Nice Gift, Mini Footprint: Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts and Decor

Deck the halls with eco-friendly decor this holiday season! Try using recycled and upcycled materials, and make your own for your festive decorations. Introducing festive wreaths, lip balms, potpourri, and homemade hot chocolate mix. What is your favorite? Share your creations with us on socials @floraforgood.

Festive Wreaths

Add a festive touch to any home by making a sustainable and eco-friendly DIY holiday wreath. Start by gathering a variety of evergreen branches and trimmings, berries, and accent pieces like pine cones, and dried fruit. Use gloves to avoid sticky sap and prickly evergreen needles before you start making a wreath form or creating your own using wire or a flexible branch. If you cannot forage your materials outside check a local garden nursery or craft store. Arrange the largest pieces first and secure them using a floral wire or glue to the wreath frame before adding the smaller seasonal embellishments. Pair the smaller materials with larger greenery stems. Add a ribbon or string for hanging, and your DIY holiday wreath is ready to give! It is a simple and customizable gift, and a great way to show your loved ones that you care.

Lip Balm

This simple 3 ingredient eco-friendly lip balm is a great gift for the holidays. Using natural ingredients like coconut oil and beeswax reduces waste and is kinder to the environment than using store-bought lip balms. Plus, your friends and family will love the added touch of a personalized, all-natural handmade gift.
You will need 5 tablespoons of organic coconut oil, 3 tablespoons of beeswax, and 10 (or more depending on preference) drops of your favorite essential oils. Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a glass cup (that is easy to pour into your containers) in the microwave. Stir every 30 seconds until it is melted. Add essential oils to the melted mixture. Pour the mixture into empty lip balm containers or shallow wide tins. Remember to work over a towel or old rags to prevent wax drip on your countertops.

Stovetop Potpourri

Create a cozy atmosphere for your loved ones. Stovetop potpourri gifts are a great way to add a touch of natural fragrance to a home while being eco-friendly. To layer the potpourri in your jars start with dried flowers (rose petals), and herbs. Add the spices (cinnamon sticks, whole allspice), and finish by adding the dried orange or lemon slices on the sides of the jar so that it is visible from the outside. Add a recipe tag to make simmering (not boiled) potpourri: place some or all of the potpourri in a pot of water and heat on low, if needed add more water as you go.

Homemade hot chocolate mix

Warm up with homemade hot chocolate mix, coasters, and recipes. Making your own hot chocolate mix is a fun and easy way to reduce waste and show someone that you care. To make your own hot chocolate mix, simply combine cocoa powder, sugar, powdered milk or non-dairy creamer, dry milk powder, and mini chocolate chips (optional) in a bowl. Mix well, and divide the mix into small airtight containers or bags. Add a recipe to use the hot chocolate mix (e.g. "Mix 3 tablespoons of the hot chocolate mix with 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup, ½ cup of ground cinnamon, ¼ cup milk, ¾ cup boiling water") on the gift tags attached on your containers. You just made a personalized and eco-friendly gift that can be enjoyed by anyone who loves hot chocolate.