Stocking Stuffers

When my kids were small, I was the Stocking Stuffer Queen! I loved doing up the stockings every year. After three of my kids moved out on their own, I talked about stopping stockings, to a wild chorus of nays! Apparently they were the best part of Christmas. (?)... (?)... Huh?

However, now that the kids are having kids...well, I still like to give each one a few little things--except the stockings have turned into little gift bags with goodies. It's cheaper, and they still feel like they're not missing out TOO much.

This year I decided to make a little thing to add to the boys' gift bags. I took some normal guitar picks and put some pictures on them of either their wives, or some other love of theirs. Like these:

 GO Canucks!!...Ahem....

Unfortunately, it was really hard to get good pictures of these, but they were fun to make!   I used Mod Podge, and.....

 

.....Glossy Accents for mine...but I think the Mod Podge left a bit of a veil on them, so I'm just going to use Glossy Accents for the next few I make--

 -- although I LOVE Mod Podge for so many other applications!

I also made some Candy soap and Duck soap (Chwistmas Quackers) this year.

No, not for the boys.

Not for their wives either, but these will be for the grandkids!

These are quick and easy to make! Anyone...seriously ANYONE can do it! And...it's cheap too!

All you need for the Candy Soap is:
a microwave, glycerine soap chunks, color, scent, measuring cup, alcohol in a small spray container and round molds.

Soap Queen has a tutorial for these, so I'll just include it below so you can make your own. Hey, you don't even have to do it for Christmas. These will make great anytime gifts for the kiddies! Plus they will look forward to bath time!

The Chwistmas Quackers are super easy too! This one is my original idea and particularly good for those difficult bathers.

You'll need everything listed above, but a rectangular mold instead of a round one. Then you just buy some rubber duckies. I got mine at Michael's, but you can get them in lots of places.

Microwave your glycerine soap until liquid. (Usually about 20 seconds, and then 10 seconds at a time until it's ready)

Add scent and color. (skin safe only)

Pour into the mold about 1/2 or 2/3 of the way (spritz with alcohol) and let it harden a few minutes until a thin layer forms on the soap.

Reheat glycerine. (spritz with alcohol)

Then (spritz duck and soap layer with alcohol) sit the duck on top and pour the rest of the soap around it (spritz with alcohol).

The secret is to spritz the glycerine liberally with the alcohol before and after it's poured. This gets rid of air bubbles and allows the embed to stick in the soap.

You may have to hold the duck in place for a minute to make sure it sits up and in the middle of the soap.

Wrap the glycerine if you're not using it right away. That's it! You're done!

I told you it was easy!!

Okay, so here is the video from Soap Queen for the Candy Soaps!




I'll make soapers out of all of you yet! Hehehe...

Well, I'm done! Hope you all have the Merriest Christmas ever! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy days to check in and see what I'm up to!

I appreciate you all so much, and I love to hear from you!!

Merry Christmas!

Carmen