Christmas gifts

Sorry I didn't post this before Christmas, I was going to, but I didn't want to ruin the surprise for everyone I'd be giving them to. And then I would have posted around new years, but my grandpa couldn't make it here on Christmas, so we had a late mini Christmas yesterday, and I didn't want to ruin the surprise for him either. But anyway, I can post about it now!

I made some soaps. You can find big things of soap at crafts stores, and then you just melt it, add fragrance, color, and sometimes add-ins. Like to the lavender soaps I added in some real lavender. Then you mold it, (I use those disposable loaf pans because they're a good size and shape to make good soap slices, and because they're flexible so I can take the soap out easily) let it cool, and then slice it. I made lavender soaps and cucumber-melon.

Then I made some candles, just melt some wax, add a tiny tiny bit of crayon (For color), and fragrance, then put them in whatever mold or container and add a waxed wick.

I made rose, (The pink ones), lemongrass (Th yellow one), pine (The trees), and cucumber melon (The green ones)

And then of course I made some truffles.

I made a bunch of different kinds, and on each kind I drizzled on a different pattern in dark chocolate. For the lemon ones I did a zigzag, for the orange ones I did a spiral, for the coffee ones I did a waffle, and I left the mint ones plain. And then I also had chocolate covered crystalized ginger, and chocolate coconut balls.

I wrapped some of them in the same bags I wrapped the soaps in, and some in cute little boxes with hearts on them. Somehow I didn't get a picture.

I also made some almond bars. So pretty!

And peanut butter fudge! Recipe from a friend.

2 cups peanut butter (Sorry, not natural!)
3/4 cups margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
3 cups (one 14.4 ounce package) graham crackers, crumbled
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Beat 1 1/4 cups peanut butter and all the margarine in a large bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in 1 cup powdered sugar.
With hands or wooden spoon, gradually work in remaining cup of powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Spread mixture into greased pan.

Melt remaining 3/4 cup peanut butter with remaining 1 1/2 cup chocolate. mix, then spread over graham cracker crust. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Not exactly healthy, but tasty!

I also made a whole wheat pancake mix for a few people, which I put in jars with instructions taped to the jar.

I considered also making some sauces, or seasoning mixes, but I was too busy.

I also made some gingerbread, and pumpkin-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies (No walnuts or raisins, but with added chocolate chips) and put them in cute bags with ribbons. Which I apparently didn't take a picture of. Probably because it was really really late.

You guys can come back to this post around Christmas time if you want, otherwise, maybe this will be useful for a birthday gift or something.