Gifts From The Kitchen:
Cinnamon Treasures
By Brenda Hyde
Cinnamon is not only easy to craft with, but it's aroma
is one that reflects the warmth and charm of a cozy
winter home more than any other. These gifts can
be used as additions to baskets filled with homemade
breads, muffins or cookies. You can also package
them alone for small gifts to give teachers, friends
and house guests.
Mulled Tea Bags
Ingredients:
5 tsp. loose black tea
4 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
2 tsp. coarsely crushed cinnamon stick
1 tsp. grated orange rind
1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
fine-mesh cheesecloth
Cotton string
Cut two five inch squares out of the cheese cloth.
Place 1/2 of your tea ingredients on one square,
and the other 1/2 on the second one. Bring the
corners together and tie into a bag with the string.
Place the teabags into a mug, with these instructions:
To brew place one tea bag in a mug and 1 cup of
boiling water. Steep 5 minutes and enjoy!
If you wish you can also include a small jar of
honey, an antique spoon (easily found at a
thrift store), 2 cinnamon sticks for stirring and
a novel to enjoy reading while drinking.
Santa Cinnamon Sticks
You will need:
1 6 inch long cinnamon stick
red, peach or cream, black and pink acrylic pain
small paintbrush
tiny stiff paintbrush for textured paint
"snow" textured paint
Paint Santa's hat on a 1/2 inch space at the top
of the stick, using textured paint for ball and trim. For
face paint 3/4 below the hat using peach or
cream paint, paint eyes black and cheeks pink.
Lastly use texture paint and the stiff brush to paint
eyebrows and the beard.
These make charming gift toppers, or additions to
gift baskets and flower arrangements.
Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments
Two recipes, both simple, for making these
neat ornaments that can also be used as
package toppers. If making ahead, I would
put each one in it's own plastic bag and
store in a cool dry place.
You will need:
4 ounces of ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup of applesauce
2 tablespoons of white craft glue
These are not edible because of the glue. Mix together
well, roll out and cut your shapes. Poke a hole at the
top of each one for hanging before they dry. Put them on
a wire rack for about a week and let them dry, turning them
over about once a day.
Cinnamon Ornaments
You will need:
3/4 cup applesauce
1 4.12 ounce bottle ground cinnamon
Mix together to form a stiff dough. Roll dough to 1/4
inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Make hole
at top of ornaments on rack to dry. Let dry 1-2 days
or until thoroughly dry, turning occasionally. Hang with
decorative thread,ribbon or natural raffia. Makes 12-15
ornaments.
Table Decorations
You will need:
Cinnamon sticks, 4-5 inches long
natural raffia
dried flowers of your choice
got glue
To make a centerpiece glue together
two cinnamon sticks, then top with
two more, gluing the four of them
together. Glue dried flowers to the
top of the sticks to decorate, but not
overwhelm. Tie a few pieces of raffia
around the middle of the sticks and
flowers to form a bow with a few ends
hanging slightly off the piece. Place
one in front of each placesetting during
your holiday meal. Guests can then take
home their cinnamon craft.
Cinnamon Stick Candle Holder
You will need:
1 clear glass votive candle holder
about 20 cinnamon sticks
transparent tape
scissors
hot glue gun, glue sticks
Measure the height of your holder, and
add 1/2 inch. This is the length you will
need to cut your cinnamon sticks. Cover
the holder completely with tape. Hot glue
does not adhere well to glass, so this will
give you a good surface to glue to. Glue
each stick vertically to the holder, making
sure they are placed evenly, until the entire
surface is covered. Use like this, or decorate
with raffia, or other small holiday decorations.
About the author
Brenda Hyde is a wife and Mom of three, a freelance writer, bookseller and editor of Seeds of Knowledge.
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