If you're looking at your list of holiday giftees and thinking you'd like to do something a little more DIY this year, read on for some of our favorite projects that are a little less intense than knitting a sweater. 

Tie-Dye Tea Towels (or t-shirts, or pillowcases)

What you need: 

• blank 100% cotton tea towels
• 1-however many colors of procion dye
• bucket / nitrile gloves and a bit of time
• Rubber bands

Everyone always needs more kitchen towels; it's a fact of life. Spend an afternoon getting a little messy and you can make great gifts for just about anyone on your list. And don't forget that tie dye doesn't have to be a loud combination of bright colors, you can use neutral shades like grey, navy, and even black to create really modern looking pieces. We love using dyes from Dharma Trading, but head to the local art store if you're low on time. 

For a great run down on how to make different patterns, check out this post from By Stephanie Lynn. For information on the process itself, including how to mix your dyes, head to Dharma Trading. 

Embroidered Wall Art (or patches, or tea towels, or anything)

What you need:

• Needle
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery hoop
• Fabric (tea towel, scrap muslin)

If you know one or two embroidery stitches, like the back stitch, you're on your way to completing a pattern.

DMC.com has a wonderful library of free patterns that you can download and print, and then you're on your way to embellishing everything from totes to towels to jean jackets or creating a hoop to hang on the wall. This is the gift that will take the longest, since you can't really batch embroidery work and make ten gifts at once, but a simple design that's quick to stitch will also make a great gift. Consider adding simple flowers or monograms to towels, totes, or other fabrics. 

Homemade Lotion or Lip Balm

What you'll need:

• beeswax
• shea butter
• coconut oil
• olive oil
• essential oil for fragrance
• immersion blender 
• simple double boiler setup (pot + bowl) 
• Tins for lotion

Making moisturizer at home is super fast, easy and only requires a few specialty ingredients that you can pick up online or at the health food store. The process itself is simple--essentially heating various fats and beeswax over a double boiler--so you can do it even if you're not a confident cook. Best of all, each batch makes several servings of lotion, meaning you can knock several items off your list at once. Be sure to whip the finished product with an immersion blender; it creates a smooth, light lotion that's similar to store bought. 

For a recipe and the full moisturizer how-to, check out this post from Wellness Mama. For chapped lips, check out this wonderful imitation Burt's Bees lip balm.

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