DIY Gifts: Spread Sweet Holiday Cheer with Nielsen-Massey Vanillas

This holiday season, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas invites you to bring a personal touch back into the season by creating DIY holiday gifts for friends and loved ones. When it comes to holiday gifting, it truly is the thought that counts, and what could be more thoughtful than a handmade gift?

Whether looking to let a teacher know how much (s)he is appreciated, brighten the mail-carrier’s day, or surprise a coworker, DIY gifts are the perfect way to show how much you care.

Here are some unique packaging tips to give handmade gifts an extra-special touch:

• Package homemade biscotti, cookies, or even body products in vintage tins or jars. A beautiful container is an additional gift that the recipient can keep long after the handmade gift is gone.
• Instead of using traditional wrapping paper or gift bags, wrap boxes in craft paper and decorate with pens and markers. Wrap jars and bottles in fabric, burlap, or a pretty kitchen towel and secure it with colorful striped baker’s twine.
• Attach a Christmas ornament to the outside of the package in lieu of a traditional gift tag. Ornaments can be treasured for years to come.
• Include a hand-written note or card with the recipe for your gift – it is the gift that keeps on giving!

My 4 year old and I made the Vanilla Body Scrub from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.  This is the perfect gift for friends, sisters, daughters, or anyone who deserves a bit of pampering this holiday season.  Olivia wants to give it to her preschool director, so that’s who we made this gift for!  Fragrant Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar gently exfoliates while olive oil moisturizes, leaving skin feeling soft, smooth and rejuvenated.  And it smells delicious!

Vanilla Body Scrub

1 cup Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 or 2 drops of an essential oil such as lavender, eucalyptus, etc.
Decorative, waterproof container (we used a Mason jar and holiday stickers)

Mix ingredients together in a bowl.

Spoon into the container.

Wrap in decorative paper.  (Or in this case, a chaotic array of stickers by a 4-year old.)

Instructions for use: Apply a small amount to damp skin while in shower or bath. Gently scrub skin with a soft washcloth. Rinse thoroughly.

If you are interested in making the Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Body Scrub or your own DIY holiday gift, we have partnered with Nielsen-Massey and are giving away an 8.5-oz jar of Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar.

Please visit the Nielsen-Massey website for more product information and additional recipes, including more DIY gift ideas such as:

• Vanilla Bean Marshmallows
• Decadent Holiday Fudge
• Cinnamon Vanilla Candied Almonds
• Gourmet Blueberry Vanilla Granola
• Sweet and Spicy BBQ Rub
• Chocolate Coffee Biscotti

To purchase your own bottle, or other luxurious Nielsen-Massey products, go here.

 Disclaimer:  In exchange for this write-up, I was mailed my own bottle of Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar.