This inexpensive soap does not suds up very much, but it cleans so well! Use with hot water. Do not use it in automatic dishwashers.

• 1/4 cup soap grated Ivory soap or Dr. Bonner Castile Soap
• 2 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup glycerin
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon essential oil

1) In bowl combine soap flakes and water and stir until the soap is dissolved. Cool to lukewarm.

2) Stir in the glycerin and the essential oil, leave to cool. As it cools it will form a loose gel. Stir with a fork and break up the gel and then pour into a narrow-necked bottle. An old shampoo bottle makes an excellent container.

3) To use, squirt 3 teaspoonfuls into hot running water.

• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• 3 drops liquid soap with a low ph such as Simple Green ® or Dr. Bonner’s Liquid Soap ®
• 5-10 drops of non-acidic essential oil (optional)
• Quart-size spray bottle

Combine all ingredients and decant into a clean spray bottle.  Fill the rest of the way with water

Can be used daily to clean countertops.

NOTE: The rubbing alcohol kills germs and helps speed up the drying process.

Does this sound familiar?  You finally have some time to wrap all the gifts you so thoughtfully made or purchased. You take out your wrapping supplies and BAM! You realized you didn’t have what you needed to get the job done.  So off you went to the store, AGAIN. If you are determined that things will be different this Christmas, get prepared early by stocking up on supplies and setting up a Christmas Wrapping Center.

1. Before you go shopping for supplies, pull out what you had leftover from last Christmas. Did you stock up at the after Christmas sales? Great! Get those items out also.
2. Next, look at the shapes and sizes of the gifts you need to wrap.  See what supplies you have on hand that can be used.  Then, using the list below as a guide, write out a list of additional supplies you will need.

Supplies

• Large, medium and small gift bags
• Large, medium and small gift boxes
• Plates and containers for food gifts
• Bows, ribbons and trimmings
• Gift tags or stickers
• Wrapping paper
• Tissue paper
• Gift
• Box stuffing material
• Clear tape
• Scissors
• Black, red, green, gold or silver ink pens
• Bubble wrap
• Packing paper or peanuts
• Large, medium and small size shipping boxes
• Flat rate mailing boxes – free from USPS
• Parcel tape (If you don’t use the proper post office sanctioned tape your package could be delayed or worse not arrive at all.  Don’t chance it.)
• Mailing labels

To keep all of your supplies together in one place, use an under the bed storage box or purchase a Gift Wrapping Organizer.