Projects to Pamper Yourself

Gather your Friends: Invite your friends over for a fun afternoon making projects inspired by a day at the spa. The Luxurious Eye Pillow requires some light sewing, but if you’re not handy with a needle and thread, the Luscious Lip Balm and Soothing Bath Oil should be right up your alley. Use this handy Shopping List for all your project supply needs.

Project 1: Luxurious Lavender and Chamomile Eye Pillow
The pillow’s soft fabric soothes your skin, the lavender helps you relax and the chamomile can ease you into a peaceful slumber.

• Step 1: Shop for Supplies: For a luxurious pillow, opt for soft, cool fabric like silk or satin. You won’t need much; about a half a yard can make six or seven pillows.
  
  Lavender and chamomile essential oils are used to help reduce stress, aid relaxation and relieve insomnia. You can find them at most health food stores. You’ll only need a couple drops, so a small bottle of each scent should be enough for several pillows.
• Step 2: Start Mixing: In a small bowl, combine 4 drops lavender and 4 drops chamomile essential oil with 2/3 cup rice, which will give your pillow a little weight. Set the mixture aside and let the oils soak into the rice while you start your next step.
• Step 3: Simple Sewing: Place two 4x7 inch fabric rectangles on top of one another, so that the right sides are facing each other and the fabric looks inside out. Secure with pins placed about 1/4 inch from the edge. With a needle and thread, sew around the edges, removing the pins as you go and leaving a two-inch opening on one side. This project is easy to do by hand, but you can use a sewing machine if you have one.
• Step 4: Fill and Finish: Turn the fabric right side out. Using a funnel, carefully pour your rice and oil mixture into the two-inch hole. Fold the edges of the opening inward and sew them shut. You can use your pillow to help you get a relaxing spa feeling without leaving your home.

Project 2: Luscious Lip Balm
This moisturizing lip balm is fun to use and easy to make. The beeswax helps protect your lips while the essential oils let you customize your scent.

• Step 1: Shop for Materials: Gather your lip balm supplies. Essential oils give your balm its fragrance. Try lavender for a soothing aroma or peppermint for an uplifting one. Any scent will work, so you can choose your favorite!
  
  You’ll want to pick up almond oil, to dilute the concentrated essential oil and honey, which has antibacterial properties that can help soothe chapped lips. You’ll also need beeswax, to give your balm its consistency and help seal in moisture. You can easily find it at your local craft store, which is also a good place to look for small, lidded containers to hold your finished product.
• Step 2: Melt and Mix: Combine 1-ounce beeswax with 1/2 cup almond oil in a glass-measuring cup. You may want to use an old or inexpensive cup, as the wax and oil can be hard to clean out. Place the cup in a pan half-filled with water and heat on your stovetop until the wax is melted. You can also melt the mixture in a slow cooker, but be sure to use a liner to protect the inside.
• Step 3: Stir and Pour: When the wax is liquid, remove it from the heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon honey and 3-5 drops essential oils. Pour the balm into your containers and it will harden as it cools. If it appears to be getting too hard, add a bit more almond or essential oil to loosen the mixture.

This same easy recipe can also be used to make solid perfume. Just add ten to fifteen more drops of essential oil to strengthen the scent. To use your new fragrance, simply dab a little on your finger and apply to pulse points, such as your neck or the inside of your wrists.

Project 3: Calming Bath Oil
For a soothing soak, add 1-2 teaspoons of this scented oil to your bath water. The hot water helps release the relaxing aromas while the almond oil can nourish dry skin.

• Step 1: Gather your Materials: This project uses many of the same supplies as the Luscious Lip Balm, so it’s easy to make them both together.
• Step 2: Quick Mix: For a relaxing blend, combine 1/2 cup almond oil with 12 drops lavender, 10 drops chamomile and 6 drops vanilla essential oils. Pour the mix into bottles and shake well.

These scent mixes are just the starting point. Try experimenting with different essential oils to create your own unique fragrance. Have fun with your friends and create bath oils, lip balms and eye pillows with your favorite aromas. You can use them to pamper yourself or give as homemade gifts!

Clean Up:
Get rid of pesky spilt rice from your Lavender and Vanilla Eye Pillow with Swiffer ^® SweeperVac.