The holidays can be a stressful time of year. We often find ourselves running from store to store trying to find the perfect gifts while staying within a budget. That's hard to do when you have several people on your list to shop for. Sometimes we forget that the most thoughtful gifts we can give often don't cost us much money at all.

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I'm Kelly Dixon from Smart School House and today I'm excited to share three easy and beautiful DIY stocking stuffer ideas with you. Handmade gifts are perfect for family, friends, teachers, co-workers and even neighbors. If you have little ones, get them involved too. These DIY stocking stuffer ideas are perfect for kids to make.

Homemade hot cocoa recipe for two

Hot cocoa for one is great. Hot cocoa for two is even better. Homemade hot cocoa is the best.

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Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons plain white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 handful mini marshmallows

Directions:

Find a small glass jar.

Layer the white sugar and the cocoa powder ingredients.

Top the jar with mini marshmallows (It's OK to use more than 1 handful if needed).

For serving: mix the sugar and cocoa powder together. Pour 2 cups of warm milk. Add half of the handmade cocoa mixture to each glass of warm milk and top with the mini marshmallows.

Old-fashioned cinnamon scented ornaments

This old-fashioned recipe for making ornaments will leave your entire house smelling like cinnamon. Wrap the ornaments up in clear cellophane and stick them in stockings.

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Materials Needed:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1/2 cup very warm water
  • 10 drops cinnamon fragrance oil (more or less depending on personal preference)
  • Dough roll
  • Cookie cutters
  • 1 straw
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Glitter
  • Mod Podge glue
  • Bakers twine

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Directions:

Using a stand mixer (with flat beater attachment) combine the flour, salt and warm water. Mix until fully combined.

Add in the fragrance oil.

Once fully combined, roll the dough out so it is about 1/4 inch thick (put a little flour on the dough roller and the surface to make it easier).

Cut out various shapes using holiday cookie cutters.

Using a straw, poke a hole at the top of each ornament for hanging.

Place the shapes on a cookie baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees F for 2.5 hours (or until they begin to turn golden).

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Decorate with acrylic paint.

When the paint is dry, brush on a layer of Mod Podge glue and sprinkle on the glitter.

When the Mod Podge is dry, tie a piece of bakers twine to the ornament (for hanging).

Frozen fractals single-use soap

Perfect for any Frozen lover! Frozen fractals single-use soap pieces are so unique! Each snowflake piece is intended for 1 use, which makes them perfect for washing hands (and stuffing in stockings).

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Supplies needed:

  • Melt & pour soap base (easily found online)
  • Body safe peppermint fragrance oil (also easy to order online)
  • Blue gel food coloring
  • Extra fine blue glitter
  • Microwave safe bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • Glass plate
  • Snowflake cookie cutter, often in Christmas cookie cutter sets

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Directions:

Cut the melt & pour soap base into small cubes.

Melt a few cubes according the directions (usually about 5-10 seconds with stirring).

Place a drop of food coloring on a napkin. With a spoon, barely touch the tip of the spoon into the food coloring. Use spoon to stir up the melted soap. You only need a teeny tiny amount of blue food coloring for this project. A little goes a long way and, as long as you only use a tiny bit, it will not show when using the soap. If you made it too blue, add in some additional melt & pour cubes until the light blue hue is achieved.

Add in 5-10 drops of peppermint fragrance oil.

Pour a very thin layer melted mixture onto the surface of a glass plate.

Quickly sprinkle a little extra fine glitter over the top of the melted soap.

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Allow the soap to dry completely dry (about 10 minutes).

Using a snowflake cookie cutter, cut out frozen fractals just like you would cut out cookie dough!

Each frozen fractal soap will last for about 1 hand wash and will foam up then wash down the drain.

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Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration with Energizer MAX Batteries and SheKnows.