Bonjour on this Friday morning!Today we are doing DIY Christmas Gifts on the Cheap 101 Part 2. This one is for those of you who insist on purchasing gifts but have a V-E-R-Y limited budget. Btw, the pajamas's up top were $9 because they were from an outlet shop for La Vie en Rose, I wanted to mention outlets because they sometimes have good bargains, nice things you like, and you can get a few pieces for what you pay for 1. If you have not gone to outlets, put them on your to do & save list.
Back to the post which falls under DIY Christmas Gifts on the Cheap101 because you will have to do some leg work to find these & I am including links to a favourite site which is full of hand crafted items, this is technically a DIY from someone else but I encourage it for a few reasons:
(BTW, NO ONE has paid me for any of this, I just like what I like and pass it along. Do as you will with it.)
1-You are supporting small businesses
2-You are supporting artist's and artisans
3-You are often supporting more locally made items and putting money back into our ecomony, not China's.
4-The quality is there
5-There is much better customer service
6-You can personalize
7-It's much less expensive
8-Many choices are more enviro & healthier for us
9-You can do from the comfort of your home for some of these.
That's because I am talking about Etsy & a select few on-line shops, but before I hit that wonder and give you some awesome links, I want to do a few items in your neighborhood.
Firstly, I am sharing a Québec tradition that is still newer but has caught on like wildfire. It's called Ice Wine, and it's a wonderful dessert/Appératif wine, that is sweeter, milder, and way less expensive than those hefty bottles of fancy Reds or Seductive Whites. Neither of which I can help you out with as I am allergic to wine and do not drink it. This however, I have tasted before I discovered my allergy, and must pass along. Pomme De Coeur translates to Apple Of My Heart, it is an apple ice wine that is referred to as Cider Liquer. It's usually $10-$12/bottle and comes in this magnifico red cylinder and pretty bottle. However, during the holidays the price drops down to $6.99-$8.99! I scooped up four of these bad boys last Christmas and people were super thrilled to receive them. This is what the apple ice wine looks like:
There is another brand of ice cider which is more expensive, called Neiges. It tastes lovely but I actually preferred the milder Pomme De Coeur, probably because I am not an alcohol drinker, I did my partying ages ago and came to realize a loooong while ago that I prefer Virgin drinks any day; so does my eczema.
Neiges translates to Snow, it runs about $25 & looks like this:
There's also some delectable grape ice wine's from Canada that apparently, are a wonder. Prices vary and depend on quality, size, and who has made it, so I can't help there but I include it because there are some affordable brands and it is local. I can show you how pretty and include some frosty grapes that get picked and are used in the process of making this particular delight:
Another place I really like shopping are my local health food stores, now, you would think this is strange for gift giving items but you would be mistaken. High quality, allergy friendly, natural, organic, and often very local, products can be found in the beauty departments of your local health food store. for example, there are wonderful lotions and creams, often times vegan options, and I have found Dessert Essence Coconut Lotion, cruelty free, vegan, and smelling stupendous, to be a very welcome gift. It's also between $8.99-$12!
They have expanded their range of scents, (coconut is my fav. stand by), they have lotions, shampoo & conditioner, and even masks for hair. I cannot get enough of this line and I like the reasonable price along with the fact that my allergies don't freak out at all when I use these. Side note: People will always wonder and ask what that freaking amaze bombs smell is if you use the coconut lotion, long after you put it away. They also have unscented for those of you that are super duper sensitive.
They also have a great skin care line, which makes for a perfect man or woman gift!
Another thing I really enjoy from the health food store is natural perfume. Yipeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!
I am allergic to regular perfumes from stores, I sometimes can use it once and then have to lay off of it for a few weeks before I can revisit it, sometimes I get hives or rashes, then the sniffles, itchy, puffy eyes, and it's a forgone conclusion. Antihistamines, here I come. It's just so not worth it.
All this changed when the Bodyshop introduced body oils instead of perfumes, then all that stopped being fun when the founder of Bodyshop passed away (God rest her soul) and the corporate dunderpaints went the toxic, cheap, chemical route. This is when health food store perfume items came into my life. Two things in particular, one is solid perfume by Pacifica, they come in a variety of scents, can be liquid spray, roll-on, or solid; solid one's look like these: (I have included links for on-line purchase possibilities if health food stores near you are scarce or don't carry these)
Lotus Garden is described as:
A meditative and intoxicating blend of sparkling yuzu, lotus blossom, jasmine, olibanum and bright, radiant green notes.
Malibu Lemon Blossom is described as:
This fresh scent captures the free spirit of the Pacific Ocean with Lemon Blossom, Litsea Cubeba, flowering Angel's Trumpet, fresh herbs and salty sea breezes.
It is so cute, very portable made with natural ingredients, and the different scents are quite inviting. They also range from $9.00-$14, depending where you buy and on the size.
I also adore these lovely perfumes that are from Sow Good, they have names like Generosity, and Harmony; they come in small roll-on size and bigger perfume bottle size. They also have bath products. For myself, I just wanted something portable for when I travel, that was not too expensive $12, and fit in small spaces. I got the roll-on in Happiness, because I like all things happy ;D
Now, we move onto Etsy and some freaking wonderful shops that offer perfect items for your DIY/small budget gift giving needs!
Firstly, I want to start with Urban Oasis Decor. I purchased Chalk paint from Lue Patterson's cute cocoa nib of a virtual shop and man! Did I ever receive awesome service, a great product, and she was super kind. I adore her paint colours, that all are handmade, it's from North America, she uses Mason jars, and she has all you need to make your Chalk paint projects happen. She even included some extra red so I could tint my chalk paint a shade darker, you can see in the next picture, my salmon paint before and after.
Lue Patterson, owner of Urban Oasis Decor, calls herself a paint peddler, and she does peddle some delightful wares! They are under $50, prices range from $26.50-$40.45, plus shipping and handling.They are a bit higher on the price range for this post, but I am making an effort to appeal to the $50 & under budgets.
I am including the link to her shop right here, because I do not want you to miss out!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/UrbanOasisDecor?ref=shop_sugg
Another Etsy shop I have bought a few goodies from is Purple Cat Creatives. I have enjoyed the items I purchased, they smell so so good, she is great with customer service, and she gives these awesome testers! Pardon the label sliding down on the second one(pic), I got it wet.
I used to trip out over Solstice Grove, but then I fell head over heels for Warm & Toasty, I have recently been thinking about getting myself Calypso. I have purchased Lemon Chiffon and Wish You Were Here, Key Lime Pie & I received a tester for Spiced Pomegranate. What I think is so special about these body butters is that they are rich, they seriously help extra dry, even eczema cracked skin. The butter is absorbed well, it's not greasy, the scents are not candyesque- in a good way, there are many to choose from, and if you are very sensitive, she has a Plain Jane body butter that is unscented. I had difficulty with one of the scents and she was so lovely, she sent me a brand new item, same size & value in a different scent, no problems, at no extra charge to me. Big smiles!
After the pictures you will find the link to her shop, she also has solid perfumes, soaps, and other cool stuff you will appreciate. Prices range from $9.76 and up. There are smaller sizes that are samplers, and you can buy sampler sets for stocking stuffer's if you aren't sure what a person will like. I just enjoy how silky and unctuous this healing and yummy smelling stuff is! I wish I had some more Solstice Grove...
Warm and Toasty (body butter--warm french toast, maple syrup, butter, cinnamon) YES PLEASE!
Calypso (body butter--sweet pineapple, coconut, freesia)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PurplecatCreatives?section_id=7918622&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2My Last Etsy Shop suggestion is for the younger one's and the cute couples, it's actually great for anyone who likes Kawaii stuff. I bought Poppa Bear and I a set, more as a cutesy joke but it meant something to us because of our nicknames. I call him PB & he calls me RBJ, it's been a running theme for years now and when I came across Candiware on Etsy, I had to get something.
I got us this set:
I know, it's sooooo Kawaii!!!!! All handmade and she does custom stuff, prices are very reasonable too. I like that you can have unique gifts that are sure to be talked about and appreciated.
Check it (& this isn't even half of her inventory):
Cupcake rings are $15
Eggs & bacon with homefries necklace is $15
Orange creamsicle earrings are $12
Pain au chocolat earrings are $15
Eiffel tower & macaron earrings are $15
Vintage Bergamont tea necklace is $20
Deluxe pizza ring is $15
Chocolate chip cookie tie clip for him is $15
Hot apple cider bobby pins are $20
All of her items are handmade and scented! Have fun checking everything out, she also has holiday stuff.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CandiWareJewelry
This next item might seem a bit off the wall, (Uhm...like food jewelry isn't? Hehheh) but believe me, bamboo steamers are a really good gift for the person who likes to cook or wants to eat more healthy.
These can be purchased in China town or at Asian markets for much cheaper than in regular stores. I am talking between $10-$24, depending on the size. These things are great instead of a microwave for heating up food, cook clean food that keeps in more nutrients, and makes the food have rich colour and intense flavour, plus you can have steamed buns!
My last suggestion on this list is this cute little box garden that you grow your own herbs in. Apologies for the blurry picture and poor lighting. This is a gift for anyone, old, young, green thumb, hopeless with plants, nature lover, foodie, someone you don't know so well, someone you know for quite some time, they even have wheatgrass for the health nut in you or around you, and cat grass for you lovable furry friend. It's a fun concept, not overly priced, and is usually found in health food shops or specialty food stores. It comes in this Chinese food style box, inside you have a bag of earth, a little bag of seeds, plus instructions. I think it's totes adorbs! Look how sweet when it sprouts.Cost is between $16-$24.
Here is the original distributor for our province (QC), that lists where the point of sales are:
http://www.manoverde.ca/
That's all I gots for today folks, I hope you enjoyed it and that you have some fun with all this information. Links continue down below. Comment & subscribe.
Pacifica Solid Perfumes:
http://www.pacificabeauty.com/perfume/solid-perfumes
Sow Good:
https://well.ca/brand/sow-good-fragrance-bath-2.html
I'm not gonna whine about it!
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