Homemade Vanilla Extract Gifts

Homemade Vanilla Extract Gifts Make a Thoughtful and delicious DIY Christmas PRESENT

I’ve always wanted to make my own homemade vanilla extract. I finally made my first batch early this spring. My goal was to make a large batch to keep some for myself, and to share with others for gifts at Christmas.

Vanilla extract is a thoughtful, DIY gift for nearly any recipient: friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, teachers, or holiday hostesses. After all, nearly everyone keeps vanilla extract in their pantry, right?

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12 DIY Christmas Gifts That Will Actually Get Used

Looking for thoughtful Christmas gifts that won’t break the bank, but will actually be appreciated and used? These homemade gifts are perfect for hostess gifts, neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, or coworker gifts. Just the right amount of personal and practical, these DIY Christmas gifts will actually get used.

Treasure ornaments are a one-of-a-kind tree decoration made by filling empty glass ornaments with bottle-brush trees, jingle bells, sprigs of pine branches, colorful feathers, or any other pretty fillers you have on hand,clear treasure ornaments filled with colorful feathers

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Top 20 Best DIY Mother’s Day Gifts

Thoughtful, homemade Mother’s Day gifts on a budget

I know I can’t be the only one who wracks my brain for Mother’s Day gifts every. single. year. Not only do the moms in my life all live out of state from us, but we are on a super tight budget! Today, I’m sharing some of the best ideas I’ve found for the top 20 best DIY Mother’s Day gifts on a budget.

  1. Homemade Watercolor Tea Towel – It doesn’t get any easier than this watercolor technique! Perfect for even the youngest kids to help out with. Even better, it makes such a pretty and practical gift!Homemade Mother's Day gift ideas: DIY watercolor tea towels
  2. Bathtub Tray  – I love this idea for a super simple DIY lucite bathtub tray! Totally  waterproof,  and  matches  any  bathroom  decor!Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget.
  3. Lavender Bath Soak – Take the Bathtub Tray idea up a notch by adding a relaxing Lavender Bath Soak and presenting it in a pretty jar. Get the recipe here. Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - Lavender Bath Soak
  4. Cement Succulent Flower Pots – I’m still obsessed with these cement flower pots, and they are super easy to make! Cement doesn’t have to intimidating at all – check out this easy tutorial for creating your own!
    Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - cement flower pots
  5. Garden Stone – We love to make handprint garden stones as precious markers of how the kids have grown over the years!
  6. Give her a hand – Okay, I really hope allll the husbands and kids out there are giving Mom a hand on Mother’s Day, but if you can’t be there to help, I love this simple idea for making life a little easier on Mom. Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - give mom a hand with this cute dinnerware gift set.
  7. Pamper Her with this DIY Leather Pouch – This no-sew leather pouch is easy to make and totally stylish and practical! Drop in a few of your favorite pampering gifts – like yummy hand lotion, or my favorite EVER lip balm for super dry lips (if you can get past the super crazy name!).Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - no-sew leather pouch
  8. Handwritten Heirloom Recipe Tea Towel – I absolutely love the idea of taking a handwritten heirloom recipe and putting it on a tea towel. Totally sentimental and useful. Check out how to make one here. Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - DIY heirloom recipe tea towels.
  9. Book Lover’s Gift Set – If she loves to read, give her a mini vacation basket, complete with a good book, chocolates, and a DIY leather bookmark. If you don’t sew – no worries! Just use a super strong, flexible all-purpose glue. Budget tip: upcycle an old purse from the thrift store to course your leather!Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - no-sew leather bookmark.
  10. Garden Gift Basket – This is attractive all on it’s own for a flower container, but I love this gift basket idea including custom garden markers and garden tools.
    Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - Garden Gift Basket with DIY garden markers.
  11. Potted Picking Garden Flowers – I’ve been trying to grow my own flower picking garden, so lately I’ve been loving receiving peonies, hydrangeas, lilacs and more for Mother’s Day! Truly the gift that keeps on giving.Building an 18-year Mother's Day Flower Garden | Five Marigolds #GrowBeautifully #Monrovia Plants #sponsored
  12. Brunch  – If you’re lucky enough to be with your mom for Mother’s Day, make her a special brunch (disclaimer: if you’re a mom yourself…schedule this for a day other than Mother’s Day so you can sleep in and get pampered by your kids!). I’m a huge fan of these Ham and Cheese brunch squares. Or, for something extra simple and a lot lighter, try these overnight Peaches ‘N Cream oats.Ham and Cheese Brunch Bake Recipe
  13. Sunshine in a Basket – Okay, there just might be a floral theme on this list, but I’m obsessed with this cheerful gift basket idea. This collection of candles, chamomile, citrus, herbs, and a charming potted cactus  would brighten anyone’s day. Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget. - citrus, chamomile and cactus gift basket.
  14. Framed photo or Photo Book – I mean, what mom wouldn’t love a photo of her kids or grandkids? The Print Your Photos Challenge - how I printed my entire 365 photo a day project with Blurb. | Five Marigolds #blurbbooks #ad
  15. Leaf Print Fabric – Am I overdoing it on the tea towel love in this list? Didn’t think so! ???? They are such a great idea because they are inexpensive, thoughtful, and practical! I love this idea for leaf printing on fabric for more charming tea towels. Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - leaf print hand towels.
  16. Send Flowers – I’ve often sent flowers, simply because it can be hard to give a special Mother’s Day gift from out of state. It’s not always frugal, but flowers are always a good idea!  Click here to  get  20%  off  from  FTD.Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget.
  17. Something Sweet – My mom and I both have a serious sweet tooth, so I love this cool idea for saying it with ice cream! Whip up a batch of your favorite homemade ice cream (like creamy lemon vanilla or cookie dough frozen yogurt), add a few toppings, and top it with this cool gift tag. Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget - Mom is Cool Ice Cream Gift Tags
  18. Handwritten Card – Trust me – you can’t go wrong with a caring, handwritten card. Let Mom and Grandma know just how much you love her, and list every. single. reason. why.
  19. Digital Frame – Okay, so this one isn’t truly DIY…or frugal, but I’m obsessed with this digital frame because multiple family members can update it in real time, right from their phones! And, it’s so stylish and sleek compared to the digital frames of yesterday.Top 20 best DIY Mother's Day gifts on a budget.
  20. Last Minute Gift – If all else fails and you’ve totally blown it this Mother’s Day…well, Mom doesn’t have to know. Give her a call (or even better, show up in person), tell her how much you love her and bring a card with a gift card to buy whatever she wants. Amazon gift cards are always a good idea! Buy and print (or e-mail) one in minutes.

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Christmas Morning Emergency Kit

Remove the stress of Christmas morning and keep it all about the fun and season with these tools in your emergency Christmas Kit. Santa approved! 

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PoweringtheHolidays #CollectiveBias

You know that feeling you get on December 25. You are often woken up in the early morning with your excited kids wanting to open all the gifts under the trees. It’s one day that you are happy to be exhausted, right? 

But then you have that “toy emergency”. This toy needs batteries, that toy has packaging that would require 17 steps to remove. And to avoid the possible meltdown that can come with these issues, have your Christmas emergency kit ready to go!

Christmas Morning Emergency Kit | Five Marigolds

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The Best Manly Gifts for Father’s Day

Father’s Day gift guide

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com. All opinions are my own.

Father’s Day has got to be one of the hardest holidays to shop for. You want to show your love for all that Dad does, but they can be down right  impossible to shop for. All of the Dads in my life, from my own husband to my dad and fathers-in-law, are all manly men who need appropriately manly gifts. Hipster gifts need not apply. Therefore, this year I bring you: the Father’s Day Gift Guide for the Manly Man.

The Best Manly Gifts for Father's Day

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Beer Cheese Burgers with Onion Rings

Give him Father’s Day, His Way by serving up beer cheese burgers with onion rings

Everyone knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and that is especially true for for dads. This Father’s Day, skip the tie and give him grown-ups gift he can really appreciate.

Dads can be so hard to shop for, and all the dads in my life proclaim they “have everything they need.” So, this year year my husband is getting a DIY Man Crate designed to help create the recipe I whipped up just for him: Beer Cheese Burgers with a side of Cheese Fries.Beer Cheese Burgers with Onion Rings | Five Marigolds

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Easy DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages

May is the month we celebrate moms. If you’re one of the many people who haven’t landed the perfect gift for the women in your life this Mother’s Day – don’t panic! I’ve pulled together three thoughtful and inexpensive homemade mother’s day gift ideas for moms and grandmas that even the biggest procrastinator can pull off at the last minute!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Grandma & Mom

Moms can attest: there’s nothing better than receiving a truly thoughtful gift that can be sentimental, pretty, AND useful.

We wives and moms usually handle gift coordination for the family birthdays and holidays, so it’s nice to be on the receiving end for a change!

These ideas are simple enough that kids of all ages can make them 100% on their own. Armed with just a few inexpensive supplies, we put our ideas to the test.

The kids went to work creating their masterpieces using just crayons and paper…

Homemade Mother's Day gift ideas: DIY watercolor tea towels

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DIY Homemade Hostess Gift Ideas That Will Get You Invited Back

10 Genius Gift Ideas You’ll Want to Copy

Don’t go to your next holiday party empty handed! Show your hostess how much you appreciate her year-round with a thoughtful, but inexpensive, DIY gift.

I know how hard it is to look for the perfect gift that won’t put a hole in your wallet. This gift guide will solve that problem for you. These gift ideas are so easy to put together, and I’m a hundred percent sure that the  host or hostess will enjoy (and actually use) them!

Here’s a compiled list of big and small hostess gift ideas you can bring with you to your next party. No matter what the occasion is, these are sure to impress.

Click the images for more information on how to pull together these DIY hostess gifts that will get you invited back for more gatherings.

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10 Ways to Step Up Your Wine Gift Giving Game

DIY Ideas For Gift Wrapping Wine

DIY Gifting wine for the holidays? You’ll love these DIY ideas for stepping up your gift wrap game. A big thanks to GiftsForYouNow for sponsoring this post. 

Wine. There’s a reason it’s a universal holiday gift. It can be inexpensive or pricey; red, white or sparkling. It works as a casual hostess gift, a super last-minute gift, or a more lavish gift for your bestie.

No matter who you’re giving to or what kind of wine, don’t skimp on presentation! Check out these DIY ideas for gift wrapping wine for the holidays.

  1. Go Glam – This is my new favorite way to gift wine. Using a scrap of craft fur and an old brooch, I created a little shrug for my “chilled” bottle of wine. I’m always finding inexpensive brooches like this at the thrift store, and they are perfect for putting the finishing touches on any gift wrap.
    Free Wine Labels for Moms + 10 DIY ideas for gift wrapping wine  Continue reading

The Awkward Mom Guide to Holiday Gifting

 The Art of the Gift Closet + Wrapping Like a Pro

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigLotsHoliday #CollectiveBias 

‘Tis the season for awkward social encounters…lots of them. In my world, a casual meet up with a friend or acquaintance can turn into a days-long internal debate about whether to bring a gift.  What if they bring one? What if I bring one, but they don’t?  In the past, you could just write me off as a hot mess, socially impaired mom during the whole month of December. However, this year I’m prepared. I got this.

My secret? The gift closet.

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DIY Cookie Decorating Kit

If you’re looking to sharpen your baking skills and piping bag prowess or if you’re currently trialing dessert decorating, you may want to try out this DIY cookie decorating kit!

Need a gift for kids who love to frost and decorate? Or how about a parent or grandparent who wants a special activity to do with their kids or grandkids? This cookie decorating kit is the perfect gift to help them create something sprinkled with fun this holiday season. My girls and I recently made one for some very special little neighbors as part of our Random Acts of Kindness challenge this month.

We have been blessed with the most incredible neighbors. Our next-door neighbors, in particular, have helped make our new(ish) house feel more like home.

This cookie decorating kit DIY has everything you need for hours of cookie embellishing and madness. This DIY cookie kit makes no mess at all! Little kids can join any time they want without the hassle of cleaning up after.

As soon as you unbox this holiday cookie decorating kit, you can start furnishing your cookies with various icing colors, designs, and toppings! Get innovative with your family using this cookie decorating kit.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy and disclosures.

The kids are always running back and forth between backyards to play, and living near them has meant hundreds of little acts of caring and kindness that mean the world to us.

Our one of a kind cookie kit is perfect for all occasions. From an indoor activity idea because the weather is gloomy outside, a gift for loved ones and friends during Valentine’s day, a special homebaked dessert for a family member’s birthday party, to a simple holiday party at home.

This cookie kit has got you covered! If you ever find yourself muddled in the chaos of a holiday or special occasion, decorating homemade treats for a cookie swap will give you plenty of satisfaction.

Occasionally, embellishing each and every individual cookie may take some time but thanks to the DIY cookie-making kit, your cookies will not only pass but they’ll end up unvanquished at the end of the day!

Great family gift idea: DIY cookie decorating kit. Include sugar cookies or gingerbread, frosting, and sprinkles. #MerryAndBright #ad

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Vintage Dollhouse Remodel Part IV: Girl Room

Vintage Dollhouse Makeover series:

Part I Vintage Dollhouse, Part II Exterior, Part III Boy’s RoomPart IV Girl’s RoomPart V Laundry / BathroomPart VI Living Room, Part VII Kitchen, Part VIII Play Room + Final Reveal

I’m so excited to share my vintage dollhouse girl room remodel with you! It has been such a vicariously fun exercise to decorate an entire girl’s room for less than $10.

When I scoured the internet for inspiration, I was drawn to the darling sets by Daisylane, Lundby and Hape. However, I was working with a minimal budget, so I set to work creating the look for less.

Vintage Dollhouse Remodel for less than $50 | www.fivemarigolds.com

 

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Vintage Dollhouse Makeover Part II: Exterior Facelift

Today I’m bringing you Part II of my vintage dollhouse makeover.

You can find the rest of the Vintage Dollhouse Makeover series here: Part I Vintage Dollhouse, Part II Exterior, Part III Boy’s RoomPart IV Girl’s RoomPart V Laundry / BathroomPart VI Living Room, Part VII Kitchen, Part VIII Play Room + Final Reveal

I think that you’re supposed to leave the exterior for the final “big reveal”, but I’m a rule breaker that way. That, and it happened to be the one part I could tackle while I waited for the interior furnishings to appear in the mail.

As I mentioned in my introductory post, I put myself on a budget for this project, so I needed to DIY it as much as possible, using supplies I already had on hand. Still, this portion of the makeover was the most costly, since all the paint used in the house is accounted for in this portion.

Vintage Dollhouse Makeover Part II Exterior | Five Marigolds

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Easy, Inexpensive Favor Bags

Paper Bag Party Favors | Five MarigoldsDress up a common paper lunch bag to be something extra special!  EClaire needed to take favor bags to school for her half birthday (summer birthday problems!). I had a few awkwardly shaped items so I needed a decent-sized bag, but I didn’t want to spend much.

As usual, I headed to the Dollar Tree fro some paper lunch bags and doilies. Then, I secured them with these tiny craft clothespins that you can get at Hobby Lobby or here on Amazon. I love how these turned out, and you can make 40 for just $6. Next time, I love the idea of trying these for birthday party favors with colorful doilies and clothespins.

These would be great for Valentines, Birthday parties or even for quick and easy gift wrap for small gifts.

Paper Bag Party Favors | Five Marigolds  Paper Bag Party Favors | Five Marigolds Paper Bag Party Favors | Five Marigolds


Princess Party Favors: Candy Necklace Cards

Planning Eve’s birthday party each year is always so much fun coming up with new themes. And this year we’re doing a Princess Birthday Party. Making adorable decorations and favor bags has been a blast. Get all the details on how to make these Princess party favor candy necklace cards for your next party!

Princess Party Ideas

There are so many princess birthday party ideas flooding the internet. After wading through endless princess stuff, I decided to use more of a traditional princess theme rather than a Disney princess party. I knew I wanted some custom party favors, but I didn’t really find anything out there I loved for purchase, so I decided I needed to create my own.

First up was the princess crown Candy Button favors. I love the nostalgic feel of the old-fashion candy combined with ultimate princess accessory.

Next up, candy necklace cards. These cute candy cards were the hit of the party. The girls just couldn’t love them more. Who wouldn’t love candy jewelry, right?

Princess Candy Necklace Party Favors | Five Marigolds

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