With just a snippet from an outdoor evergreen, you’re well on your way to making these miniature wreath ornaments. You can hang them on the tree, use them to decorate the outdoors, add them to gifts, or even use them as napkin rings! No matter how you use them, they are a fun and simple project to bring the outdoors in.
Every year, I make a large fresh wreath to adorn my front door. By the end of creating, I have endless bits and pieces of fresh evergreens covering my feet and work station.
Why let them go to waste when you can create even smaller, miniature wreaths? I’m obsessed with all things mini, and I love how easily you can make these miniature wreath ornaments with some leftover plant trimmings.
Let me show you how I made these!
Adorn your miniature wreath with a pinecone or other dried elements.
DIY Real Miniature Wreath Ornaments
I don’t really know why, but this holiday season I’ve been making everything in miniature. It started with these tabletop Grinch trees, and now miniature evergreen wreaths.
The idea for mine came from finding this floral wire with red berries on the ends. I thought it would be a quick and easy way to make plenty of decorations from garden clippings.
Materials
Make It!
Start with a fairly pliable clipping from an evergreen. Leaves from cedar and false cypress are soft and easy to form.
Bend the clipping around so that the tip overlaps the cut end. Wind floral wire tipped with red berries around the two ends to secure it.
Secure the one end first. Then we’ll wrap the rest.
Continue wrapping wire around the wreath until you have all the little leaves tucked in.
Don’t worry about some small pieces still sticking out.
Trim the wreath with scissors to clean it up and make a nice, round form.
Add decorative elements like seed heads, miniature pinecones, and other things found around the garden with a hot glue gun.
Pinecones are great, as well as dried flowers.
You can also use ribbon to decorate the wreath. This raffia ribbon makes an easy bow as you simply need to tie it in a knot, then unfold the ends of the ribbon.
Add ornament hooks to hang them on the Christmas tree or around the garden.
Or tie them to gift wrapping and add a little outdoors to your presents.
Aren’t these miniature wreaths just adorable? In my experience, they also dry well and can be stored again for the next holiday season once fully dried. Happy crafting!
More Miniature Christmas Crafts
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Without a doubt, the holiday season can get expensive. However, most people don’t need lavish and over-the-top gifts…they prefer something from the heart! This list of DIY gift ideas covers a ton of natural beauty products to give that are beautiful, inexpensive to make, and will make anyone who receives them smile.
Most of these recipes I have spent years perfecting. Once I switched to using natural products, I was never going back. I have made it a mission to make as much of my own natural beauty products as possible.
I’ve shared a lot of beauty recipes on the blog and in my book, Make & Give Home Apothecary, but I wanted to make a nice list of some of my beauty products in one place. That way, you can get started on the holiday season with this curated list of natural beauty DIY gift ideas. So, roll up your sleeves and let’s begin!
Gifts for a Relaxing Bath
One of the best places to relax, adding a little bit of something extra to the bath is one of the best ways to unwind for the day. These DIY gift ideas for the bath are super popular because pretty much everyone can enjoy them! You can cater these recipes to have scents and herbal ingredients your giftee will love.
Add a little bit of herbal relaxation to your bath with your own custom blend. Better yet, it is completely mess-free meaning no tub cleanup once you’re done relaxing.
This recipe is great for soothing dry and irritated skin. It feels like you’re in a spa while soaking in this oatmeal bath, including a ton of aromatherapy relief.
Luxurious and natural, these bath melts smell so good you’ll want to eat them! Best for the bathtub, however, it leaves the skin extremely soft and moisturized.
DIY Natural Soaps
Making your own soap may seem daunting at first, but there are a ton of different soap making methods perfect for any level of expertise. You can make your own artisan soaps that are sure to deliver on the wow factor. People won’t believe you made them yourself!
Cold process is one of the most common ways to make colourful and intricate soaps. Part art and part science, you can create a batch of soap for mulitple gifts. I have over 20 recipes to choose from.
These bars are filled with flowers, greenery, and herbs for beautiful soaps inspired by nature. It uses the melt and pour method, perfect for beginners.
Bring a piece of the ocean into the shower with these sea sponge bars. A natural alternative to sponges, sea sponges help to create a luxurious lather while washing.
Easy to make but super cool looking, this honeycomb soap requires no expensive mold and uses a neat hack to achieve the honeycomb effect.
Gifts for Soothing Skin
As our largest organ, we have to take care of our skin. This section of DIY gift ideas are perfect for skin all over the body, accommodating all skin types due to their natural properties. The result is smooth and glowing skin.
Exfoliating is an important step to a skincare routine. Sugar scrubs are simple to make using ingredients you can find at home, creating a gentle exfoliant.
This is the perfect gift for your honey, harnessing the powerful skincare benefits of rose. It’s extremely moisturizing, and sure to stir up some romance.
Gifts for Smelling Great
While I’d argue that all the recipes on this list smell great, in these recipes, scent takes center stage. These recipes label everything step by step, making the process easy to follow.
Skip the artificial fragrances that can actually irritate the skin more and opt for this herbal beard oil and aftershave combo to soothe irritated skin after shaving.
Gifts for Luscious Lips
No one can have too much lip balm. Seriously, I have one in the bathroom, my car, my purse, and pretty much anywhere else I can put one! These recipes smell SO good and are even better for soothing dry lips.
Christmas isn’t complete without a hint of chocolate. This decadent recipe lets you indulge in chocolaty goodness without the calories.
Ready for the Holidays?
If this list has you overwhelmed, perhaps you learn better by video rather than reading! My Botanical Beauty Holidays Gifts Workshop takes things slow, leading you through each recipe one-by-one with how-to videos and instructions.
Because I love them so much, my goal is to make natural beauty products accessible to everyone and this course is for the visual learner.
Plus, I include some extras include gift wrapping instructions so your gifts can look as pretty on the outside as they are on the inside.
Looking for homemade gift ideas that the recipient will actually use and love? Look no further than this list of over 100 gifts to make this year.
Making gifts for the holidays or another occasion can be a lot of fun, but is the end product something you really would want to get as a gift? In this case, yes!
I have given these homemade gift ideas (and in some cases received handmade gifts) for many a birthday, neighbour, teacher, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentines Day, etc. I’ve put together this list of over 100 homemade gift ideas for gifts you’d actually want to receive.
Jump ahead to a category!
How to Give the Perfect Gift
The number one rule in gift-giving is to think about the receiver’s wants and give them that. No doubt it can be easy to overlook this when you are giving handmade gifts. It’s easy to get caught up in the process of creating and forget whether the final product is really something that will be useful or bring joy to whomever you are giving it to. However, if done right, homemade gifts can be the absolute best!
Homemade gifts allow you to really personalize something for the recipient. Whether you’re gifting it to a friend or saying thank you to an acquaintance, it will mean so much more that you put time and effort into making the gift. And with this list, they will be totally awestruck that you actually made them yourself!
If you are making a large number of gifts for Christmas or wedding favours, then you can personalize it by giving a little bit of yourself in a package. Sharing homemade soap in a favourite scent, a great baking recipe, or even something from the garden are all wonderful gifts given with love.
Looking for gift ideas for teachers, daycare workers, mail carriers, and others whose wish lists are a mystery? The best gifts are always those things that can be used or eaten (yum!). Try foodie gifts like infused vinegar and sea salt, baked goods, and bath products like tub teas or bath bombs. I have a whole foodie list dedicated below that is great for anyone on your gifting list.
Now, if you are ready to get started, here is a whole bunch of links to homemade gift ideas that you would actually want to get. Each one will bring you to the full DIY so get ready to get crafty!
Foodie Gifts
What can I say, foodie gifts are perfect for just about anyone. While you can buy something from an artisan store, when you make it yourself it means so much more. I have some recipes below that are great for your culinary friend to use in their own recipes, or I have others that are great to eat on their own immediately. No matter which recipe you choose, their taste buds will be singing, I promise you!
Gifts for the Home
What I love most about these projects is that they look professionally made. Sometimes when people hear the words handmade or DIY, they picture something that is obviously done by a beginner. Many of these projects are easy to do, but you will end up with an artisanal, personalized gift for the home. In fact, I would argue that most of the gifts will be of better quality than you could buy!
Gifts for the Gardener
These projects have the garden in mind! While great for those who already have a green thumb, most of these projects can be appreciated by many. Anyone who enjoys the natural world and has a little bit of green in their life will love these. Take a look at this list of ways you can incorporate plants into your gift-giving.
Natural Beauty
Beauty products are always a sure hit when it comes to gifting. However, so many beauty products are packed full of unnecessary chemicals, preservatives, and perfumey scents. Natural beauty gifts are usually good for all skin types and safe for everyone to use. Many of these projects are easy to customize, so don’t be scared to get creative and really personalize the recipe based on who it is for. From healing foot balm to amber fossilized insect soap, I’m positive there is a beauty recipe for everyone in your life listed below.
Wearable Gifts
You don’t have to be a seamstress or a designer to make something beautiful to wear. If the person you are making the gift for is really into style and dressing themselves up with something unique, these are some great options.
How to Wrap Your Handmade Gifts
By the way, part of the thrill of giving a homemade gift is the packaging! The last thing you want to do is spend your time and energy making a gift, then hand it in a plastic baggie. Instead, try one of these natural and recycled gift wrap ideas and adorn them with some greenery. They are gorgeous, affordable, and eco-friendly, too!
There completes my list of homemade gift ideas. I hope you found a couple of great ideas that you will find easy and fun to make. Whoever receives your gift is sure to love it!
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
Can you imagine how sweet these cinnamon ornaments smell? Rich, dark brown ornaments imprinted with leaves and scented with apple and cinnamon couldn’t be a more suitable craft for the holidays! Cinnamon dough ornaments are very easy to make, and with a few tips, you will have the perfect consistency of dough to transform into decoration.
It’s a shame that you can’t smell these cinnamon ornaments through your screen because the aroma is amazing: tummy-warming sweet spiced apples. It wafts throughout the house as you make them and will continue to scent the Christmas tree for years to come.
I love this cinnamon ornament recipe so much more than the traditional salt dough ornaments. They appear so much more rustic to me, especially with the leaf imprints. Plus, salt dough lacks the key part of what makes these ornaments so amazing…the cinnamon smell!
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I captured the evergreens growing in my garden by rolling them in the cinnamon dough.
Cinnamon Ornament Recipe
If you are looking for a Christmas ornament crafting project this year, you won’t be disappointed. Designed to resemble gingerbread, this cinnamon ornament recipe only requires three ingredients.
Since they are made of only non-perishable ingredients, they will last for many Christmases. But don’t be fooled by the smell! This cinnamon dough is not edible, as this recipe includes glue to help hold them together.
Since you won’t be eating this dough, don’t waste your money on expensive spices. Besides cinnamon, you can also use allspice, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice if those scents are more up your alley!
You can make these cinnamon dough ornaments in all kinds of fun shapes.
Materials
Makes approximately 10 ornaments. See the recipe card at the end of this post for exact measurements.
Try to be precise with your measurements to get the right dough consistency.
Make It!
Mix together the cinnamon and applesauce. Then, add the glue. At first, the mixture may feel dry, but set aside the spoon, get in there, and mix the dough with your hands. The more you mix and knead the cinnamon dough, the better the consistency.
You need to knead A LOT. When in doubt, keep kneading!
Mix the dough into a smooth surface that has a light dusting of cinnamon, and knead the dough until it forms a smooth ball. Roll the ball out to a 1/2-inch-thick circle.
If the edges are splitting, knead the dough again and roll it out until the edges are smooth. Use cinnamon as you would flour to keep the dough from sticking to the counter or rolling pin.
Roll out your dough while it’s still fresh and warm from your hands.
Press evergreen leaves into the dough and gently roll over them with the rolling pin to get a strong impression.
You can even use flowers here, too, if you have them.
Use the mason jar to cut circle shapes out around the leaf imprints. You could also use cookie cutters to cut out different shapes.
Use any shape you like here, but this Mason jar gave me perfect circles.
Use a straw to make a hole in the ornament for the string.
Set the cinnamon ornaments on the trays of a dehydrator for 6-10 hours. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can dry them in the oven at 200 degrees for a few hours.
Keep an eye on them to make sure they dry and don’t bake. They can also air dry, but it will take much longer. This is a wonderful project to do before guests come over because it makes the house smell Christmassy!
Thread some baker’s twine through the cinnamon ornaments when they are dry, and they are ready to hang on the tree or give as gifts. I like to include them with the gift tag on presents for an extra, delicious-smelling touch. By the way, here are some of my other favourite eco-friendly ways to decorate gifts.
When fully dry, they become hard and sturdy.
Decorating Your Cinnamon Ornaments
I get lots of questions about decorating these cinnamon ornaments. I think the botanical imprint and colourful twine are all I need for my ornaments, but you can decorate them more if you like.
You can paint them with acrylic craft paint, but you can mask the cinnamon scent if you do so. If you want to paint them, you’re better off making salt dough ornaments instead, so you don’t waste all the cinnamon!
I’ve also been asked if you can add glitter to the dough. While you can, I don’t suggest it as it can be harmful to wildlife if they ingest it. Try adding mica for some sparkle instead.
Storing Cinnamon Ornaments
When you’re ready to pack up Christmas, you can store your ornaments to use again next year. I have some ornaments that are 10 years old that still have a cinnamon smell. They really last a long time when stored properly!
While they are fairly sturdy, they might crack and crumble if handled roughly. To store them, wrap and layer them in tissue paper and place them in a Ziplock bag.
You can also place them in a small cardboard box. The tighter the seal, the better the scent will last.
The scent of these cinnamon ornaments lasts for years.
FAQ About Cinnamon Dough Ornaments
I get a lot of questions about these cinnamon ornaments. Here are a few of the most common ones I receive. If you have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
How long do cinnamon dough ornaments last?
Cinnamon dough ornaments can last for years if you properly store them. If they begin to crack or fall apart, you can always make a new batch. I like making a batch every year just because I love the smell. It’s also a fun activity to do with the kiddo!
The scent itself can last for years. I have some that are 10 years old, and they still smell amazing.
How can I re-scent cinnamon dough ornaments?
Over time, you may find that your cinnamon ornaments lose their potency. If you want to refresh the scent of cinnamon, you can use cinnamon leaf or bark essential oil.
Since the scent is quite strong, you don’t need a lot. With a dropper, drop 1-2 drops on the ornaments and let them sit until dry. If you want a scent other than cinnamon, other great options include all allspice, anise, clove, ginger, juniper, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, spruce, vanilla, and frankincense.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
I haven’t personally tried this, so I’m not sure of the results. However, I know the glue dries out, and the dough may be too crumbly and dry when you get to it. I find the cinnamon dough needs to be warm and fresh so it doesn’t crack.
My ingredients won’t combine. What did I do wrong?
It does take some time for the kneading process before the ingredients combine well. There is always a point when I’m making the cinnamon ornaments that I get kneading fatigue and feel like the dough won’t come together, but it always does. Cinnamon is ground bark, so it takes a while for the apple sauce and glue to mix in with all the particles. Warm hands also help!
Why are my cinnamon ornaments crumbling?
It takes quite a bit of kneading to get the dough smooth. If you’ve been kneading for a long time, adding more apple sauce or glue might help, as the glue can dry out quickly.
How do you keep cinnamon ornaments from breaking?
Once you have your dough and it’s the right consistency, you need to dry the cinnamon ornaments completely. If you’re not using a dehydrator, how long it needs to be in the oven at 200 degrees F depends on the thickness, size, spacing of the tray, and many more factors. Check them every hour, and you will know when they’re dry.
When they’re dry, they’re pretty sturdy. You can hang them on the tree without worry. When it comes time to store them, wrap them in tissue paper before packing them, and they shouldn’t break.
But if they do, it’s easy to make another batch the following year!
Colourful twine is the perfect addition.
More Christmas Projects
Cinnamon Dough Ornaments
Fill up your home with the warm smell of cinnamon and apple with these festive and easy to make ornaments. Makes approximately 10 ornaments.
Mix your cinnamon and applesauce. Once mixed, add in your glue. The more you knead the dough, the better the consistency will get.
Dust your countertop with cinnamon. Knead the dough into a smooth ball and then roll it out to a 1/2 inch circle. If edges split, put it back into a ball and re-roll until smooth. Use cinnamon as you might flour to avoid keeping the dough from sticking.
Press evergreen leaves into the dough to create imprints. Roll them gently with the rolling pin.
Use a Mason jar (or cookie cutters) to cut out the shapes around the leaf imprints.
Make a hole for the string with a straw.
Use a dehydrator and set ornaments on a tray for 6-10 hours. Alternatively, place them in an oven at 200 degrees for a few hours. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t dry out or bake.
Thread twine through the ornaments once dry and hang them on the tree.
It’s amazing how scents whisk you away to another world: a memory or place recognizable by how it smells. Even during those days that I haven’t had my oven working overtime, it’s nice to fill my house with the welcoming aromas of the holidays, so I made up a few jars of stovetop potpourri to have on hand for the occasion.
Stovetop potpouri, also known as simmering spices, are easy to make by combining any fragrant botanicals, spices, and herbs and adding them to boiling water. This releases an all-natural fragrant steam that scents the air in your home.
You can simmer them on the stovetop or even use a crockpot, and the possible scent combinations are endless. You could make comforting, cozy scents to bring cheer to a cold, dreary day, decongestants to help with a cold or flu, or festive fragrances that will have your house smelling like the holidays in a jiffy.
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If you’re making a bunch of stovetop potpourri, measure out your ingredients beforehand.
What Scents Smell Like Christmas?
Christmas has a smell, perhaps like hot apple cider mixed with pine trees, oranges, and clove. At least, that is what it smells like for me.
You can use fresh or dried ingredients to make this Christmas simmer pot. If you’re making them to use for later or as a gift, only include dried ingredients. Fresh ingredients are good to use right away.
Here are some ingredient ideas for Christmas potpourri that are probably already in your spice rack, refrigerator, or pantry:
Cinnamon sticks and star anise are great for their visual impact.
How to Make Stovetop Potpourri
To make the stovetop potpourri, mix all of your chosen ingredients together. Since this is all about scent and not taste, measurements don’t have to be exact. I usually toss in the ingredients as I see fit.
But here’s an overall guideline you can use to help you determine how much to add depending on the ingredient:
1-2 sprigs for fresh herb or evergreen clippings like mint, rosemary, cedar, or pine.
2 cinnamon sticks or vanilla beans
1 tsp extracts (i.e. Vanilla)
2 dried fruit slices (i.e. apple, orange, lemon)
1 tbsp of spices, whole or ground
When using whole vs. ground spices, you’ll find that ground spices release their scent faster. However, they do collect at the bottom of the pot, so you do need to stir them now and then to prevent burning. Otherwise, whole spices will release their scent, but it will just take longer.
When you’re ready to use your stovetop potpourri, add the mixture into a pot of boiling water. Simmer on low heat and enjoy the scent! You can leave the mixture simmering all day long if you add more water now and then as it evaporates.
6 Stovetop Potpourri Recipes
You can stir up endless combinations of stovetop potpourri. Here are some of my tried-and-true Christmas stovetop potpourri recipes.
It’s Like Snowflakes Melting on Your Nose
This blend is cool, crisp, and fresh, like a woodland stroll in a winter wonderland. This is great for those who enjoy the crisp smell of fresh Christmas trees.
Sleepy Time
These soothing scents will help you relax and get ready for bed. Make a pot of this Christmas potpourri while you and your guests are winding down for the night.
Add instructions to your stovetop potpourri gifts so the receiver knows how to use them.
Pumpkin Spice
Make the whole house smell like yummy pumpkin spice with this blend. Fair warning: guests will think you have a pumpkin pie baking in the oven!
Apple Chai
Hot apple cider and Chai tea both have the coziest, most comforting scents. This blend combines the two spices to honour the cozy winter drinks.
Cold Virus Relief
Perfect for when you’re feeling stuffy and congested. Simmer this spice blend on the stove and pop a eucalyptus shower steamer in your morning shower. You’ll be feeling better in no time!
You can use stovetop potpourri all throughout the winter season.
It’s Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas Potpourri
Last but not least, this is my go-to blend to put on the stove for Christmas day before everyone comes over. This comforting blend of spices and savoury herbs smells just like Christmas!
Combine fresh and dried ingredients if you plan on using a batch right away.
Stovetop Potpourri as a Homemade Gift
A package of ingredients for a Christmas simmer pot is one of my favourite gifts to give out during the holiday season, especially for hostesses. You can customize them based on the person and add some gift wrap to really personalize it.
If you’re gifting them, don’t include any fresh ingredients. Fresh ingredients are only meant for use right away.
For my stovetop potpourri packages, I put mine in 250 ml Mason jars. On top of the jars, I designed some labels and tags on Evermine. You can make your own, too, customizing the canning labels and favour tags.
I also have some free printable labels you can download and print yourself. They come in lots of colours and allow you to write down the names of your own stovetop potpourri blends.
To top it off, I tie around some twine. You can then wrap it or add a gift tag. I have some great recycled gift wrappings ideas you can try out.
The packaging is what makes the gift so cute!
Frequently Asked Questions About Stovetop Potpourri
Can You Use Potpourri in a Slow Cooker?
Yes! You can make this Christmas potpourri on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Add boiling water and let the potpourri simmer on low heat. The smell will quickly waft through the house and turn it into a festive wonderland.
Add water as needed when you notice the levels getting low. And never leave it plugged in and unattended.
How Long Does Christmas Potpourri Last in a Jar?
In the jar, you’ll need to use dried ingredients rather than fresh ones. When done this way, your stovetop potpourri will last as long as your dried spices and herbs are good for. Generally, ground spices last 1-2 years and dried herbs last up to 3. The date of your oldest spice in the blend is how long it will be good for.
But because you won’t be consuming the spices, it’s also okay to use old spices. The younger the spices, however, the more fragrant it will be.
Once boiled, your potpourri can last 3-4 days as long as you keep topping up the water. Never leave it unattended!
Make a couple of different variations of stovetop potpourri to try out. Find your favourite scent!
