Handmade things have always been my specialty. Growing up we lived out in the country and didn’t have much reason to go to town. Birthdays and weddings would come, and I would want to give the very best gift, which would mean I would need to make gifts with what I had on hand. Dried herbs and flowers, material scraps, old bottles, baskets, bags, soap, candles, and whatever else I could find would be put to use to create a gift. It is amazing what nothings can turn into a basket full of goodies. Do you too have a natural flair for making things look good? If so, then you have been blessed with the ability of taking a mite and turning it into beautiful gifts. Herbs and spices in bulk are very inexpensive and can be packaged in a delightful array of ways. Here are a few herb and gift ideas that your children will enjoy helping you make, which can be used to create beautiful and useful gifts.
I like to give small teapot size servings (6 tablespoons) of dried, pre-mixed herbal tea. I divide my tea blend into small plastic baggies, and then tie the tops with tiny colored ribbons. The labels can be small pieces of paper that have Bible verses, special sayings, or just what the tea is and how to use it.
One of my favorites is Sweet Sleep Tea, which is an even mixture of catnip, peppermint, passionflower, oatstraw, and chamomile. Rise & Shine Tea has a wonderful aroma and has a fantastic taste, plus it is soooo healthy. When I was young I often heard Dad asking mom to make him some of that “good tasting tea”. She combined ginger, cloves, green tea, orange peelings, and peppermint, using cinnamon sticks to stir. Both of these pre-mixed teas are best brewed in a teapot or percolator, rather than just a cup, because it gives the herbs more time to steep. Hot water can be added to the teapot several times so the tea can be steeped again and again until all flavor is used.
For information on pre-mixed herbal teas visit www.bulkherbstore.com or write to Bulk Herb Store, 26 West 6th Ave, Lobelville, TN 37097.
- Shoshanna (Pearl) Easling
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My sister and I would make gift baskets together. We would got to the dollar store to find some things that matched a more exspinsive item. We even made a "mans" gift basket for baraque. A great thing to buy is a bow maker!! It really sets off the basket and it only 10 or so dollars. http://www.save-on-crafts.com/makperbowbrd.html Here is a pic of one.. (ps. I do not sell these)
Money has been tight the last few years ...like my whole marriage 😉 so the last few Christmas' we made baskets of homebaked bread and jellies/teas. This year I am making soaps with the herbs I grew and probably bath salts as those are really cheap to make as well but nice to receive.
We are learning to unravel thrift store wool or silk sweaters for nearly-free yarn, then knit/ crochet/ felt lovely gifts from them.