and/or scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon.

First, utilize the large kitchen knife to cut the block of glycerin soap base into 1-inch cubes. Put the cubes into the large glass measuring cup and place the cup into the pan. Fill the pan with water so that it reaches halfway up the outside of the measuring cup. Turn the stove on medium heat and place the pan full of water and soap onto it. Watch the soap cubes melt and stir as needed. It should take approximately 10 minutes for the cubes to melt.

Once the cubes have melted, remove the soap from the stove and skim off any skin that developed on the surface of the soap. Next, pour the contents of the tea bags, the dried lavender flowers, and the dried chamomile flowers into the melted glycerin and stir to combine. Add a few drops of soap colorant (if desired) and essential oil and stir thoroughly.

Next, pour the melted mixture into the soap molds. Sprits the surface of the soap with the spray bottle of rubbing alcohol if you see bubbles appear on the surface of the soap in the molds. Give the soap time to cool and harden before you pop it out of the molds.

Finally, use decorative boxes and/or scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon to decorate the soaps to give away as gifts.

If you are going to someone else's house for Thanksgiving this year, a hostess gift is a great way to show your appreciation. Your hostess will surely enjoy any of these DIY gifts with which you present her.

Sources:

Get Rich Slowly: Personal Finance That Makes Cents: A Do-It-Yourself Christmas: 34 Great Gifts You Can Make Yourself:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/11/13/a-do-it-yourself-christmas-34-great-gifts-you-can-make-yourself/

Mormonchic: Mormonchic's Homemade Christmas Ornaments Extravaganza:

http://www.mormonchic.com/crafty/homemade-ornaments.asp#peppermint

All Free Crafts: Easy Homemade Gifts: Spicy Tea Soaps:

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/homemade-gifts/spicy-tea-soaps.shtml