Colored bath salts are so easy and cheap to make that even small children can join the fun. This is an ideal classroom project, teaching primary colours and colour mixing, while the children get to make an attractive homemade gift for mom.

Directions for Layered Bathsalts

Supplies:

Gift jar with a lid (baby food, small jam jars etc. work well)
epsom salts
funnel
red, blue and yellow food colouring
fabric scrap to cover lid
ribbon
cups and spoons for mixing
rubber band

Skills:

Simple measuring, mixing, pouring and colour identification.

What to do:

Pour the salts into the gift jar, then divide more or less equally into six cups. Add food colouring to each cup. Start with the primary colours (red, yellow and blue), adding drops of colour until you get the desired pastel hue. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.

Now begin to combine blue/yellow, red/blue, yellow/red, for shades of green, mauve and orange.

Funnel each coloured layer into the gift jar, packing down each layer slightly with a spoon as you go. This part is like sand art; the layers don't have to be flat or even, as hills and valleys only add to the visual appeal.

Make sure the jar is packed to the top to prevent the layers from moving or mixing when you're finished. Cut a circle of fabric to fit over the lid. Fasten with an elastic band and finish with a ribbon.

Suggestion:

School children could make a gift tag to go with their gift jar of bath salts, using colours to match those in their project. A nice treat for Mother's Day or a wonderful Christmas craft!

Chili Mix in a Jar

Chili Seasoning Mix makes a neat, inexpensive gift in a jar recipe, and you may already have all the ingredients. We've included a free printable tag to attach instructions with your gift.

Chili is one of those rib-warming homemade meals that goes great with a salad and fresh bread. This mix is inexpensive, easy to assemble, and makes a neat gift in a jar for anyone.

This particular recipe is a medium spiced chili; if you like mild chili, cut the chili powder down; if you like spicy, increase it or add crushed hot pepper flakes to taste.

Chili Mix in a Jar Recipe

1-1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup dried onion (flakes or minced)
2/3 cup chili powder
3 tbsp beef bouillon powder or salt
1-1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp pepper
2 tsp sugar

Mix all ingredients, stirring very well to combine. Pack in a 2 cup jar and attach gift tag with instructions.

The instructions are as follows:

Brown or microwave 1 pound of ground beef (Optional: you can chop and add an onion if you wish). Sprinkle 1/3 cup of chili seasoning mix over beef, and stir well. Add a 19 oz can of crushed tomatoes; a 15 oz can undrained kidney beans; a 14 oz can of baked beans. Simmer or reheat in the microwave for 20 minutes until flavors are mixed and chili is hot. Enjoy!

Instructions for Gift Tag:

Select, or highlight, the gift tag shown below, using your cursor. Print, choosing "selection" as your option rather than printing the whole page. Cut out the square, fold front page to the back, along the horizontal center line. Next, fold again, along the vertical line, to place the illustration on the front and the instructions on the inside of your gift tag. Punch a hole in the top left corner and attach to the jar with a piece of yarn or ribbon.

Free Printable Gift Tag: