Homemade Holidays: Spa baskets

Those easy-to-buy spa baskets at the local pampering store are cheap, but they don't offer much when you're trying to stay within a shopping budget. Plus, there's a lot of packaging involved - from the clear plastic that envelopes the entire basket and contents to the individual bottles and tons of shredded packaging inside.

Instead of running to the Body Shop or Bath & Body Works this holiday season, make a few spa baskets of your own. Create and bottle a few handmade items, and you can create a custom basket for your friend (or you!) in no time.

Here are some recipes to get you started:

For the bath:

• Colored bath salts
• English lavender bath
• Homemade bath bombs
• Homemade bath salts
• Milk and oatmeal bath bag
• Scented bath salts

Other items:

• Bathtub finger paints
• Christmas chunk soap
• Cocoa butter body lotion
• Green tea and lemongrass soap
• Homemade body lotion
• Rosewater and glycerin hand lotion
• Shaving soap
• Whipped body butter
• Lavender and mint soap
• Lavender and rose hand cream

Not enough? Check out Natural Beauty for All Seasons for other ideas.