Cinnamon Treasures

[Guest guest]

Using and Growing LemonGifts From The Kitchen:

Cinnamon Treasures

 

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.