Easy DIY Sugar Hand Scrub

One of my hobbies is crafting. Haven’t done much for years, but I still consider myself a crafter. As such, I have a few tubs of miscellaneous stuff, mostly earmarked as craft supplies. And I use the word “few” loosely. Since I occasionally help with garden craft workshops, I have totes full of garden related items used for classes.  One is full of supplies for Fairy and Dinosaur Gardens. Small odds and ends, plus the perfect size rocks, pebbles, sticks, etc. Okay, that one might be legitimate, and a keeper for sure.

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I’ve already gone through some of the totes and discarded a bunch of the junk. However, the two totes of nice jars (salsa and dips) and the jars with interesting shapes…..I just wasn’t ready to give them up yet. I did have lots of plans for them a couple of years ago, and they were out of sight and out of the way.

Well..until Hubby discovered them. He just doesn’t understand a crafter’s need for a craft supply stash, because a crafter never knows when they’re going to need something. Of course, that need comes shortly after getting rid of it. Not wanting to dispose of the jars, I decided to get started on Christmas gifts.

I had another tub full of supplies to make all kinds of scrubs to go along with the tubs of jars. The recipe I’m sharing today was quite popular a few years ago, showing up all over Pinterest. I love this stuff! My hands get pretty dry, because I don’t wear gloves when I’m doing heavy duty housecleaning or out digging in the dirt. This scrub is abrasive enough to clean my hands, while the moisturizers leave them soft. It works great on rough elbows and knees in the shower, too. 

This project is so easy that the kids could even help in making gifts for teachers, grandparents or a special neighbor. The Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soaps is available in several scents now, so pick your favorite, or whatever fragrance you think the gift recipient would like. 

If you decide to get a jump start on holiday gifts…don’t mix the sugar and dish soap until a week or two before gift-giving time, as the sugar starts dissolving after mixing. But go ahead and wash your jars and get your labels ready. You can even put the sugar in the jars, so all you have to do is add the dish soap and stir. 

The Easiest DIY Sugar Hand Scrub

Supplies:

• Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap
• Sugar
• Decorative jars or canning jars (1 to 2 cup capacity is best)
• Labels
• Ribbon or twine, if desired                       

 

Directions:

1. Fill the jar 3/4 full with sugar. The wide-mouth funnel helps prevent messes.
2. Add the Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap just to the bottom ring of the jar neck.
3. Stir the sugar and dish soap together until well blended. 
4. Add labels to your jars and a pretty ribbon or a couple of strands of twine around the jar neck for a pretty presentation.

To Use:

Scoop a little bit of the hand scrub into your hands and massage into skin to remove dirt and grease. Rinse hands well to remove stickiness.

Tips

• If it separates, stir until blended again. Maybe add a little more sugar. Store in a cool place.
• If you want to make a large batch to fill several jars: measure 1/3 cup dish soap for each 1 cup of sugar into a large bowl, stir together until well blended. Fill your jars and wipe the ring and neck of the jars before putting the lids on.
• If you are recycling jars with lids that have printing on them, then you’ll want to spray paint them first before giving as gifts. Apply several super light coats of paint, letting dry between each coat.

Labels:

Supplies needed: pretty paper in color and pattern of choice, paint pen or Sharpie pen, 2″ wide roll of clear packing tape. I used a dark pink Sharpie on these labels.

Choose a pretty wrapping paper or scrapbook paper to use for the labels. I found this tablet of pretty scrapbook paper on clearance last year.

Cut rectangles a 1/4″ narrower than a roll of clear packing tape. Write the name of the hand scrub on the paper. Cut the tape so it over hangs the paper label by approximately 1/8″ all around and apply the new label to the front of the jar. 

Supplies needed: pretty paper in color and pattern of choice, paint pen or Sharpie, roll of clear contact paper. The contact paper is not crystal clear, so be sure to use a dark enough paper pen for the paint to show through the contact paper.

The same pretty paper could be used for canning jar lids.

Trace the flat lid onto the pretty paper, then cut the paper circle 1/8″ smaller all around. Trace the lid onto clear contact paper, Cut it out at full size. Write the scrub name on the label, if desired.

When you put the two together, the paper should have a 1/8″ sticky border all around it.  Firmly apply the label to the jar lid. 

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These would make wonderful little gifts any time of the year. Maybe a nice little Thank You gift? Deliver in a cute little bag for a nice presentation.

Have fun!

Robin