Sunday, February 21, 2010

Replenishing the “Happy” Closet

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I know lots of you have gift closets just full of things you are wise enough to buy ahead of time and maybe on sale for upcoming special occasions and birthdays. I’m not good at that—I go ahead and give it to the intended owner. BUT, I do like to keep a few thing on hand for what I call “happies”—unexpected gifts to friends, “get well” presents, or hostess gifts. Over the weekend I replenished my stock.

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This past week Hobby Lobby had their decorative glassware on sale for half off—that’s any glassware over $1.99! These bottles with the cross stopper came in two sizes and prices--$7.99 and $9.99. The jars come in several sizes and prices. These are $1.99---and half off all of that!

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A while back Rainey at The Project Table did a post on bath salts. You may remember I made candy cane luncheon favors here with her idea. This time I used a $5.00 bag of Epsom salt fromWalgreens and neon purple from a food color kit made by Durkee. I am pretty sure this came from Walmart. I used a little more than a tablespoon of lavender oil for the entire six pound bag of salts. You can buy several different essential oils at Hobby Lobby or online here. You could also use sea salt and kitchen extracts such as lime, vanilla, and coconut.

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This bottle will make a lovely gift and can be refilled by the owner with more bath salts or lotion. Don’t worry—the purple food coloring will not turn you into Barney or dye your bath tub!

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I added some spring ribbon to the jars. I happened to have this already, but I never buy it unless it is half price. For less than $30 (plus the essential oil) I now have seven gifts just waiting to make someone happy!

Susan At Between Naps on the Porch has exciting makeovers and projects going on over at her place! Click on the butterfly button on the sidebar for more Metamophosis Monday!

39 comments:

  1. What bargains!
    I too look for those stowaways :)...Nanny's secret space (room), where extra treasures from Santa's elves have been known to land!

    I adore your use for your beauties!

    The Muse invites you to visit her new posts at~
    www.adivashammer.com (prose)
    www.mysterymeatloaf.blogspot.com (just for fun)
    www.myladydujour.com (design)
    www.adivashammer.blogspot.com (word games)

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  2. Now who wouldn't love to receive one of those? I love that sweet ribbon, and the colors are just perfect to brighten anyone's day.

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  3. These are lovely and will make someone very happy. Thanks for sharing this idea. My childhood friends' parents have just moved from their home of 50+ years and I have been wondering what I could take her for a little condo-warming gift. This is perfect!

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  4. I want a Hobby Lobby!! Great buys and such good ideas!
    xoxo Pattie

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  5. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Those are really pretty and what a great idea.

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  7. What a great idea and fun to boot! Thanks for the "recipe."

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  8. Great idea and like the "Packaging" - very pretty! Laughed at the Barney comment, as someone else did a post on making some and I asked about the food coloring on the skin.:-) My "Happy Gift" supply has dwindled, but normally I do try to keep a few things on hand.

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  9. How clever and pretty! The recipients of these gifts will be very happy indeed.

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  10. They are beautiful! I love the jars with the cross toppers. Hobby Lobby always has such fun things!

    Sue

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  11. What a wonderful idea that is. They turned out lovely as well.

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  12. Great idea. They look so fresh & Spring-like.
    Beckie

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  13. My mother is coming for a visit. I am so making one of these for her. She swears by Epsom Salt! Your gift closet is a wonderful idea.
    XX00

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  14. What a great idea - I will be borrowing this from you. My gift closet is almost empty.

    Be sure to come see my home on tour this week at AtticMag.
    Allison

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  15. What a great idea, and what a lovely present to give to someone!

    Kat :)

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  16. What a nice idea! And I like the idea of stocking a "happy closet." :-)

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  17. I love that idea! Aren't you clever and what a deal you got too! Blogland is full of creative people! Cindy

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  18. Oh, these are great! You do know how to get bargains too!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  19. These are GREAT!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful idea!!!

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  20. What a cute idea! I love Hobby Lobby; they have lots of creative possibilities.

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  21. Very nice, Susan...I use Epson salts to make my Hydrangea more blue..:)

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  22. Great idea. I am sure anyone who receive this gift would enjoy it.

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  23. What beautiful gifts! I do have a "gift" closet also..these would make a great addition..and the bottles I love!!

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  24. Fabulous gift idea! Those came out lovely! Who wouldn't adore getting one! Beautiful job!

    Cheers!
    Tina

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  25. They look so pretty. My daughter would like them so much. She loves purple and she loves having salts and bubbles in her bath. xx

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  26. Hi Susan Thanks for featuring The Project Table again girl! Its a great project tho and really worth doing again and again! I wish you were my neighbor we could storm Hobby Lobby, armed with our 40% coupons and half price daze and really do some damage! I LOVE the purple! (Well lavender). I also wanted to mention to be careful with citrus oils and bath salts... it can sometimes cause a rash.
    I may have to head over to Hobby Lobby for a couple of those cross bottles.

    ~Really Rainey~

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  27. Great idea. May have to check out those bottles.

    Now I have a favor to ask. When you did your Christmas decor blog party, I remember that you had a scroll box on your sidebar where people could grab the code for your button. I'm trying to help Debbie with some stuff for the Arkansas Bloggers website. Did you use a widget for the scroll box or what?

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  28. Thanks for the help. I had actually done a google search and found another website that described how to do that, so I followed their instructions and got it to work. I think I'll go check out the website you sent me and see which one is easier. I'm going to have to tell Debbie how to do it, unless she wants to give me a password to edit the blog.

    Of course, you can be an honorary member, especially since you sit smack between me and Arkansas.

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  29. Okay, I like your way better. The one I found created a scroll box for the code, but it had the same background as the blog background. Your way put it inside a white box. Thanks.

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  30. These look great! I love the ribbons.

    I'd like to invite you to join me this week for my first Friday Favorites party!

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  31. Hi Susan,

    I love your beautiful gifts and what a neat idea.
    The Spring ribbon is so pretty.
    A friend made her own bathsalts with blue colouring and it turned the bath blue, not quite so nice.

    Happy week
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  32. What a beautiful idea! I love the way you have packaged them. Glad we won't turn purple!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  33. What a fun idea. Thanks for sharing. I love the bottles btw.

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  34. How absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing.

    Carol

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  35. Love the color! Very nice and seems very easy!

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  36. Susan, Thanks for stopping by my blog & the sweet words. Andrea reads my blog regularly & will appreciate the compliments. I hope your husband doesn't have any residual effects from Type 1. It was shocking to us to find that many doctors are not as familiar with Type 1 as Type 2. If I had not been with Andrea for a hospital visit, the doctor's orders would have put her in a coma. It is wonderful to know that a cure could be on the horizon. An artificial pancreas is in the testing phase now.
    Beckie

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  37. What a great gift idea!

    - The Tablescaper

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  38. Luv your idea...bath salts are always soooo nice to receive. I one of those people that keep a gift box full of goodies...you see I'm a THRIFTY gal! Come by and check out my GIVEAWAY and PARTY...I think you might like it:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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