This Christmas why not get the children involved in creating unique gifts for family members and friends. There are a number of gifts that children can make to send to a favorite aunt, close friend, grandma, and even grandpa! Today we we be consentrating on using Lavender Essential Oil in various gifts for the holidays.

Why use lavender?

Lavender has a wonderful calming and relaxing property. In aromatherapy it is used to help calm and nurture. It is also very versatile and has wonderful skin care properties. Valuable for most skin conditions since it pormotes growth of new cells and exerts a balancing action on sebum - the skin's natural oil. (An overproduction of sebum can cause acne and blackheads). It has a pronounced healing effect on burns and sunburn and is helpful in cases of acne, eczema and psoriasis. It is said to also heal abscesses, boils and carbuncles as well as minimize fungal growths, swellings, scarring and gangrenous wounds. It is widely used to help treat skin abrasions, cuts and scrapes. It is also very useful as an anti-dandruff product.

Pick out some pleasant material. Most local fabric stores have a discount table where you can purchase material for $1.00/yard. Cut out 4" x 4" squares 2 for each unit. Buy some fresh lavender from your local farmers market as well as pure Essential Oil of lavender. Take your material and sew either by hand or machine three sides of the squares (pattern facing inward) leaving one side open. Measure 1/4 cup of lavender flowers and 1/4 teaspoon + of Essential oil. Turn square inside out so pattern is now facing outward. Place measure lavender/EO inside bag, and hand sew shut. Make 3 - 4 sachets. Tie a ribbon around the set of 3 -4 sachets, add a hand made gift card made from cardstock with a tad bit of lavender to scent.

Use in dryer just like DRyer sheet. Works well for 20 loads. To refresh Lavender scent place 3 - 4 drops of Lavender E.O. on bag.

Add 1/4 cup of water and 1 - 2 oz. of lavender extract to to a spray bottle. Mix gently. Spray on pillows before bedtime, spray in rooms to refresh the air, and in cars as a deoderizer. If scent is too strong, you can always dillute it with more water. If too weak, add a couple of more drops of Lavender extract. Use a print program to make a label for your spray bottle. Get creative, add a picture of lavender, family picture, flowers, unique fonts, etc... This is your project!

This is a simple project for children of all ages. Get a funnel, some mesh bags from the craft store(small), and some fresh or dried lavender.(tip, if you can't smell the lavender or it has turned color it is not fresh better off buying somewhere else) While you hold the bag have another child hold the funnel, and still another child pour the lavender into the mesh bag. Fill to 1/2 full, you may add lavender E.O. but if the lavender is fresh you won't need it. Tie the top of the mesh bag, you have a sachet. These can be used in bathrooms, cars, closets, and drawers. Tip: you may decorate the bag with silk flowers, beads, fabric paints, etc...

Hope I have given you a few great ideas for the holidays. I love lavender, it is one of my favorite colors and scents. I am sure once you start to smell it in your home, office, and car, you will fall in love with it too.

Enjoy!

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