The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
DIY Christmas presents for kids and adults!
With the Holiday’s right around the corner and the Coronavirus pandemic still taking its toll, the 2020 Holiday season is proving to be even more stressful than the last. If you are looking to limit your spending, as well as limit your exposure to big box stores and the germs that come with them, DIY ( do it yourself) gift ideas are the way to go.
In addition, crafting is a great stress reliever during this tough time. According to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, “crafting can reduce stress, help with depression and anxiety, build self- esteem, decrease the risk of cognitive impairment, help with insomnia, reduce irritability and restlessness, and help with grief processing,” all of which many people are struggling with during this pandemic. Although you will need to purchase the supplies to make DIY gifts, you can find stores that are offering contactless delivery or curbside pick- up. Once you have all of the supplies, make the gift at home, wrap it yourself, and ship it off!
Here is a list of a fewdiy gifts that are good for all ages.
Hot Chocolate Bombs: The new, trendy way to make festive hot chocolate! You will need a silicone chocolate mold, chocolate of your choice, hot cocoa mix, and mini marshmallows. Melt the chocolate, spoon the melted chocolate up the side of each mold until it is completely covered in a thick layer. Let the molds chill for an hour and then fill one side of the mold with hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows then heat a plate in the microwave. Gently push the empty half onto the plate to just melt the edges, then place on top of the filled half. Take a small amount of melted chocolate and rub around the seam to seal it. Once completely cooled, decorate the bombs however you want!
Mason Jar Gifts: Choose your favorite baked good recipe, fill the mason jar with all the dry ingredients, write out the recipe and instructions, attach to the mason jar and decorate and you are done! This is a fun gift for friends and family who love to bake. Some recipe suggestions include: cookies, pancakes, breads, etc.
Framed Photo or Photobook: Do you have a special photo of you and a loved one? Maybe a picture of their pet? Consider ordering a photo print online or through a local store and putting it in a good quality frame. You can even decorate the frame with ribbon, cut outs, paint, and more. If you have several pictures, consider making a photobook through an online photo service or cut and paste photo prints into a scrapbook. This is a great gift idea for kids to make.
Local Foods Gift Basket: For those relatives and friends that are foodies, purchase a variety of non- perishable foods from local farmers and farmer’s markets and arrange them in a basket. These baskets make great gifts and can be customized for each person. You can even include products from local artisans such as candles and ornaments. Add paper shreds, tissue
paper, and bows to dress up the basket. If you live inmadison County and aren’t sure where to find local products, visit www. buy madison countyny. com or www. shoptasteny. com.
Homemade Sugar Scrub: Sugar scrubs are a great selfcare item. They are easy to make and package and you can choose from endless scents, or go with an unscented version for those with allergies and sensitivities. Recipes vary, but you will needwhite sugar, raw sugar, or brown sugar, coconut or olive oil, and vanilla extract or any other scent you would like. Package them in mason jars or other glass containers and decorate with a festive tag and some ribbon.
For more information, recipes, and DIY ideas, check out Pinterest or Youtube. For more information on the health benefits of crafting visit: https:// www. uaex. edu/ life- skills- wellness/ personal- family- well- being/ navigating- life- blog/ crafting_ for_ health. aspx.
Happy Holidays from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County!
“Crafting can reduce stress, helpwith depression and anxiety, build selfesteem, decrease the risk of cognitive impairment, helpwith insomnia, reduce irritability and restlessness, and help with grief processing.” — University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension