Cinnamon Treasures

Cinnamon is not only easy to craft with, but it's a smell 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 place setting 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.

Brenda Hyde is a wife and Mom of three, a freelance writer and editor. Visit her for more old fashioned holiday crafts, recipes and traditions at http://OldFashionedHolidays.com or subscribe to Holiday Tidbits by sending a blank email to: oldfashionedholidays-subscribe@egroups.com

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