Luxurious bath salts can help melt away everyday stress and relax tired muscles, especially when combined with soothing, aromatic lavender oil. They also make for an inexpensive, thoughtful gift that you can make. All you'll need are jars, sea salt and essential oils. Recipes for this and similar gift ideas are among the 50 projects included in Pam Irie and Shirley Philbrick's e-book, “;Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas, Decorating & Tips: All Under $15.”;

During these challenging economic times, the gift ideas allow people to make a unique present without racking up typical year-end holiday debt. Irie, a Wahiawa resident, teamed with fellow eHow contributor Philbrick, who lives in Maine, to co-author the DIY craft book.

Irie said she likes to consider it an “;East meets West”;-style venture. No special skills or tools are required to make most of the projects. Instructions on making simple pet toys, scarves, coasters, potpourri and flavored dipping oils for bread also are included. Gift wrap tips are an added bonus, with directions for making your own bows and using recycled packaging.

The women try to incorporate an array of recycled materials in their projects, which helps keep costs down. For example, Irie loves old silk neckties, so she wove a bunch of thrift-shop finds into a seat cushion. Philbrick also picks up old bottles that she finds at thrift stores and garage sales, which she fills with bath salts, massage oils and muscle-relaxing lotions.

When using jars, make sure to sterilize them by boiling them before adding your salts or oil concoctions.

The e-book, in PDF format, costs $10. Follow our link: www.hsblinks.com/1c5.

During the production stage of the book, Philbrick's daughter was in an automobile accident. Proceeds will be used to cover her medical expenses.

Sea Salt Shower Scrub
Sea salt, fine or coarse
Glass bottle or jar
Fragrance oil or essential oil
Place sea salt in a bowl. Add oil sparingly so that salt crystals remain intact. Mix salt and oil mixture well. Pour into jar or bottle.
Gift tip: Add ribbon to neck of container or package together with a loofah or bath puff.
Note: Purchase sea salt a natural food stores.

Soothing Massage Oil
Bottle
Essential oils of lavender and orange
Base oil: sweet almond, grape seed or apricot kernel
Into your gift bottle, add 10 drops of lavender per 4 ounces of base oil. Add 20 drops of orange per 4 ounces of base oil. Cap bottle and roll gently to mix essential oils in base.
Tips: Use pure essential oils, not fragrance oils. Add two vitamin E capsules to preserve the oil mixture, if desired. Consider adding a massage tool with the oil. Box and wrap as a gift set.

To view more of Irie's eHow submissions, visit www.ehow.com/members/veryirie.html. For Philbrick's contributions, visit www.ehow.com/members/slphilbrick.html

”;Handmade”; will present a simple craft idea for the holidays each Sunday through Christmas. E-mail Nancy Arcayna at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).