Mother's Day Bath Basket

Mother's Day is only two weeks away. Have you shopped for your Mom yet? Do you have any idea what to get that most special woman? Something to let her know how much all her work and caring and love means to you? How about a special handmade gift basket filled with bath products so Mom can pamper herself a little. Our basket contains bath oil, after bath splash, bath salts, a scented candle, two hand towels and washcloths color coordinated to Mom's bath, and a few sea shells thrown in for special effect. The labels have fancy text on them that state what the product is - Mom's Bath Oil, Mom's Bath Salts, Mom's Candle, and so on. We added some seashell clipart to tie it all together and added a gift tag with the same clipart and fancy text. The fancy corked bottles can be purchased at your local craft store, as well as the sea shells, the candle, the basket and the tulle (you can also use a sheer ribbon for the same effect). The labels on the bottles are made using our Waterproof Glossy Adhesive Backed paper. We used the same paper for the candle since we opted to place the label over the cellophane wrapping on the candle so that it would keep it's fragrance longer (black cherry…yummmmm!). But you may decide you would rather place the candle in the basket without the cellophane wrapper. In that case, you can use a white Waterslip Decal and apply it directly to the candle. The envelope containing the bath salts is made from plain inkjet paper and put together with either a glue stick or double-stick tape. It's an easy one to make. The only other items you need to purchase are the towels and the bath products in your Mom's favorite scent! You can even wrap the finished basket in either decorative cellophane or go all out and buy some shrink wrap from your craft store. Wrap the basket in the shrink-wrap. Use a blow dryer to heat and shrink it and top if off with a big, beautiful bow! This personalized gift is sure to bring tears to your Mom's eyes.

MATERIALS

Basket

Hand towels and washcloths

Decorative bottles

Scented candle

Various seashells

Bath Oil or Bubble Bath

After Bath Splash

Bath Salts or Beads

Tulle "by the yard" or sheer ribbon

Waterproof Glossy Adhesive-Backed Paper (See Products>Photo Papers).

Waterslip decals (optional for the candle)

Card stock (for the gift tag)

Plain inkjet paper (for the bath salts envelope)

Single hole punch

Scissors

Glue stick or double stick tape

Cellophane or shrink-wrap

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Measure the faces of the decorative bottles to get the dimensions for your labels. Open a blank page in your graphics program and draw the shape you will need to outline the labels. These shapes should have no fill and a very light gray outline. Add your text and clipart as desired (you can even add a photo of Mom to the labels!) If you will placing your candle label on the cellophane wrapper, you can design this here as well.

2) Print these labels out on plain paper and cut them out to check the size on your bottles and candle. Adjust as necessary until you get the dimensions correct, then print out on a sheet of Waterproof Glossy Adhesive-Backed paper.

3) Cut the labels out and apply to cleaned surfaces on the front of your bottles and to the cellophane wrapper on the candle.

4) Fill the bottles with the bath oil, or bubble bath and after bath splash. (If you are using cork-topped bottles and are worried about leakage, you can seal the bottles by lighting a birthday candle and using the dripping wax to seal around the base of the cork and bottle top. Just be careful!)

5) Open another blank page in your graphics program in landscape orientation and draw a rectangle measuring 4 1/2" wide X 5 3/4" high with no fill and a light gray outline. Move this rectangle to the left side of the page.

6) Copy and paste this rectangle and drag it, while holding down the control key, so that it lines up to the right of the first rectangle.

7) Copy and paste the second rectangle then resize so that the height remains the same, but the width is reduced to 1/5". Again, drag while holding down the control key so that this skinnier rectangle is lined up to the right of the second rectangle. This will be the side tab that will be glued to the front of the envelope.

8) Copy and paste the first rectangle. Resize, leaving the width as is but reducing the height to 1/5". CTRL-Drag this rectangle so that it lines up below the first rectangle. This is the bottom tab that will be glued.

9) Repeat step 6 but make the height about 3/4" to 1". CTRL-Drag to the top of the first rectangle. This will be the flap closure for the envelope.

10) Group all the rectangles and move so that there is little if no extension beyond those unprintable margins. Now place your text and clipart as you did for the labels on the left most rectangle. (Copying and pasting from your labels page will make this go a lot quicker!)

11) Print the envelope on plain inkjet paper and cut it out. Fold on all lines. Apply a glue stick or double stick tape to the two tabs and press into place. Fold the flap over the top of the envelope. (You can also use a "Post It" type glue stick for the flap of the envelope, or you can simply close it with a small piece of scotch tape). Fill this envelope with the bath salts or beads.

12) Open another blank page in your graphics program and draw a rectangle 2 1/2" X 3" (or use inkjet business cards) again with no fill and a light gray outline. This will be your gift tag. Use the same text type and clipart as on your labels. Print on card stock and punch a hole in one corner to tie a piece of ribbon through to attach the card to the basket.

13) If you have decided to make the candle with a waterslip decal, open another page, design your candle label and then refer to our Photo Candle project for instructions on making the candle label.

14) Now it's time to put it all together. First weave your tulle or ribbon through the basket as desired. Then roll the two hand towels and place them in the bottom of the basket. Do the same with the washcloths, stuffing them into the front of the basket. They will serve as the "stage" for the bottles and candle and envelope. Then line up the bottles, candle and envelope, add the seashell accents, attach your gift card and stand back for a minute to admire your handiwork! Finish up the project by wrapping the whole basket with cellophane or shrink wrap, add that big bow and Mom has a gift that she will treasure! And she'll think of you every time she sinks into that warm tub and lights that deliciously scented candle! Another job well done!

Mother's Day Bath Basket Instructions

For a print friendly version, click on this link.