Christmas

If you’re looking for a DIY gift that a neighbor or friend will appreciate this holiday season, try making a DIY holiday simmer pot gift jar!

Around the holidays, my neighbors usually stop by for a quick visit, and they always bring a thoughtful gift. During a time of year when people are so busy, it feels extra special to know that they’ve thought of me and my family!

Because of that, I also try to have a small gift to give the neighbors and friends we are so grateful to have.

This year, I decided to try a gift that would fill their homes with the scents of the season: a holiday simmer pot or stovetop potpourri jar!

By drying common items from the grocery store in the oven and assembling them into pretty packages, I created lovely gifts that I think they’ll appreciate.

You can make these Christmas simmer pot gifts even if you don’t have time to dry the ingredients! You can make a fresh simmer pot gift or stovetop potpourri by making minor substitutions with fresh ingredients, as noted in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Also, if you’d like to attach a gift tag with instructions for using the jar’s contents, you can print the gift tags I made. They are linked in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

A couple of things to note: Dollar Tree has jars that are perfect for packaging up your simmer pot contents! And at just $1.50 per jar, they’re very budget-friendly.

Another thing to note is that you can substitute ingredients and quantities to work with what you have on hand (or can easily acquire).

DIY Holiday Simmer Pot Gift

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

If you're looking for a thoughtful and unique Christmas gift for a neighbor, friend, or hostess, you'll love this DIY holiday simmer pot recipe! Make it with dried or fresh ingredients and enjoy the aromas of citrus and spices.

No Ratings

Print

Materials

Gifting Supplies

• Glass Jars with Lid (4)
• Ribbon
• Printable Gift Tag and Simmer Pot Instructions

Simmer Pot Ingredients

• Naval Oranges (4)
• Fresh Rosemary (at least 8 sprigs)
• Cinnamon Sticks (2, 1 oz. containers)
• Dried Cranberries (12 oz.)
• Whole Cloves (4 tsp.)
• Allspice (4 tsp.)
• Nutmeg (optional) (4 tsp.)

Tools

• Scissors
• Knife
• Oven
• Baking Sheets (2)
• Parchment Paper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is warming, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut four naval oranges into slices that measure approximately 1/4" thick. Lay them onto the parchment paper-covered baking sheet.
3. Put the oranges in the oven for one hour. After one hour is up, flip each orange slice over, and let them bake for another hour. Repeat this process at least one more time. (Oranges should be in the oven for at least three hours.). Once the oranges are removed and have cooled, touch them to see if they have retained any moisture. If they have, let them sit out for at least 24 hours so that they can finish drying.
4. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper and place the rosemary sprigs onto it. Bake the rosemary at the lowest temperature possible for 45 minutes. Check to see if the rosemary has dried. If not, put it back into the oven to cook for an additional 15 minutes. Repeat this process until the rosemary is dry.
5. Once the oranges and rosemary are cool and dry, you can assemble the simmer pot gifts. Begin by pouring the dry spices into the bottom of the jar (Allspice, Whole Cloves, and Nutmeg and Star Anise (if using)). Then, pour in 1 - 1.5 cups of dried cranberries. Place four dried orange slices into the jar, and then add in four cinnamon sticks. Lastly, put the dried rosemary into the side of the jar, taking care not to smash it or break off its leaves.
6. Replace the lid on the jar, and tie a festive ribbon around the lid to add a pretty holiday touch. If desired, print these Holiday Simmer Pot Gift Tags and attach one to the jar, signing your name on the back. This will help the recipient know how to use the gift.

Notes

If you don't have time to dry the oranges and rosemary, it's no problem! Substitute small mandarin oranges for the naval oranges, and enclose one full mandarin orange in place of the four orange slices. Also, use fresh rosemary sprigs and fresh cranberries in place of dried. Make sure to gift this version of the Christmas simmer pot right away, with instructions that it should be used within three days of receipt.

I hope you like this DIY gift idea. Please let me know in the comments if you do, and also if you have any questions!

If you’re looking for a keepsake or a personalized gift to make this holiday, look no further because I’ve got you! Wait until you see how easy it is to make a DIY custom snow globe of your house (or anybody else’s house)!

This waterless snow globe idea is just PERFECT as a neighbor gift, realtor closing gift, for someone who moved to or from a home this year, and more!

It doesn’t take a lot of skill or time to make, and you’re sure to show the person to whom you give it that you care!

DIY House Snow Globe Supplies

Here are the supplies I used to make the custom house snow globe as shown in this post. Feel free to supplement supplies to make this project your own!

Also, some of these supplies can be purchased at Dollar Tree, but they’re out of stock online at the time of publication, so I’ve linked alternates. Some of these are affiliate links; you can learn more in my disclosure policy.

• Waterless snow globe
• Mini bottle brush Christmas trees
• Faux snow
• Snowflake stickers
• Ribbon
• Photo of house (I printed on an inkjet printer, sized at 3″ x 3″)
• Cardstock
• Glue stick
• Clear multi-surface glue

How to Make a Custom House Snow Globe

I’m showing you how to make a snow globe of your house, but you could really do this with any photo! Think special vacation spot, a family photo, your cherished pet, and more.

Step One: Photograph the House

If you don’t have a photo of the house handy, go take a picture or be a creeper and look up the address on Google. You’ll either find listing photos of the house from the last time it was up for sale, or you’ll find a street view image of the house on Google Maps.

Then, size the image to print on your home printer (I printed at 3″ x 3″), or upload the image and send it to a local drugstore like Walgreens to print.

If you print at home, mount the picture on cardstock so that it has some stability. I used a regular glue stick to attach the photo to the cardstock.

If you printed the image on photo paper, it will be sturdy enough to skip this.

Step Two: Cut Out the House

Next, cut along the outline of the house image, taking care to leave about a 1/4″ strip at the base of the house.

Then, cut notches on both sides of the base strip in order to create a lip piece or flap at the bottom of the house.

Fold that flap backwards with a sharp crease.

Step Three: Fill the Snow Globe

Now, put clear multi-surface glue along the bottom of that flap, and glue the house picture onto the inner lid of the snow globe. (Note: if your snow globe only has one lid and not an inner seal, that is fine, too!)

Glue some mini bottle brush Christmas trees in places that won’t obscure the view of the house picture, and then put glue all over the snow globe base and sprinkle faux snow all over that.

For the actual globe part of the snow globe, press snowflake stickers with clear backings all over the inside of the globe. If you have a Cricut, you could cut snowflakes on vinyl and use those instead!

Step Four: Attach and Adorn the Lid

Finally, screw the lid onto the snow globe and tie ribbon around it for a festive touch.

You’ve now turned your house (or someone else’s house) into a snow globe! How fun is that?!?

I’d love to hear what you think of this project in the comments below! And if you enjoyed this idea, please share it on Pinterest!

Transform a waterless snow globe into a beautiful DIY snow globe candle that’s perfect for your Christmas decor or to give as a DIY holiday gift!

Stop in at any craft store or Dollar Tree around this time of year, and you’ll find waterless snow globes. These are perfect for Christmas crafting!

You might be looking for ideas on what to make with these empty snow globes, and I’ve got an idea for you!

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

I was inspired by the CUTEST Anthropologie snow globe candle. I’ll call my snow globe candle the poor (wo)man’s version of Anthropologie’s. 🙂

DIY Snow Globe Candle Supplies

These are the supplies I used for this Christmas candle craft. You can substitute with anything that works for you!

• Craft snow globe
• Mini bottle brush Christmas trees
• Faux snow
• Mini wood snowman
• Small jar candle (I purchased mine at Aldi for $2.49)
• Wood letter
• Glitter paint
• Paint markers
• Glue: hot glue and multi-surface glue
• Holiday ribbon
• Optional: spray paint – I spray-painted my lids, but you probably don’t need to.

Now listen, if you don’t own some of these supplies already (like the spray paint, paint markers, etc.), it may make more sense to buy the candle from Anthropologie than to make your own!

But, if you own several of these supplies already and/or are making this project with a group, the economics work out much better!

How to Make a Snow Globe Jar Candle

Get all of your supplies ready to go, and decide if you want to spray paint the candle jar lid and the snow globe lid. If you do, now’s the time to do it, so they have plenty of time to dry.

If you have ribbon that’s thick enough to cover these lids, you could probably skip this step.

Paint the Wood Letter and Snowman

To make the unfinished wood letter look like the letter in the Anthropologie candle, I watered down some brown craft paint and applied it to the letter like stain.

Then I painted a strip of glitter paint on the diagonal at the top, and added silver polka dots with a paint marker on the rest of the letter.

I realized that the serif part of the “E” would not allow the snow globe to close around the lid, so I cut that off with a hand saw.

If you’re using another small wood embellishment (Anthropologie’s candle uses a house; I used a snowman), decorate those at this time. I used paint markers to give the snowman a black hat and carrot nose, and a ribbon to give him a scarf.

Glue the Lids Together

Next, using a combination of hot glue and multi-surface glue, glue the flat part of the snow globe lid to the flat part of the candle lid.

The reason I used two glues is that the multi-surface glue will provide a long-lasting hold, whereas the hot glue will keep the two lids together in the short term so you can work on the project faster (without waiting for the multi-surface glue to dry).

Add the Embellishments

Now, fasten the embellishments to the snow globe lid. I started with the wood letter and glued that in with the multi-surface / hot glue combo.

Then I added two mini bottle brush Christmas trees, the tiny wood snowman, and faux snow all around the base.

Once those were set in place, I screwed the globe part onto the base or lid.

Watch this video for a waterless snow globe gifting idea!

Fasten Ribbon to the Lids

To help hide the candle jar lid and snow globe lid, glue festive ribbon around them. Make sure the ribbon you choose doesn’t make it so that you can’t unscrew the candle jar lid!

And that’s all it takes to make your own Christmas snow globe candle inspired by Anthropologie!

Happy holidays and happy crafting!

If you want to make gorgeous DIY Christmas ornaments, you must make some DIY marbled nail polish ornaments!

Nail polish marbling has been floating around Pinterest for a long time now, and it’s one of those things that I’ve always wanted to try.  But it kept getting pushed down the list because I couldn’t find just the right thing to marble.  (Or really because I just kept forgetting to do it.)  

But then I found some plain ceramic ornaments and I finally had a reason to give the old nail polish marbling technique a try.  

Now I have some GORGEOUS nail polish ornaments adorning my tree, and I love them!    

I have to tell you that this project was SO fun, although a bit stinky.  I recommend doing it outdoors, if at all possible, but at the very least in a well-ventilated space. Otherwise, you’re going to feel like you were trapped in a nail salon – minus the pretty nails.

DIY Nail Polish Ornaments Supplies

With that caveat, here’s what you need to nail polish marble your own ornaments!  Please note that this post contains affiliate links – you can read my full disclosure policy.

• Nail polish – NOT quick dry!
• Blank ceramic ornaments
• Popsicle sticks (or other stirring tool that can be thrown away)
• Pretty ribbon
• Disposable gloves
• Plastic soaking tub or container
• Rubbing alcohol
• Paper towels
• Water

How to Make DIY Nail Polish Ornaments

First up, wipe off the entire ceramic or porcelain ornament with rubbing alcohol.  This will ensure that it doesn’t have anything on it that will prevent the nail polish from sticking.

Next, fill a plastic container with water.  (And hey, you might want to also watch my “how to do nail polish marbling” video tutorial!)

Holding the nail polish close to the surface of the water, gently pour it onto the water.  

TIP: do not pour the nail polish from too high above the water, as it will hit the water too hard and sink to the bottom of the plastic container. You want it to stay on the surface.

Next, use the popsicle stick to gently stir the colors together to create a marbled effect.  

Quickly place the clean ornament onto or into the nail polish.  

Remove the ornament from the plastic container and try to shake off the water.

Once it’s had a couple of minutes to dry, use a paper towel to gently blot off the excess water droplets. BE CAREFUL because the polish will not be totally dry yet, and you don’t want to ruin your beautiful marbling!  

Hang the ornament to dry somewhere.

Cut off the ribbon that came with the ornament and replace it with a pretty ribbon or ornament cording that matches the colors used in the nail polish marbling.

TIP: For my snowflake, I used two colors.  My kids used three colors – including a really bold blue – and I think theirs look better.  I would recommend three colors in the same family, as I think that’s what works best!  

ANOTHER TIP: If you plan to give these as a gift, give yourself a couple of days’ lead time. They need to air out a bit before gifting.  

These nail polish ornaments are really pretty though. I think the best part about them is that each one is totally unique!

This project would also be a great way to use up some of that old polish in your stash!