DIY Recipes, For Fun, gift ideas

Salt Dough Ornament DIY Recipe

Adding a personal touch to your presents has never been easier. These ornaments can be given as a wrapping accessory on a present and can then easily be transformed into an ornament for your friends and family to enjoy for many years to come.

There is even the option to add essential oils to the ornaments / gift tags and multiple ways to decorate them too. You can stamp on an image, paint it, or leave it plain. However you decide to create and decorate, friends and family will love and adore this homemade gift. 

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup salt1 ½ cups warm water
  • essential oil (s) of your choosing.

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Pour flour, salt, and warm water into large bowl.
  3. Using your hands, knead until all ingredients are well-incorporated and dough is smooth.
  4. If mixture is too dry, add one tablespoon of water at a time until dough comes together.
  5. Roll out dough on floured surface until ¼ inch thick.
  6. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Using a drinking straw or toothpick, make a hole in top of ornament for threading string.
  8. Place in oven until hard, approximately one hour.
  9. Once hard, remove from oven and cool.
  10. Decorate with paint, string, or glitter. Add essential oils by placing one drop on each ornament and allow it to soak in.

Some Tips:

Add some decoration to your ornaments by stamping them. Just place stamp on ink and carefully place on ornament to transfer design before they dry.

Note: Baking the ornament will turn the dough slightly brown and may “puff” up some of the ornaments. If you prefer, you can also air dry the ornaments for two to three days to help the ornaments remain white and flat.

gift ideas, health & wellness

Etsy Canada Online Holiday Pop Up Market – Nov 13th – 15th, 2021

Cove Essentials will be participating again in the Etsy Canada Holiday Online Pop Up Market on: November 13th – 15th, 2021

Important Links are posted below and I really look forward to seeing you there.

Lookbook: https://issuu.com/theetsymarket-vancouveretsycollective/docs/the_etsy_market_vec_holiday_virtual_pop_up-2

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/U9BohHwl

Instagram: instagram.com/vancouveretsyco

Market Page: theetsymarket.etsy.com/vancouveretsycohol21

Bath Salts made with all natural ingredients and pure essential oils

Just one of the many gift boxes available.

Quite possibly my favourite essential oil rollers. They’re great to help you relax, unwind and recharge.

DIY Recipes, For Fun, gift ideas

DIY Bath Bomb Recipe

Maybe it’s because my thermostat is currently broken and it’s cold out…waiting for more snow…that has me thinking about a nice warm bath.

So I wanted to share with you a DIY Bath Bomb Recipe for you to enjoy. Let me know what you think after you try it 🙂

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/2 cup of baking soda
  • 1/4 cup or arrowroot powder
  • 1/4 cup epsom salt
  • 1/4 citric acid
  • 4 tbsp. of coconut oil
  • 2 tsp. of water
  • upto 40 drops of your favourite essential oils (singular or a combo) and depends on how fragrant you like things to be. *note* if using a combo, the total amount of drops shouldn’t go past 40 drops total (ie) 20 drops lavender & 20 drops chamomile
  • bath bomb molds

Some Essential Oil Suggestions:

  • Lavender
  • Chamomile
  • Wild Orange & Peppermint
  • Rosemary

Directions:

  1. Place the dry ingredients (baking soda, arrow root powder, Epsom salt and citric acid) in the mixing bowl. Stir with a whisk until combined.
  2. Add the wet ingredients (coconut oil, water and essential oil) slowly and stir with a whisk.
  3. When the mixture starts clumping up, it’s time to press it into the bath bomb molds.
  4. Press it firmly into each mold until filled to the brim.
  5. Now let the mixture set in the molds for about 15 minutes.
  6. Carefully remove the hardened bath bombs out.
  7. Store them in a clean and dry plastic container for at least 24 hours before use.

An Example of a Blend/ Combo

Fresh Forest Blend:

  • 15 drops rosemary
  • 10 drops cedarwood
  • 10 drops lavender
  • 5 drops vetiver

bathbomb3

DIY Recipes, gift ideas, Uncategorized

Post Holidays- Relaxing Epsom Salt and Essential Oils Bath Recipe

If you’re like me, you’re probably tired from all the holiday hustle and bustle. I thought I would share with you a relaxing bath salt recipe to help you unwind and get ready for New Year’s celebrations.

Ingredients:

1 drop of Bergamont

1 drop of Ylang Ylang

1/4 cup of Epsom Salts

Directions:

Draw a warm bath and mix in the essential oils with the 1/4 cup of Epsom Salts. Add salt mixture to the bath and enjoy!

DIY Recipes, gift ideas, Uncategorized

DIY-Creamy Orange & Peppermint Soap Bar

Creamy Orange & Peppermint Soap Bar

Ingredients

  • 3lbs organic white soap base
  • 2 tablespoons Annatto Seeds
  • 2 oz. light olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
  • 1 oz. of Orange Essential Oil
  • 1.4 oz. of Peppermint Essential Oil
  • Silicone Soap Mold (design of your choice)
  • Small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol

Directions

  • Heat your olive oil in the microwave {or on top of stove} for about 20 seconds.  Oil should be very warm but not steaming hot!
  • Place your annatto seeds into your warm oil.  Let your seeds soak overnight {or if you’re the impatient type a few hours, but the color might not be as strong}.
  • Strain the annatto seeds out of your oil and save the oil {this is your colorant}.  You can save the seeds for another use, just rinse them out and let them dry.
  • Cut 30 oz. of your organic soap base into 1/2 inch cubes.
  • Place your 30 oz. of soap in a microwavable glass measuring cup in the microwave and heat for 1 minute and 30 seconds.  If you have a few small chunks of soap left stir slowly until melted.  If your soap chunks are still large melt for 15 more seconds.
  • Add 3-4 tablespoons of your annatto seed colorant and stir slowly into soap base until well incorporated.  Don’t worry if the color looks too light, it will darken as the soap hardens.  We don’t want to add too much oil colorant because this can decrease your lather.
  • Let your soap cool.  This is very important.  Let your soap cool down to about 120 degrees, even lower is better.  It will help your essential oils behave better in your soap!  If a skin forms on top of your soap while it is cooling just stir it back into your soap or get a fork and remove it.
  • While your soap is cooling  pour 3/4 of an ounce of your orange essential oil into a small glass bowl.
  • Next add about 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil to the same bowl.  Don’t worry if the peppermint hijacks your orange oil!  The peppermint will be stronger but will fade slightly.  This is normal.  We use the peppermint to create creaminess in the orange essential oil.
  • When you have cooled your soap add your essential oils and stir {not too vigorously, it will add bubbles {air} to your soap} until well blended.
  • Pour soap base into your mold but hold back an ounce or two of soap.  Let set for 1 hour or until the top becomes very firm.  This is your first layer of the soap.
  • After your soap has set sprinkle about a tablespoon of poppy seeds on top of your soap.  Heat the soap you held back {about 10 seconds} and pour over the poppy seeds to help them adhere to the layer of soap.
  • Cut 12 oz. of the remaining soap base and place into the microwave.  Heat for 30 seconds.  This is your top layer.  When soap has cooled down add a few drops of orange essential oil {about 10} and 1-2 drops of peppermint right into your soap base.
  • Lightly score {with a fork or small knife make a series of small lines in the soap, this lets the first layer adhere better} the first layer of your soap.  Spritz some rubbing alcohol on your first layer of soap.  Let sit 5-10 seconds and then pour the rest of your melted soap base on top of your first layer.
  • When the final layer of soap has set sprinkle your poppy seeds on top of the soap.  You can adhere the seeds by pouring a small bit of melted soap over them.