Looking for DIY stocking stuffer ideas that don’t suck? Well we’ve got seven ideas that you (and your recipients) will love–especially since they come with a focus on green living.

If you’re like me, then being at a loss for cool stocking stuffer ideas is a yearly occurrence, which is why we’re here to mix things up. Don’t waste money and pollute the environment with a bunch of junk from the dollar aisle that will just get tossed out the following week. Instead, make some extra special from-the-heart gifts that your friends and family will actually enjoy receiving. From lip scrubs to cute hand warming sachets, you’ll have as much fun making these as you will giving them away!

1. Reusable Baggies

These cute (machine washable!) baggies are whipped up in just a few minutes with the use of a sewing machine, some velcro, and the oil cloth fabric of your choice. They’re perfect for your lunch-packing eco-friendly cohorts, and will quickly eliminate the need for all of those plastic baggies. Not only can these be used for more than just lunch food, but you can also pre-fill them with goodies before placing them in the stocking. Check out the tutorial from The Chic Site.

2. Peppermint Lip Scrub

As far a stocking stuffer ideas go, this one is a winner. This peppermint lip scrub from A Little Glass Box is easy to whip up using household ingredients, looks great when delivered in a cute glass jar, and is apparently very inexpensive compared to buying retail. Not only that, but this gift is from the heart, and your lucky recipients will know exactly what the ingredients are.

3. Hot Chocolate Spoons

I have been wanting to make these for, like, ever, and The Nerd’s Wife blog has finally sealed the deal. Who wouldn’t want to receive a hot chocolate spoon? I, mean, really? These are easy to make and they look like so much fun, too! What’s great is that you can make these with vegan chocolate and gift with vegan marshmallows, or keep the recipe as-is. As far as wooden spoons go, check out this all-natural version here, or consider going thrifting for some unique silver spoons, give them a good scrub, and dip those instead.

4. Seed Bombs

For truly unique stocking stuffer ideas, look no further than this awesometastic seed bomb DIY project from Rae of Sparkles. Beautiful, customizable, and earth-friendly, this is a handmade gift that you’ll love to receive as much as you’ll love to give. Whether you use wildflower seeds, or something that’s worthy of a kitchen window herb garden, all you have to do is mix up the ingredients and wrap with some fabric or burlap, and your favorite ribbon.

5. Mini Planter Magnets

If you (or your recipient) love wine and succulents, and we’re betting you do, then this DIY stocking stuffer is the perfect little handmade project. Round up those wine corks, and follow the instructions from Upcycle That to craft this adorable gift. Not only is it good for the environment, but it’s such an unexpected and economical stocking stuffer. I would suggest making these closer to gift giving time and then wrapping them up (plant and all) in a cute square of fabric or gift wrap just before you’re ready to present.

6. Upcycled Hand Warmers

These are attractive, functional, easy to make (no sew! woot!), and small enough to squish into a stocking. Gather up those old sweaters, unused fabric, or cruise the thrift stores aisles looking for some ugly Christmas goodness, and make these nifty hand warmers that also double as excellent stocking stuffers. Blogger Rachel Talbott uses vanilla and lavender essential oils in hers which, in my opinion, takes these DIY handwarmers to the next level.

7. Lemon Peppercorn Soap

An exfoliating bar of soap is a great way to slough off that dull winter layer of skin. These beautiful bars of soap are easy to make, can incorporate natural and organic ingredients, and fit neatly into a stocking. Burkatron has the tutorial you need to pull these off. We love the simple twine bow, but you can get as fancy as you’d like.

Homemade gifts can be elevated and awesome, so skip over the dollar aisle this year and make a few of these awesome presents for your lucky loved ones. If you’ve enjoyed these stocking stuffer ideas as much as we do, then hop on over to the EcoSalon Facebook page and share your favorites!

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The post These 7 Easy DIY Stocking Stuffer Ideas Don’t Suck (for Gifts or the Planet!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

As a long time maker and lover of nature, I often find myself making art and nature crafts from treasures I find in the wild. The flotsam and jetsam of my backyard are some of most inspiring mediums to me. Pieces of bark, dried leaves, fresh mosh, stones, acorns, dried herbs, and more all call out to incorporate them into DIY and arts and crafts ideas.

Inspired by my own desire to create and companies, sites and individuals like Spiritual Kindling, Juniper Ridge, Margaret of Resurrection Fern, John Muir and so many others, I put together a list of nature-inspired DIY arts and crafts ideas that you can create to add your own brand of nature, design and spirituality to your space.

15 Ideas for Nature Crafts 

1. Painted Pebbles – Decorate your stone collection with a paint or a sharpie.
2. Kindling Wall Hanging – Turn kindling into a spiritual and decorative wall hanging.
3. Tabletop Biosphere – Make and tame your own mini biosphere for a taste of nature indoors.
4. Branch Candelabra – Decorate your next dinner party with some wild abandon.
5. Rainbow Painted Stick Wind Chimes – Create a visual and auditory homage to nature.
6. Painted Stick Love – Turn sticks into a lovely work of art to show that love is all that matters.
7. Painted Stick Mobile – Let your creativity drive you to create a painted stick mobile.
8. Stick Stars – Turn brush into celestial art to decorate your own starry night.
9. Branch and Textile Mobile – Use a branch, yarn and other textiles that speak to you into a hanging mobile.
10. Evergreen Paintbrushes – What a clever idea–use evergreen cuttings as paintbrushes for your next painting project.
11. Branch Weaving – Branches can be used as a loom to create colorful textiles.
12. Branch Wall Art/Room Divider – A practical and decorative natural touch.
13. Flower Petal Sketches – Use flower petals in your next sketches for the ultimate in creativity.
14. Hanging Dried Flower Art – Create a hanging “garden” with dried flowers.
15. Garden Mandalas – Turn leaves, flowers and other natural bits into decorative mandalas.

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Dried flowers image via Shutterstock

The post 15 Ideas for Spiritual Kindling and Other Nature Crafts appeared first on EcoSalon.

Use nature to decorate your space with these gorgeous DIY projects.

Spring is an amazing time of year to combine two of my favorite things–nature and DIY.  My husband and I like to take walks at the local nature reserve near our home. We also like to garden and spend time out in our yard. I always pick up little items from my time in the yard and at the park–it’s a habit from childhood. I do it almost absentmindedly. When I come inside from being out in nature, I discover I’ve got quite a collection of natural souvenirs. These souvenirs might include a mini-pinecone, a gingko leaf and a bit of fern leaf in my pockets. Since I’m also a pretty crafty person, I often try to come up with clever DIY projects for which I can use these natural treasures to decorate my home.

There is something about nature that inspires my creative side and using natural objects as a medium in my DIY projects seems like a no-brainer for me. From the simple to the more complex, using some of my natural discoveries in DIY projects to decorate my home is a way to create a warm and inviting space and document some of my favorite outdoor adventures. You can get in on the fun too with these DIY projects. Use them as inspiration or follow the tutorials instruction by instruction to bring nature into your home.

From the backyard to your more far flung nature adventures, collect, preserve and incorporate nature into your home decor.

25 Made-from-Nature DIY Projects for Your Home

1. Indoor Succulent Gardens
2. Branch Candle Holders
3. Crochet Covered Stones
4. Painted Stick Wall Art
5. Dried Flower Garland
6. Tabletop Biosphere
7. DIY Log Slice with Vase
8. Tree Stump End Table
9. Leaf Painted Wall Art
10. 6 Ways to Decorate with Rocks
11. Lighted Branches Wall Art
12. Painted Fall Leaves
13. Tree Branch Curtain Rod
14. Pinecone Flowers
15. Branch Weaving
16. Moss Terrarium
17. Bark Owls
18. Natural Branch Coasters
19. DIY Wood Texture Stamps
20. Seashell Beeswax Candles
21. DIY Veggie Stamps
22. DIY Dreamcatcher
23. Twig Coat Rack
24. Living Moss Coffee Table Idea
25. Spring Nature Frame

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Image: CountryChapel

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